Pop-up versus hard-side height and fuel economy survey

[simple]

I'm curious to hear what the panel has to say about a couple of real world metrics for these two styles of campers. I can't be the only one wondering. LOL

• How much reduction in gas mileage have you seen with the addition of a camper (please specify vehicle and camper)?
• What is your overall height with either style camper (please specify if you have a suspension lift)?

 

[simple]

My Spacekap hard-side camper on a 2008 Silverado 1500 4x4 gets 14.5 MPG loaded for a one week trip, highway driving 1200 miles over mountains. I don't have personal data for MPG without a camper but I think it is around 18-19 mpg so I'll estimate the reduction at 4MPG. It is around 9ft tall.

 

[vintageracer]

Different trucks, different caps, different driving styles it's all a GUESS!

 

[Sparse Gray Hackle]

F350 6.7L diesel, w/canopy 17-18, w/pop up16-17, w/fiber glass camper (3400#dry) 12-14.

 

[Kevin108]

Tires can make as much of a difference as a tent.

2007 FJ Cruiser
20 mpg highway before gear & soft-sided RTT; 18 mpg after.
Went to load range E tires after the Cs wore down. Lost 2 more mpg.

2006 GX 470
20 mpg highway before gear, E-rated MTs, and soft-sided RTT; 15 mpg after.

 

[jmodz]

2017 Ford F-150 3.5L ecoboost with a hard sided bel-air camper. I got 14.5mpg average. Before the camper I averaged 19mpg.

2014 Toyota Tacoma 2.7l i4 with a AT overland Summit wedge camper. I got 14mpg with the camper and 18mpg without.

In my experience both had a pretty equal hit on mpg. Both trucks were stock. If I were to buy a camper again, I’d get a removable one so I can commute without it on the truck. Like an Alu-Cab Khaya, Kimbo, or the total composites truck campers.

 

[Arclight]

1997 T100 witha Flippac (sticks up over the roofline about 8"). About 15mpg with camper, 16-18mpg greater without the shell.

 

[97heavyweight]

2018 Tacoma that is more on the fully built side of things than not. Weight is 6900lbs wet with two people and two dogs. Height is 7'6". I added a wind fairing which help significantly with my MPGs. Currently cruising on the hwy at 55mph I can get 17.5mpg. I think prior to the camper I was at 22mpg at 70mph or so.

 

[GeorgeHayduke]

2016 Ram 2500 Cummins: 18-19 mpg empty, 17-18 mpg with a Go Fast Camper, 15-16 mpg with Northstar TC650 and 13-14 mpg with a Scout Kenai.

 

[Groverland]

2020 Tacoma 2.7 AT Summit topper. I can average 20+ mpg WITH the topper and mild build-out(150#). Height overall is under 7ft closed, but I'm on stock wheels/tires and my leaf kit was custom made to handle 500# additional constant weight with no change in ride height. I do drive like a grandpa, however.

 

[BajaSurfRig]

For my 2014 6.2 gas Super Duty I saw about 11-12 with my FWC Grandby and 9-11 with my Lance 815. Unloaded maybe 12-14.

 

[JaSAn]

Grandby on 2012 Ram 2500, 9 years of gas milage data with camper on and off:

14 mpg with camper off.​

11.9 mpg with camper on.​

loose another 1.5 mpg with winter gas (November to April).​

Truck with camper loaded weighs 7920 wet.​

 

[mkish]

2012 F350 crewcab 4WD 6.7 diesel shortbed; Northstar TC800 popup with a full buttwrap. Everything (relevant) is stock. Don't know the height offhand. It's no FWC!

At ~65 mph I get around 20 mpg with a tonneau cover, around 14 mpg with camper loaded. This varies HUGELY with speed. (The spouse gets much less. )

 

[Billincamo]

My Spacekap hard-side camper on a 2008 Silverado 1500 4x4 gets 14.5 MPG loaded for a one week trip, highway driving 1200 miles over mountains. I don't have personal data for MPG without a camper but I think it is around 18-19 mpg so I'll estimate the reduction at 4MPG. It is around 9ft tall.

60,65,70,75, mph on the highway when you are getting 14.5?

 

[simple]

60,65,70,75, mph on the highway when you are getting 14.5?

I'd say 70-75 mph. We drove from Bellingham to Montana and back so mostly freeway miles.