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What does camper shell do to fuel consumption?

Peter3334

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Ravenkeeper Senior Enthusiast

Ravenkeeper

Posted
Posted
On 11/12/2017 at 9:19 AM, Peter3334 said:

I want a camper shell or tonneau cover for my 6'6" box on my 2017 GMC Sierra King Cab.

What effect will the various Camper Shell style have on fuel consumption?

What about the 'Hi Rise' style camper shells?

Any other comments on shells?

This is my truck should I get a White shell or a Red one?

Thanks .... ph

 

MyTruck_C.jpg

Compared to a tonneau cover, shell should have the same fuel economy.  Watched my MPGs go up between the time I bought mine (open bed) and the time I got my tonneau cover installed (2 months later).  I ran some MPG checks with my 91 Nissan during the first 3 years that I had it, open bed (tailgate closed), tailgate open, replaced tailgate with ProNet, tonneau cover, and (cab high) shell.  Open gate and ProNet were the worst MPGs that I had gotten.  Saw no difference between shell and tonneau cover, and as with my '15 Silverado, better with something closing off the bed.  I imagine that the "hi-rise" will drop your MPG a little.  Sold my Nissan to my dad, around the 4th year, and he put the "Big Blue Box" on it, stuck out about the tips of the mirrors and about 24" above the cab.  OH, my Nissan was Midnight Blue Pearl. 

 

As for the color of the shell, color match.  I'm looking at getting a white shell for my black truck, but that's cause I'm hoping that it will screw with these CA drivers, make them think that there's a CHP ahead of them.  When we're in our white Cruze, the white CHP units will draft us to tag the oncoming traffic, similarly with my truck and the black/white CHP units.  Nothing like being a "human shield."

Z45 Senior Enthusiast

Z45

Posted
Posted

If anything a topper will hurt fuel mileage because of the added weight of the fiberglass. Some are better built and weight more than other brands.  So anyone who claims better mpg I think is fooling themselves in that respect.  

Rubyralph Enthusiast

Rubyralph

Posted
Posted

I don't know if my MPG changed or not, but I like having the added covered space for cargo and its secure too:thumbs:

thumbnail_IMG_20171114_123257.jpg

sdeeter19555 Senior Enthusiast

sdeeter19555

Posted
Posted
If anything a topper will hurt fuel mileage because of the added weight of the fiberglass. Some are better built and weight more than other brands.  So anyone who claims better mpg I think is fooling themselves in that respect.  
Yeah, no...

Tracked mileage on every tank for 300k miles...I had hard data for mine, not guessing.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

newdude Senior Enthusiast

newdude

Posted
Posted

I'd think the weight of those would offset any aerodynamic advantage gained, if any for MPG change.  Those suckers aren't light. 

 

So, if you want the cap for your needs, go for it, but don't expect any mileage gains. 

sdeeter19555 Senior Enthusiast

sdeeter19555

Posted
Posted
I'd think the weight of those would offset any aerodynamic advantage gained, if any for MPG change.  Those suckers aren't light. 
 
So, if you want the cap for your needs, go for it, but don't expect any mileage gains. 
Again, I tracked it...cap paid for itself in mileage gains. Took some time, but it did...

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

Grumpy Bear Senior Enthusiast

Grumpy Bear

Posted
Posted
On ‎11‎/‎13‎/‎2017 at 7:02 PM, Cowpie said:

I think they do help a little on keeping dirt buildup off the back.  I live on gravel roads and I have noticed less accumulation of dirt on the back end.  Didn't eliminate it, but did reduce it.  The best way to keep dirt off the back is a air deflector that pushes air down across the back end.  Some RV places have universal air deflectors and if I was using a cap, I would look into that.

 

I use a tonneau occasionally.  Air tabs could go on a hard bed cover, but not on a soft tonneau.  I have air tabs on the rear fenders near the lights and across the top of the cab rear.  

What do you do about the area at the tail lights Cliff? Got a photo of yours?

vinemann12 Enthusiast

vinemann12

Posted
Posted

I purchased Leer for my 2016 RCSB within a few months of getting truck..

Did not notice "any" mileage changes from open bed, but did notice a bit more wind buffeting at interstate speeds..

Since these units are about 195 Lbs +, will be curious on bed weight for extra traction this upcomming winter..

 

Photo taken before new BFG KO2's installed,, now that is different subject as mileage dropped a bit..

 

Cheers---K

 

Truck2 003.JPG

spenpet Enthusiast

spenpet

Posted
Posted

I had a bakflip Mx4 matte black cover, really liked it...we needed more space for my wife's business, so ended up with a camper...I didn't think I would like it, but I do...although you can have covered cargo, it does limit the amount of stuff you can have (height wise)...pros and cons to both...cost being a huge difference...

 

My mpg's dropped slightly from when I first put my cover on, and slightly dropped when I put my topper on...the kicker is (like most guys on here) I also have a level, larger tires, and an after market muffler, and even an after market front bumper...all of which can impact the mpg's...so it is tough to isolate the exact effect the topper/cover might have...

 

either way, it certainly isn't enough for me to NOT get another one if I were to get a new truck!  would strongly encourage a cover of some kind.

Cowpie Senior Enthusiast

Cowpie

Posted
Posted
29 minutes ago, Grumpy Bear said:

What do you do about the area at the tail lights Cliff? Got a photo of yours?

 

You can see the tabs on the rear and across the top of the rear portion of the cab.  Just like Keith, this was before BFG KO2's next size up from stock were installed. It already had the 2" McGaughy's drop shackles in the rear end installed so it didn't look so much like a cat in heat.

 

IMG_5556.jpg

vinemann12 Enthusiast

vinemann12

Posted
Posted

Hey Cowpie..

I may have missed,, but where did you get your Tabs??

Do they stick on via 3M adheisive?

 

Not to dwell on tires,, but installed "upsized 285/55/20's BFG-KO2's with Nitrogen fill a few weeks ago from crap Goodyear 275/55/20 SRA's..

Also Nerf bars for GF...

Did notice about 4-tenths drop in overall mileage from 19mpg to about 18.6mpg, but handling has greatly improved as will as looks..

 

Cheers---K

 

NewTires.jpg

mookdoc6 Senior Enthusiast

mookdoc6

Posted
Posted

I have probably a heavier one than say a normal cab high.  It's the snug top XTR and they weighs 300 lbs but have ability to hold 300-400lbs on top of the Shell.  It's a significant amount of weight just the Topper and probably has little to no effect on mpg's.  I have since added probably 300LBS of added crap from MODS and other random stuff I carry.......I mean car seats, tools etc.  I get the same MPG's pretty much on HWY/City and with Family added and luggage driving extended miles across states it maxs out @ 22.8 mpg's  So I think the Topper sorta helps especially if just doing HWY all the time.  How else could I add all that weight and not be penalized?  The airflow on HWY cancelled it out is my belief....

 

Just get a freaking topper!  Once you go topper you never go back.......

mookdoc6 Senior Enthusiast

mookdoc6

Posted
Posted
12 minutes ago, vinemann12 said:

Hey Cowpie..

I may have missed,, but where did you get your Tabs??

Do they stick on via 3M adheisive?

 

Not to dwell on tires,, but installed "upsized 285/55/20's BFG-KO2's with Nitrogen fill a few weeks ago from crap Goodyear 275/55/20 SRA's..

Also Nerf bars for GF...

Did notice about 4-tenths drop in overall mileage from 19mpg to about 18.6mpg, but handling has greatly improved as will as looks..

 

Cheers---K

 

NewTires.jpg

Sexy black topper!

Cowpie Senior Enthusiast

Cowpie

Posted
Posted
13 hours ago, vinemann12 said:

Hey Cowpie..

I may have missed,, but where did you get your Tabs??

Do they stick on via 3M adheisive?

 

Not to dwell on tires,, but installed "upsized 285/55/20's BFG-KO2's with Nitrogen fill a few weeks ago from crap Goodyear 275/55/20 SRA's..

Also Nerf bars for GF...

Did notice about 4-tenths drop in overall mileage from 19mpg to about 18.6mpg, but handling has greatly improved as will as looks..

 

Cheers---K

 

NewTires.jpg

 

I got the tabs right from the Air Tab website.  Actually, the ones I put on the 2500 were a batch left over from when I did my semi truck a couple of years earlier.  Yeah, they stick on with 3M.

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