Drove from Illinois to Omaha NE (450 miles). When I got there did not fill up right away, drove around town for a couple of days so I guessing that my highway miles were between 19 and 20 mpg. On the way back a had some outdoor furniture in the bed. When I got home filled up the truck, and had a mpg of 22. Does having something in the bed make a mpg difference? Drove the same mph back and forth.

Jim
2007.5 3500 SRW 32,000 miles

Drove from Illinois to Omaha NE (450 miles). When I got there did not fill up right away, drove around town for a couple of days so I guessing that my highway miles were between 19 and 20 mpg. On the way back a had some outdoor furniture in the bed. When I got home filled up the truck, and had a mpg of 22. Does having something in the bed make a mpg difference? Drove the same mph back and forth.

Jim
2007.5 3500 SRW 32,000 miles


you may have had a tail wind comeing back

About the only thing it will improve is your ride. More weight will decrease MPG.

outdoor furniture in the bed.

Depending on what you were hauling, could it have acted like a tonneau cover?

:Insane:

Drove from Illinois to Omaha NE (450 miles). When I got there did not fill up right away, drove around town for a couple of days so I guessing that my highway miles were between 19 and 20 mpg. On the way back a had some outdoor furniture in the bed. When I got home filled up the truck, and had a mpg of 22. Does having something in the bed make a mpg difference? Drove the same mph back and forth.

Jim
2007.5 3500 SRW 32,000 miles

Could have to do with all the guessing or trusting your DIC MPG readout.

Hand calc is the only way to confirm numbers.......

;)

Could have to do with all the guessing or trusting your DIC MPG readout.

Hand calc is the only way to confirm numbers.......

;)
The 22mpg was hand calculated. So was the guess (G). I did think maybe the stuff in the back worked like a cover. Doesn't driving with the tail gate down bring some better mpg on the highway?

Jim

Install a tonneau cover and you will likely see some better mpg's. But this also limits your hauling ability

The 22mpg was hand calculated. So was the guess (G). I did think maybe the stuff in the back worked like a cover. Doesn't driving with the tail gate down bring some better mpg on the highway?

Jim

I think they have proven the tailgate thing is an urban legend - does not matter.
http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/aerodynamics/fuel-economy-tip-keep-your-tailgate-up/

I have had both a cab high truck cap (canopy) and now a hard tonneau on this same truck - see my garage for pics of both. Did not really see gains in MPG that were noticable. Have averaged 18 hwy, 15 city and 12 towing 5K since new really. Maybe have gained 1mpg from break-in with 25K on her now. Had a tank or two in ideal conditions that got 20mpg. All hand calc no guess no DIC MPG BS. :D
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2006/08/24/how-to-improve-fuel-economy-with-a-tonneau-cover/

Doesn't driving with the tail gate down bring some better mpg on the highway?

Jim
According to Mythbusters, tailgate up is better than tailgate down because it creates a pressure bubble in the bed and allows the air to flow over the vehicle. With the gate down you lose the bubble and the wind comes over the cab and pushes down on the tailgate creating drag.
Of course somehow they got better mileage removing the tailgate and installing a cargo net.

glad im not the only one. had enough junk in the bed on a trip to alabama and back to make the truck level....and got better mpg than usual on the highway