SnugTop claims product testing shows your gas mileage will improve with a topper.

I did a lot of research on camper, topper, shells...etc. Snugtop Rebel was my choice after looking at all the options.

I saw a thread mentioned MPG being negatively affected by having a shell and wanted to share what i found on the Snugtop website FAQ.

Hoping it's true. We will see.

http://www.snugtop.com/t-faqs.aspx

"Will my SNUGTOP affect my mileage?

Yes, but in a good way! SNUGTOP asked a third party to put our products to the test. We passed with flying colors! We were able to prove that full sized trucks with covered beds actually improved their gas mileage by 10%. This was true with either the truck cap or tonneau cover."

 

Good luck

 

Pretty sure the weight difference will instantly negate any gain in MPG from aerodynamics

 

really, does it weigh that much? How much does the shell weigh? just guessing.... 200 lbs?

 

approximately. I'll believe their claim when they show the results, not just a sentence saying otherwise. I guess I wouldn't know as I've had my cap on from the day we got it

 

I take my leer 100xr on and off from time to time and haven't seen any real difference in mpg with or without it.

 

I've been keeping track on several fill ups. Ive drive nice and easy mostly 50/50 city/highway, and only throttle up when I have too. I should be able to tell if there's a 10% increase.

So far I've recorded:
18.5 MPG - regular unleaded
18.0 MPG - regular unleaded - engaged 4x4
17.8 MPG - regular unleaded - engaged 4x4
16.6 MPG - regular unleaded
17.9 MPG - regular unleaded
18.6 MPG - super unleaded - engaged 4x4
18.2 MPG - super unleaded - engaged 4x4

 

Think you'll find there are too many environmental conditions to be able to get a good sense of where its coming from. Maybe if you have a year of MPG and then put the cap on. Headwind vs tailwind. Temperature. Take a hillier road home. Traffic bad, etc.

 

agreed.... probably way too hard to tell. I'm pretty happy averaging around 18 with my truck.

 

Your various fill ups are all ready at about 10% don't think your going to be able to tell.

 

I've had my Snugtop on and off the truck for the past two years and haven't noticed any improvement in MPGs either way.

 

I'm pretty sure this was on MythBusters...

EDIT: I guess it was tail gate up or down. Meh.

 

LET THE AEROMODDING COMMENCE!

 

Been on the site all day. This is my favorite post by far.

 

I have the snugtop rebel that came with my taco. It also came with Thule tracks and bars and I do see a difference with the bars on or off. I have yet to drive with the shell off so I can't say what affect if any it has on mileage. I suspect any difference will be more noticeable if you are normally above 20mpg than if down around 15mpg.

 

Sounds like a great sales pitch to sell their product

 

Its bullshit. Totally false.

I have a 35lb Softopper and see a 5-10% degrease in mileage (1-2 mpg) with it on.

Toppers DECREASE aerodynamics.

Fiberglass toppers are heavy and that just adds to it.

 

Maybe they tested these models?
So many “good” ideas...

 

That topper is pure sex.

 

Aerodynamics is about turbulence and a fabric top will behave differently than a hard shell. It's enough to describe yours and give your performance and unnecessary to provide an unsubstantiated gross generalization. When Bestop starts making similar claims feel free to jump on them.