Horrible gas mileage with Snugtop

So I finally got my silver Snugtop the other day. Looks awesome!
One problem: I've lost about 4 mpg! Nothing else has changed. I normally get about 19-21 on the highway and I got as low as 16 going 70mph all highway! I'm thinking it might not be on tight enough. Any other ideas?

 

Does your snugtop have a roof rack?

 

I'm pretty sure I get about the same mileage with mine. Havn't checked in a while but need to fill up soon I can let you know. I never have done a topper on/off mileage comparison but it would be useful to compare!

The toppers are perfect for dogs and anything you don't want to get wet though.

 

I get almost exactly the same mileage with or without my camper shell. I was disappointed because my dad's truck gets almost 30% better fuel economy with the shell, but... meh. That's not really why I bought it anyway.

My camper shell moves, looked at it a couple weeks ago and it was a couple inches back from where it should be, so I put it back in place and tightened the clamps, took it out for 1 drive on the higway and it moved back about 1/2". I think I'm going to find the Incredible Hulk to tighten the clamps next, not sure what else to do.

 

Thanks for the responses. I wouldn't be concerned, but it's about a 20-25% loss! Its very useful and im sure my dog will love it, I'm just surprised and wasn't sure if I was doing something wrong.

No roof rack on the topper, but I've had one on the truck almost since new and still average 18-19 mpg on fuelly!

 

I literally went on a 350 mile trip to get it and got 19-20 and returned and got 16-17. Crazy.

 

What kind of shell do you have? I've got an ARE MX series (mid-rise shell) that I've had on for a year and a half and it hasn't moved a bit and hasn't been re-tightened since it got put on. The ARE shell I've got uses the bed rails for attachment but doesn't have clamps that suck the shell down, they just bolt straight in.

 

Did you go with the wind to get it & against it on the way home?
No change in my MPGs and I even have the tall one.

 

i was going to stay the same about the wind.

 

Yeah it was stormy when I was coming home so I thought it might be wind. I tightened it down so we will see. My first truck and my first shell so just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something!

 

Definitely the wind. I see a very noticeable difference with the slightest headwind or tail wind. Heck, I got to San Francisco on one tank because of a 30mph tailwind the whole way up!

 

x2

x2

Doesn't matter what I do -- shell on, shell off -- I get 16.5mpg pretty religiously. Now, put the safari rack on, load 'er up, and it's a different story......about 12-13mpg then

 

Remember your putting on more weight, more weight more gass to haul it.

 

The extra weight doesn't make much difference on the highway and the improved aerodynamics usually cancel it out. Around town you might notice a slight drop because aerodynamics don't play as big of a role at lower speeds.

That being said, with my shell I still get 21 - 22 MPG commutting in and out of Boston and 17 MPG highway (most highways around here are hilly and that's holding 75 MPH).

 

Those of you with a campershell and crappy gas mileage should just give me your shell and everything will be fine (especially if it has a rack on top).

 

I just returned home from a road trip from Las Vegas to Orlando and back. It was about 2600 miles each way. So I think this is a very good comparison. Speed limit was maintained and weather/temps was the same there and back. While there, I picked up a shell for my truck.

From LV to Orlando- Toolbox and nothing in bed- 18.65 mpg

From Orlando to LV- Shell w/ 350lbs of stuff in bed- 18.75 mpg

I'm surpised my mpg's were a tad better even w/ the extra weight of the shell and the other stuff in the bed. I was able to get 21.94 mpgs between Albuqurque and Flagstaff.

 

This

there and back were different conditions

keep tracking it and keep us posted but you shouldn't lose more than a fraction of an mpg at worst

 

Aerodynamics are fascinating. Done some research and found a couple of interesting feature articles, one actually from Snugtop and one from SEMA's wind tunnel test. Very interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COabj1G36Do

http://www.toyotatundraforum.com/exterior/117-sema-research-shows-tonneau-covers-can.html

And of course there's always that old myth that a truck with the tailgate down is more fuel efficient ... in fact it has a higher drag coefficient ... go figure

 

Just filled up for the second time since the trip, and got 19.4 which is awesome. Apparently you guys were right and it was just the wind. Thanks!