Camper top killed my gas mileage

My mileage also stayed the same with camper added

 

The difference in weight between them all is insignificant. The amount of gas in the tank differs as much from full to empty. Aerodynamic differences between hard and soft tops could easily affect mileage more and be as equally difficult to measure the effect.

 

Honestly I might be wrong could be
According RSI theirs is 180lbs
Google is saying an ARE DCU is 220

which, if it’s got windows (glass is heavier than thin metal), etc
Could be basically the same

yes I’m not sure about the aerodynamics of a soft top
It’s not the smoothest texture or shape for air to flow past
When I had one I definitely noticed it would shake in the wind too

 

The best posable thing you can do is start it and drive, modern engines and oils don't need to warm up sitting still. Think about it 0-15 oils, within 1 mile my truck is making warm air and the temp gauge is off the cold pin.

 

Yeah for me the weight difference isn’t an issue since all of them are more than I can deal with unaided. The one time I removed my shell I used pulleys from a garage ceiling.

 

I have a Leer topper with a rack, solar panel, and awning. Also have homemade bed drawers that weigh probably 150lbs. My summer average is 18-19mpg mixed driving and I averaged 22 on a long roadtrip. Even the last couple weeks idling 20 minutes twice a day to warm up (-15F windchill), I’m averaging 16.

 

Weight for sure. But after i got new spark plugs, i got a legit 2mpg increase. I have a lift, 32 inch e bfg ats, a 350lb super pacific camper, bumpers, all sorts of shit. I get 14mpg, better on the highway using cruise.

 

Just one more data point: my '21 TRDOR access cab has a Snugtop Rebel on the back. Last night I averaged 25 mpg on a 90 mile stretch of interstate. That is not atypical. Cold weather seems to affect my mileage much more than having the topper on the back.

 

Mine’s also a Rebel and my best was 27 over a 350 Mike stretch down to Santa Barbara with a passenger and scuba gear for 2(tanks, weights, 9mil suits, etc) cruising 70-75(avg 65 including stops). It ain’t the cap or the weight, there’s something else going on.

 

I'm still getting 19-21 MPG with my DCLB and Leer 100xr on road trips.

 

Having made the trip between Monterey and L.A. hundreds of times in the last forty years, and taken both 101 and 5/46/101, more likely than not, it's the prevailing winds which mostly are from north to south, especially coming south on 101.

 

Got 26.5 on the way back to the Bay Area. The south side of Cuesta grade is long, steep, and sucks fuel. The north side is barely a rise since you’ve been gently climbing since Salinas.

 

The south side of Cuesta Grade is what me so "no fucking way" when I was test-driving an 04 DC, which of course only comes with auto. I was picking my spot between semis to get the fuck out of the "fast" lane for everyone. It was fucking shameful. My 01 5 speed was like yeah OK, but I'm grunting but not handing in my ballsack"

 

There was a mythbusters episode that tested this. Uncovered truck bed with tail gate closed was the most fuel efficient. Not by a whole lot though.

 

Interesting, typically the mpg goes up even with the weight of the camper. Sometimes it just evens out from the wind hitting the bed door

 

Myth busters is entertaining but the science is sketchy sometimes. I wouldn’t call it proof of anything one way or another.

 

I did not read this whole thread, so sorry if it’s been said before. But how fast were you going when you recorded that mileage? It sounded like you haven’t had the topper on for long. Even with no topper, stock suspension, stock tires I could get in the 14’s on a road trip going fast. Out here in the west with 80 mph speed limits the Tacoma does not do well on fuel.

now that I have big tires, go fast camper, lift, rock sliders, it’s still just over 14 on an extended 80mph road trip.

 

Yup but for this one, it was solid.

 

Skeptical. I enjoyed the show but even that episode was Swiss cheese.

 

It took about a month to get my cap after buying my truck new in 2007. It hasn't been off since. It weighs about 180 lbs and fuel mileage has never changed even with 4 different, but similar, tire sizes and with tires ranging between 38 and 53 lbs. For everyday driving I get 17-18. On road trips right at 20 and on a few rare occasions as much as 22.

Something ain't right and it isn't the camper top. The added weight is going to be offset by a little better aerodynamics. Think about it, if 180-200 lbs made much of a difference I'd see a huge drop in fuel mileage with my grand kids riding with me.