>>> <eperez@kpmg.com> 10/22 8:58 AM >>>
>I just bought a '95 Dakota CC 4x4 and I want to get a tonneau cover for it. I
>don't race, (though I might want to) but I understand a tonneau cover will give
>me better gas mileage. I have a 180 mile round trip to work which I do twice a
>week but gas gets eaten up quick.
>
>My question is, which one to get. I got a truck magazine and saw a couple of
>brands and it appears they range from $99 to $700. Obviously, I would like to
>be in the $99 range but I do not want to have it rip in 2 month either. I live
>n New Jersey so in the winter it may have to hold some snow overnight.
>
>Appreciate any advice.
>
>Thanks
>
>Edgar Perez
>edgarperez@writeme.com
About a month ago I installed an Extang Saber Tonneau cover on my 97 truck and I'm very pleased with it. It uses Extang's J-channel to hold the cover down (which is hard to explain, but I think it's better than snaps or velcro. Go to http://www.pathcom.com/~acai/extang/saber.htm to read about it) According to the trip computer my fuel economy went from an average of 15.5 before the cover to 17.0 after (V6 engine mostly highway driving. I think the computer reads an MPG or two low, but the ratio should still be pretty accurate) I'm in upstate NY so I need the cover to hold snow as well. The place I bought it from said I'd have no problems in the winter (I got it locally so they know about snow;)
Probably the cheapest cover you can get is a velcro one without a frame (You just stick some velcro to the top of the bed. I had one of those on my 94 Ranger and, short of the cost, I really wasn't happy with it. I discovered that occasionally on very windy days the velcro would let go once you got up to highway speeds and the cover would start blowing around. It would happen to me about once or twice a month. Not too often, but quite annoying when it did. I also discovered that occasionally during the winter it would rain and the velcro would get wet. If it would drop below freezing the next day that water would freeze in the velcro and the cover would be impossible to remove until it thawed. Again, this was rare (happened a couple of times each winter) but quite annoying when it happened. Feel free to let me know if you have any other questions.
Good luck
Brett
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