Trucks "Feels" different after adding Tonneau?

probably to bee expected.
You added a couple hundred pounds to the rear, and reduced wind drag on the gate.
 
Ill go a step farther, on my 04 250 when I added a bug shield it noticeably changed the way the truck drove....that thin little strip of fiberglass...never would have thought it.
 
tonneau covers are meant to give a truck "less" downforce on the rear end, making the truck lighter at speed(this is good for gas mileage). since you added a fiber glass tonneau, the added 58#'s or so is most likely what you feel. the added weight is above the center of gravity for the truck, making even slight turns at highway speeds cause a little more body roll which would make the steering feel a little different. if it were a canvas tonneau, the effect would be less dramatic, but still give you the straight line reduced downforce.
 
mudder said:
tonneau covers are meant to give a truck "less" downforce on the rear end, making the truck lighter at speed(this is good for gas mileage). since you added a fiber glass tonneau, the added 58#'s or so is most likely what you feel. the added weight is above the center of gravity for the truck, making even slight turns at highway speeds cause a little more body roll which would make the steering feel a little different. if it were a canvas tonneau, the effect would be less dramatic, but still give you the straight line reduced downforce.
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Not to nitpick, but a tonneau gives less aerodynamic drag as the vertical plow (the tailgate) is liminated by the air flowing smoothly across the cover.

That said overall downforce, would increase as there is a greater flat surface area for windd to push down on, so you should notice an increase down force and a decrease pull back force at highway speeds.

I Think
 
It's ABS plastic....and +/- 50#'s. I SERIOUSLY doubt I'm feeling "body roll", due to the extra weight. I explained earlier, exactly what I felt.....or thought I was feeling.

No biggie. Merry Christmas.
 
JV NC said:
It's ABS plastic....and +/- 50#'s. I SERIOUSLY doubt I'm feeling "body roll", due to the extra weight. I explained earlier, exactly what I felt.....or thought I was feeling.
No biggie. Merry Christmas.
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I doubt its body roll due to the extra weight as well. 50 pounds isnt gonna make a hill of beans to a 6k truck. Your feel has to do with aerodynamics. Now how yall want to argue its exact effects (downforce vs drag) is up to yall.

Duane
 
Anyone watch mythbusters???

“When the tailgate is raised, a “separated bubble” of stagnant air is formed in the bed of the pickup. Wind tends to swoosh over this bubble as though it were part of the truck. Lower the tailgate, and the bubble disappears, which leads to increased wind resistance.”

So how would adding a cover effect it?

Found this

Putting a tonneau or hard bed cover over your truck is the best thing you can do for highway fuel economy. A shell also can help. Since most of these are relatively light, the extra weight must be worth the improvement. This is one reason something like an Avalanche (which has a bed that's partially covered) often gets better highway mileage than an open pickup with the same drivetrain and tires--and weighs less.

Still not a believer? Ever watch a NASCAR truck race? Don't those pickups run around with covered beds and a small piece of metal sticking nearly straight up? Ever see a land-speed record truck with an open bed? And don't give me that "off-road race trucks have open beds" nonsense. Those beds are little more than sides covering the mechanicals, without a top or bottom, and rear lift is irrelevant when you're 10 feet off the ground.
 
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