I purchased a hard tonneau cover after taking a long trip (400+ miles) without one and haven't noticed much if any difference in MPG's on additional lenghty trips with one. *Each trip having similar weight/load in vehicle and distance before fuel ups (250+/- miles).
My experience has been that the added weight of the cover (75-lbs) negates any noticeable MPG savings. I can't speak directly about shells or truck caps, but would imagine similar results.
Here is a news flash. If mileage (that is cost per mile driven) is a concern to you, DO NOT BUY A CAMPER!!! No matter what, you will get lousy mileage. Buy a Yugo or a Hundai and a tent, or stay in a motel when you travel. If you are worried about the few extra dollars in fuel that one doodad or another might save, or cost, then spending thousands for a room on wheels is a dumb thing to do. Once you have committed to buying an RV, miles per gallon should not be a concern, it costs more money.........get used to it.
Truck caps giving better MPG is an Urban Myth...
You do not get better mileage.
What you gain is a dry cargo hold, with several 'Blind Spots'.
If MPG is your goal, slow down to about 55 MPH.
(Not always realistic)
Desert Captain wrote: ...
I still would not own a truck without a cap. The convenient secure storage it provides is for me, priceless. But what the hell, I've only been "Capped" for 14 years. Think I'll give it another 14 and if it doesn't work out I'll junk it.
Great answer. What brand and style of cap do you recommend?
Desert Captain wrote: ...
I still would not own a truck without a cap. The convenient secure storage it provides is for me, priceless. But what the hell, I've only been "Capped" for 14 years. Think I'll give it another 14 and if it doesn't work out I'll junk it.
Great answer. What brand and style of cap do you recommend?
I have been very happy with my Leer. It is flush to the height of the top of the cab and I think I paid $1100 for it 3.5 years ago. The fit and finish are excellent, the sliding windows are screened and the overhead is carpeted. I assume you saw the picture I posted here on 3/16/12.
Not that anyone is likely to agree with me but I do believe that that the smoother air flow of my shell does get me a bit more mileage but then I like my K&N air intake, the Michelin E rated LT's, Scan Gauge II and most of my other tools and toys.
Desert Captain wrote: There is no question that the air flow over a cap is going to be smoother, with less disturbance than the flow over a pick up with the tail gate up. Does this translate to better mileage?
Yes. What does that have to do with the price of rice in China?
All seriousness aside, their tests were for tailgates up and down and with a tonneau cover (a flat cover on the bed no higher than the sides of the bed). They did not cover caps. I checked my mileage before and after I got my cap and the mileage stayed the same.
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