Will towing TT with canopy help

[Blufrog]

Hello all,



I have a 27' TT and don't have any canopy on the truck. I am thinking a canopy with a rise to it might help with the wind and also maybe some on the fuel milage. Currently with 6500 miles I get about 16-17 empty and with the TT I am geting about 11-12 and it weighs about 7k but feels like I am towing 20k against the wind.



Any help would be greatful as I will consider the canopy if it would be worth the $1500 bones. I don't go camping all the time ( family of 4 and full time work) but when we do like to get out I would like to help the towing more if I can.



TIA



Doug

 

[EricBu12]

One time My dad made a "Wind Deflector" (never heard it called a canopy..... ) anyway, He made one from sqare tubing bolted together and fibreglass panels (or you can use plastic or sheetmetal... . ) to screw to the tubing and figure a way to secure it to the roof.



If you have a rack or strap it to the Roof. I have a shell and a lugg rack and I was thinking of doing this. as I have a 11K travel Tr. but it has a slightly angled front roof.

 

[jrobinson2]

Eric

I think he's talking about a shell like you have, have you ever towed your TT without the shell? was it any different? It seems like it could make a difference.

Jared

 

[RAPID RICK]

Eric,



Out here in the wild west we call a shell or truck cap (or what

ever the rest of the world calls them) a conopy.



Blufrog,

My dad put a canopy on his old Ford gasser & he gained a little over 2 mpg. If that is all you will gain it would take a LOT of towing miles to pay for a $1500 canopy.

He put the conopy on because he carried so much junk in the bed that he thought was necessary. The mpg gain was just an added benifit.





HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYBODY, Rick

 

[Hummin Cummins]

nope, no difference for me

Sure does make a nice place to store things in the dry while camping though. Hard to have stacks on the truck that way.

 

[EricBu12]

Oh. , I see, I have always had the shell on and the front of my trailer is not too high above it. The wind still hits the upper front of the trailer so I might do this later. .

 

[Sarge]

Shell on truck.....

The canopy, shell, or whatever you like to call it will not make a noticible difference in MPG. However, it will if you mount a wind deflector towards the rear of the shell to direct the wind over the front of the TT. I towed a TT for years, and when I added the deflector, it made about a 2 MPG difference. Not enough to justify the money for the shell, but the shell does make a great storage area for gear, pets, or the mother-in-law If your going to get one anyway, yes it can be a benifit if it is set up right. The closer you mount the deflector to the TT, the more effective it will be. I tow a 5ver now, and the deflector makes no difference at all. Sarge

 

[Blufrog]

well thats it, I will have to get one now just for the mother in law... hehehe



I have thought it would be nice just for the fact of hauling stuff and keeping it protected from weather (good ole Wash St). The idea of having something to deflect the wind as well seems good over all. Thanks for all the input. Now if I can just convince the MIL to ride back there... hmmmm.

 

[wcaldwell]

We returned last night from a 2650 mile Christmas trip from home to Corpus Christi to Arlington and back home with our 26-foot travel trailer. Going and cruising along with no wind was fantastic. HOWEVER, coming home into a 30 mph headwind made that 5. 9 Cummins/Auto/3. 55 gears work!! We have a cap/camper shell/ topper/etc/etc and it didn't make any difference. But once the wind died, we cruised up and down and around those hills and curves. It was so bad that we barely made 220 MILES ON ONE TANK!!! Still wouldn't trade it for any other.



DW