To trailer covered or not

[MagikSmallie]

That sounds logical, but has anyone tried it to see?
Plenty of tests done that proove pick-up trucks get better
milage with the tailgate closed instead of laying down.
Contrary to what most would think, so I wonder about a boat.
Can it be the same effect?

well I do know that on my pickup truck I added a fiberglass Tonneau Cover and my mileage increase 2-3 MPG.

[artcarney_agr]

That sounds logical, but has anyone tried it to see?
Plenty of tests done that proove pick-up trucks get better
milage with the tailgate closed instead of laying down.
Contrary to what most would think, so I wonder about a boat.
Can it be the same effect?

Correct!

[artcarney_agr]

well I do know that on my pickup truck I added a fiberglass Tonneau Cover and my mileage increase 2-3 MPG.

I find that hard to believe....especially after these guys said it should be the same...

http://youtu.be/r3aqHbD-O9E

[MagikSmallie]

I find that hard to believe....especially after these guys said it should be the same...

http://youtu.be/r3aqHbD-O9E

Thats with the tailgate up vs down! That has nothing to do with a Tonneau Cover
It's a well known fact that Tonneau Covers on pickups increase fuel mileage. Which has nothing to do with tailgates.

According a study conducted by Western New England College's Department of Mechanical Engineers, "The best way to reduce drag, and improve gas mileage for pickup trucks, is to add a tonneau cover." Their study yielded gas mileage savings of 8% by adding a tonneau cover to a Dodge Ram.

And I know for a fact that my 2010 Silverado got at least 2-3 MPG's more once I added the cover, I could see the readout being my truck gives instant MPG readouts....

[Carter1]

Zimmy is right. I also read that article. I don't travel with my boat covered. I use it only when parked because it keeps rain, etc. out of it. As for stuff lying out in the boat, I don't leave the good stuff out. Everything gets locked in a compartment or in my vehicle. Sometimes its a hassle but worth not having it stolen. Oh, another reason I don't tow my boat covered is because I have a bad spot where it is opened at a seam. It would shred apart if I drove with it on

On the topic of covers, I also treat mine with a silicone based spray once in a while. My cover is old and after a while in the weather it tends to leak. So I spray Camp Dry over the entire cover and it usually lasts a few months.

[coombro]

Do you guys just leave stuff laying around on the deck of your boat? Seems to me like most boats come with lockable rod lockers and storage compartments...why do you not use those?

Mine doesn't have any.

[peter]

I don't have a cover. Shure would be nice when towing in the rain. Those thunderstorms pop up often in the summer especially on tre trip home. No way I can fit everything in a water proof compartment (if they were actually waterproof). Rags, cushions, seats and all that get wet and then your you know what gets wet when you pull it off the trailer. If you pull in the winter and the roads have been salted or brined the salt corrodes wiring connections and everything else. The spray off trucks goes everywhere.

Pulling in the rain with no cover cleans it even better but the more often it gets wet the faster a wood deck will rot.

On a nice sunny day I would prefer to tow without a cover. It sort of "dry cleans" my boat. A lot more stuff blown out than blows in, like dried up fish parts any pretzel crums.

Personal preference I guess. Hassle to put on.

[Skeeterprop]

I had a guy make a fitted cover for my skeeter and it looks like a torpedo behind my truck. Such a good fit , I don't have to use straps on it . I noticed a nice improvement in my fuel milage vs no cover. Like 3 to 4 mpg.

[Tahoeman]

I agree, rainy days cover on, or a long trip with stops, but I did a test from Taylorsville to Lake Cumberland, one way cover on the other off, my Dodge got 4 miles to the gallon better with cover off, I have a dual purpose, so I would guess more drag? All I know is it saves a lot of fuel!

[mybentrod]

Kinda what I have been doing. Towing both ways. Never thought to look at MPG. Just thought the color rubs was telling me not a fitted cover, or it's just getting old. I know I've been from Lake Erie to Alabama towing my boat. Towing right is pretty important.

[sweetwater]

That sounds logical, but has anyone tried it to see?
Plenty of tests done that proove pick-up trucks get better
milage with the tailgate closed instead of laying down.
Contrary to what most would think, so I wonder about a boat.
Can it be the same effect?

The tailgate test usually works out to being an even trade off. You'll lose aerodynamic efficiency without a tailgate. The airflow creates a big area of low pressure behind the cab which creates extra drag. If you have a sliding glass window just open it with the tailgate down. However, if you remove the tailgate you gain fuel economy by reducing the weight of the truck. It seems reasonable to assume that without a cover you would reduce the aerodynamic profile of the boat thereby increasing mileage. With the cover on you protect the boat from debis and theives a little better. I'd just do whatever seemed the most important to me at the time.

[coombro]

The tailgate test usually works out to being an even trade off. You'll lose aerodynamic efficiency without a tailgate. The airflow creates a big area of low pressure behind the cab which creates extra drag. If you have a sliding glass window just open it with the tailgate down. However, if you remove the tailgate you gain fuel economy by reducing the weight of the truck. It seems reasonable to assume that without a cover you would reduce the aerodynamic profile of the boat thereby increasing mileage. With the cover on you protect the boat from debis and theives a little better. I'd just do whatever seemed the most important to me at the time.

The myth buster dudes did this test on their show one time.