camper shell on 2.7 auto?

Hello all,
First post!
I have a ‘18 taco 4x4 2.7L Auto, Access Cab. My lady nd I camp a lot and I am strongly considering getting a camper shell on my new Tacoma. Can anyone who has the 2.7 auto comment on wether or not it makes the 2.7 even more of a dog than it already is? I wanted manual, but they didn’t have a single manual access cab in 2.7 within 150 mile radius. Everyone snatched them up I guess.

Anybody with the 2.7 auto have a camper shell on their truck? And if so, does it really weigh down the truck? Rear end sag, slower speed/less power, dragging etc

Thanks for your time!
B

 

Camper shell? Do you mean shells like Leer, SnugTop, ARE? Or Camper like Four Wheel Camper or Habitat?

 

I mean like a “truck cap” or a “camper shell” like a leer or a snug top yes. Something I could throw my blow up air mattress in and camp, instead of a tent

 

I doubt you'd notice any difference in performance with a standard cap/canopy/camper shell. They only weight 150-200 lbs and they can improve the wind signature. Get a cab height model and don't be temped to add unneeded accessories. When you add racks or other things that stick out above the cab level, you'll get more drag.

 

Id think you notice it a tiny bit, but it's still worth doing.

 

Thanks mike and reloader. I definitely want one that’s cab height and doesn’t go any further above the cab. Now to shell out 2k+ and grab one.

I’m still interested in hearing if anyone else who has a 2.7 auto felt any difference after adding the shell

 

I have an aluminum shell on a '98 with 2.7L 5speed and a fiberglass shell on a '16 (v6 AT). There's no meaningful difference with or without shell. The shell on the '98 is a generic aluminum shell that sticks out an inch on the sides and about and inch taller than the roof so it's acting like an air brake. Still no real difference unless it's a real strong headwind.

 

My 01 4 door 2.7L is a total dog from the factory. After adding the leer shell you definitely notice it on acceleration from a stop.

At a point by my house there is a off camber turn where the rear tire would break loose. After camper I can’t break the rear tire loose at all on the 01.



My 2018 AC 2.7L feels great. It is a farm truck. I ordered the camper shell for hauling dates and it won’t be here for another 2 weeks. I don’t know how much of a dog it will be . However, rest assured there is a definite difference once you put it on

 

Thanks for the honesty PRO. I’m sure I’ll see a smal difference but I mean it’s already a dog right. I’m not looking to drag race it. I just wanna make sure it’s not gonna make or break me on the hilly mountaintop from CA to WA

 

My 01 and 18 (both 2.7L) has to downshift significantly to maintain speed up the hills. I live at 2850ft and am at sea level daily and climbing with them a lot up to 6500ft

It won’t make or break it on a hill imho

 

Yes I noticed that. When I’m in the Bay Area at 70mph on a flat freeway I get 23-25mph average. When I was going up i5 to Washington last weekend I got 17mph on the highway cause of all the hills.

 

Only good thing about my 17 3.5 (at 9900 this weekend at Yosemite), on flat it gets 19mpg, on hills it gets 17 mpg
Negligible

 

See I almost wish I went with the v6 but two of my buddies got the 2.7 and they both have over 300k fully stock. Minus some larger all terrains. I think I’m going to keep this truck as long as I can, or at least until I break down and get a TRD pro and give my son the 2.7 once he can drive lol

 

I put a Leer 122 on my '13 2.7 auto tranny a couple of years ago.
I didn't notice any lag in engine performance, but I drive like a grandpa; also, I didn't notice any sag, but I have Hellwig helper springs.
All in all very happy with the purchase and haven't noticed any diminuition of power.

 

6MT and 4 door was a must for my DD, so 3.5 was a requirement

I prefer the 2.7L reliability as well

 

i have had a shell on my ‘11 single cab 4x4- it was alittle slower, but the 4speed was the killer for that.
On my ‘17 2.7 manual- very little difference, due to better gearing, and the mileage was generally the same or alittle better on the highway.
my main concern on all of those- rear springs flatten out.

now, on my ‘16 3.5, it sagged my rear alittle less than an 1”.

 

Thanks for all the helpful answers! I think I’m going to go for it

 

Spring for the Windoors. Seriously.

Tracks would be good in case you need to haul a little more stuff.

 

Oh yeah good point^^^^^
If you go leer, look at the leer locker since you have the longer bed. Spring for any option you might want now, it will hurt but it won't hurt as bad as a $2k regret

 

A softopper weighs significantly less if a sticking point for you is weight.