I'm looking to get a camper shell for my Tacoma XtraCab. I'm torn between a cab-high shell or a high roof shell. I'm aware of the pros n' cons from a usability perspective. However, how does either option affect the truck's MPG? Is it significant?
Regarding the extra headroom.. it seems that unless I get one of those ridiculously high shells, the extra headroom compared to a cab-high design is marginal?
I don't want a shell that looks like this:
Having had both a cab high and a high-rise on my Tacoma (04) here's what I can say:
First, any MPG difference will be negligible. I think the high rise might have cost me an additional MPG but that was probably more due to the fact that the high rise shell was
heavier, not because it was
taller.
Second, if you plan on sleeping in the back of the truck, even a small high rise will make a huge - huge - difference. Let me put it this way: I started with a cab-high shell. I went camping with it for one week. When I came home from my trip, the first thing I did was put the cab-high up for sale. It was like sleeping in a coffin. I couldn't hardly turn around or turn over while I was sleeping because my head kept hitting the roof.
First shell: Leer 100LE. Purchased used for $150 with a broken back door (all-glass rear door with a "slam latch.") Cost to replace the rear glass was $210 so my total cost was about $360:
Second shell: Unknown brand name but it appears very similar in configuration to the Raven (i.e. Glasstite) shell I had on my Ford Ranger. Purchased used for $300. Only money I had to put in it was to get new keys for the locks as the previous owner had lost the keys (cost was about $10.) Had the simpler, flat rear door with a metal frame and T-handle locks. Considerably more comfortable for camping:
Here are some interior photos to give you an idea of the difference.
Cab high (with bed platform in "sleeping position"):
High rise (with bed platform in "travel position"):
You might not think that extra 7" or so makes a difference, but trust me, it does.