Guys I have a 85 Elky and with the price of gas going thru the roof--Do Tonneau Covers really help get better Gas Mileage. I have priced them out and I must admit they make a Elky look sleek and beautiful but go you really receive better gas mileage? They run from the ones I have seen $675.00 to $750.00. I have already installed a Tornado, K & N Oil Filter aired up my tires to 42 psi and placed a piece of plywood --slanting from the top of the tailgate to the bed to deflect the air.
I recall a friend of mine helped me move from San Antonio to Houston some 20 years ago. We both noticed that the trip took more gas coming to San Antonio with the Bed empty then returning with the bed full which included a motorcycle--some 500 lbs. The Truck was a ford but I'm sure the same results would have been seen in a elky. --I am toying with the idea of building a short type table to just fit the Elky tailgate. Any of you guys have any thoughts on this. Oh yeah my prayers go out to the guys in California where gas has hit $3.00 a gallon ( High Test). Here in San Antonio it has hit $1.80 with some stations asking $2.00 for ( High Test ).

A tonneau cover will improve gas mileage. The wind travels over the roof, meets a low pressure area right after the roof ledge, takes a dive down into your bed, hits the tailgate and creates turbulence in your bed, pushing your rear wheels down. The tailgate is acting like a baffle and your engine has to use more power to overcome this. You've probably seen pieces of paper or plastic flying around in the bed but never get away, until maybe later, right? A tonneau cover will direct the air to the back of the car and away, instead of getting trapped in your bed. Some people remove the tailgate on their trucks or install these nets so the air can escape.

Sorry but research I've read does not support cover/shells/or tailgates down to increase gas milage. While I do agree common sense does say it has too, a lot of articles from sources such as click & clack have stated no appreciable milage saving, and even a small decrease while driving with the tailgate down. Savings (if any) would take years to build up to the point of paying for even the cheapest cover or shell. Am I saying don't do it...no but do it for the sleek looks you mention, and try not to get your hopes up for dramatic fuel savings

The new guy,
JS

P.S. Does anybody know of a source for sleek, non butt ugly camper shells?

Everything I have read says there is little difference. But then again every little bit helps. :)

I guess my reference material and information has more to do with driving at speeds way above any legal speed limit and at those speeds, aerodynamics have much more impact than during city and highway driving. My bad, I've been put in time-out and can't play armchair engineer for a while. :oops:

I picked up a tonneau cover from the El Camino Store, Goleta, CA for about $150 - delivered. It took me about an hour & a half to install it. I primarily got it to keep the winter rains out of the bed - but have to admit I also liked the look. Don't know that its helped my mileage any - but I definetely prefer it over not having one - it also keeps stuff hidden from sight - and I'm not worried about anythin blowing/bouncing out of the back once I snap the cover down.

I picked up a tonneau cover from the El Camino Store, Goleta, CA for about $150 - delivered. ......I snap the cover down.


Snaps, eh? Is it a factroy replacement cover? When I bought my El Camino, I requested a bunch of catalogs from vendors, but I wasn't going to pay them $5 for theirs. Any time I pay for a catalog, I find they don't have anything I want or are too expensive. (If the charge for catalogs, imagine what the parts most cost 8O )

Check out www.elcaminostore.com they have an on-line catalog which is how I found the tonneau cover (I have since receivd a free catalog in the mail). The cover itself came with snaps whch I had to drill into the sheet metal, as well as a frame to hold the cover up against the rear window, at the back of the bed and 2 bows to keep it taut across the bed.