Camper shells for pickup trucks are awesome. I remember how excited I was the day I bought a shell for my old ’98 Toyota Tacoma. With one simple purchase I completely transformed how I was able to utilize my truck. Being a carpenter at the time, the ability to transport goods and materials without worrying about the constant Pacific Northwest (PNW) rain was a major relief. I also gained a secure spot to lock my tools and gear in overnight, eliminating the need to load and unload every day.

But with this sweet addition to my rig, a new question arose: did the camper shell improve my truck’s gas mileage?

Nope.

From my personal experience, and the observations and anecdotes from many truck owners, truck camper shells do not increase gas mileage. If anything, most truck owners report worse gas mileage once they install a shell.

Kind of a bummer I know. But to me, the perks of having a camper shell installed far outweigh the drawback of lower gas mileage.

Air Drag and Aerodynamics

Hang out with pickup truck enthusiasts for long enough and you may end up hearing a discussion about “air drag”. Drag refers to the aerodynamic force that resists an object’s motion through the air. In the context of pickup trucks, air drag essentially refers to the opposing force that air is putting on a truck as it drives.

Why is this important? Well, as drag increases, a truck is going to have to work harder to overcome the drag, thus consuming more fuel and lowering the fuel economy. As drag on a truck lowers, it will require less power and less fuel, raising the fuel economy.

Truck enthusiasts debate amongst themselves as to whether or not the tailgate on a truck increases or decreases overall drag. Various groups have researched this topic, performed studies, and published results, but despite this the debate seems to continue. Some truck owners insist gas mileage increases if you drive a pickup with the tailgate down, while others insist the opposite.

Enter into the debate: the camper shell. Will a truck’s camper shell increase gas mileage by decreasing drag on a truck? Some folks believe this to be true because of the way a shell covers the tailgate, effectively removing it as a suspect for air drag.

Regardless of whether or not a camper shell increases the overall aerodynamic value of a truck, it is not enough to increase the gas mileage. Why? Because of weight.

Camper shells are heavy. My Leer brand shell required at least two strong people to lift on and off the bed rails of my Tacoma. The weight that a camper shell adds to the overall weight of a truck has a significant negative impact on overall gas mileage. Even if a camper shell improves aerodynamics, it is not enough to counteract the weight it adds to a rig.

What is a Camper Shell?

The term “camper shell” can be a bit misleading, as the primary function of these parts isn’t necessarily to provide shelter.

In the United States, camper shells are also referred to as a “truck canopy”, “truck cap”, “shell” or “topper”. Use any of those terms, and most pickup truck drivers will immediately understand what you are talking about. Amongst my circle of friends, we pretty much exclusively call them “toppers” or “canopies”.

These days, most consumer camper shells are made of molded fiberglass. If you see a truck driving around with a sleek looking canopy that has curved edges and a glossy coat of paint, it’s almost definitely a fiberglass canopy. Based on my experiences living in the PNW, the two most popular manufacturers of fiberglass truck toppers are Leer and A.R.E.

The other common type of truck topper I see is constructed by wrapping thin aluminum or steel sheets around an aluminum or steel frame. Metal truck toppers are typically heavier than their fiberglass counterparts but are considered more rugged. This rugged construction makes them a popular choice for companies who have fleets of work trucks filled with valuable tools. The metal construction of the canopy makes them quite difficult to break into.

Camper Shell Uses

Camper shells are mostly used for utility and storage purposes. They are popular among trades-people and outdoors athletes who require a means to transport gear, tools, or materials while keeping them protected from theft and the elements. Trades-people seem to have a slight preference for metal toppers, while outdoor enthusiasts typically adorn their trucks with fiberglass models.

Due to their compact design and inconspicuous appearance, truck toppers also make excellent stealth campers.

When I bought my topper back in 2014, it was for the purpose of converting my truck into an adventure camper for a solo road trip I had planned. After building a simple sleeping platform and storage system in the truck’s bed, I hit the road and called that camper home for 3 months while touring the western half of the United States.

I loved living in my truck for those three months. With it’s off-road capabilities, I was able to drive deep into the wilderness and find beautiful, isolated campsites to enjoy all by myself. On nights where I visited friends, I easily stealth camped in residential neighborhoods, relying on the unassuming exterior of the truck topper to blend me in with the other neighborhood cars.

What was the best part about my simple little camper? I never had to think about maintaining the RV systems that other RVers must keep track of. I had no waste tanks to dump or batteries to charge, and I didn’t have to wonder if RV antifreeze is toxic while winterizing. My little truck home provided me everything I needed, and nothing I did not.

If you’re yearning for some RV adventures but don’t have the capital to throw down on a new RV, consider building yourself a modest truck bed stealth camper.

Tonneau Covers

While traditional truck canopies may not be known for improving gas mileage, many truck owners report an increase in fuel economy after installing a tonneau cover.

Tonneau covers are low-profile truck bed covers that sit at the same level, or just above the bed rails of a pickup truck. Similar to camper shells, they are used to protect and secure loads, but come without the several hundred pounds of extra weight typical of truck toppers.

Without all of that extra weight, tonneau covers succeed in reducing air drag, improving overall aerodynamics, and bumping up your gas mileage. Pretty sweet deal.

Improving Gas Mileage

With fuel prices soaring across the nation, people are on the hunt for ways to improve their gas mileage. But many don’t realize the path to saving money on fuel lies in their driving habits. Try some of the following tricks to kick your gas mileage up a notch.

• Drive calmly: Rapid speeding, braking and acceleration all lead to lower gas mileage. Going easy on the gas pedal can result in a tremendous improvement in your fuel economy.
• Clear the clutter: The more weight your vehicle has to carry, the more fuel it is going to consume. Clearing out extra items stored in your car will help to lighten the load.
• Don’t idle: Idling cars consume an absurd amount of fuel to achieve nothing. If your vehicle is going to be stopped for more than ten seconds, kill the engine and preserve fuel. Keep this in mind while waiting in line for drive-thrus, event parking, and while stopped at red lights.
• Pump those tires: Under-inflated tires reduce fuel economy. Check the pressure of your tires often and make sure they are always within the manufacturer’s recommended PSI range.

Don’t let a fear of poor fuel economy prevent you from outfitting your rig with a sweet shell. As I said before, the benefits exceed the drawbacks considerably. But if you are desperate for secure gear storage and absolutely cannot afford lower gas mileage, look into buying yourself a tonneau cover.

Supposing you do install a camper shell on your truck and experience a noticeable drop in gas mileage, adopting some of the driving habits listed above should help bring your fuel economy back to normal.

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