Do camper shells help milage?

[zixxer]

I'm curious as to your opinion on whether camper shells help gas milage in trucks..

pic

 

[shabby]

The extra weight might offset any mpg increase, dont forget the added cost you probably wont get back.
Leaving the tailgate up is actually recommended then putting it down.

 

[nakedfrog]

Nope.

 

[Throckmorton]

The ones that curve down gradually at the rear do. Good luck finding one though-- I've only seen them on Dodge Rams back in the 90s

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Nope.

QFT

 

[Maximus96]

i think mythbusters concluded leaving the tail gate down gets worse mpg than leaving up

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: shabby
The extra weight might offset any mpg increase, don't forget the added cost you probably wont get back.

At steady-state freeway speeds where wind resistance really comes into play, weight has essentially zero bearing on fuel economy. Weight only comes into play against fuel economy when accelerating or moving uphill.

But you're right that the difference is essentially nil in terms of overall mileage. It definitely wouldn't hurt mileage though.

ZV

 

[3chordcharlie]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
But you're right that the difference is essentially nil in terms of overall mileage. It definitely wouldn't hurt mileage though.

ZV

Except driving stop n go, around town, where it might hurt 😉

It probably depends if you like to drive around with cargo that has the aerodynamic profile of a picnic table. Then it might help a lot.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: 3chordcharlie

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
But you're right that the difference is essentially nil in terms of overall mileage. It definitely wouldn't hurt mileage though.

ZV

Except driving stop n go, around town, where it might hurt 😉

It probably depends if you like to drive around with cargo that has the aerodynamic profile of a picnic table. Then it might help a lot.

Good point. 🙂

ZV

 

[swtethan]

a shell is how heavy? like 70 lbs?

 

[zixxer]

..Yeah - I think they're around 70lbs.

I commute about 70 miles a day = 17k a year. About 50% of that is no traffic, the other 50% is moderate traffic.



I thought the reason trucks got such bad gas milage is because of the air getting tumbled around in the bed of the truck - which is why having the tailgate up helps mpg (makes a 'bubble' of air in bed).


I can get one of those plain-jane camper shells for my ranger used for about $200.

 

[AMCRambler]

My pops put one on his Tacoma which he drives primarily around town. He did worse on mpg. Can't say when it comes to highway driving, but my guess is it won't affect your mileage positively.