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Old 05-27-2012, 09:39 PM   #19 (permalink)
sid
EcoModding Apprentice
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Florida
Posts: 202

grayranger - '10 Ford Ranger XL 2 door supercab
90 day: 31.28 mpg (US)
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I agree with Orangustang with regards to the cap. My three pickups all got better fuel economy with the cap than with an open bed. But the carrying racks hurt the fuel economy on all three pickups.

This assumes the cap blends in with the truck cab reasonably well. If the cap is taller than the cab and rises vertically in front as opposed to sloped, like my second cap did before I added a tapered cowling to the front of it, it will hurt the fuel economy. Even if it blends in with the truck cab, if it is too much taller than the cab, it will hurt the fuel economy. It will also hurt the FE is it is excessively heavy. How tall and heavy before it hurts depends upon the truck and the cap.

This is my experience. I wouldn't doubt that others have different experiences, since there are a lot of variables here, including the nut behind the wheel.
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2010 Ford Ranger, extra cab, 2.3 liter
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