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Post edited 9:47 pm – February 9, 2012 by ron_sue

I ordered one to try last week. my original intention was to install a shell on the back of the truck and mount it there (ie. more van like) because  in theory the closer you are to the camper the more effective it will be.   however i dont care for the look of a camper shell and their price would negate any savings. mine will be a little more than 8 feet from the camper, mounted on the cab of the truck but it still should help.  i am hoping for the same effect i get with our kayaks on the rack, which is increased stability, and actually having to use the brakes sometimes when coming down a mountain. (explanation: there is a return stretch that we take sometimes from two different campgrounds, one we take the boats, another we don't.  when we take the boats, i never get blown around and i have to use the brakes coming down,  i just coast down otherwise with little to no brakes necessary.  that means the drag is less with them on up there cutting through the wind.  neither campgrounds are far enough away to get mpg numbers though.   like most anything, you will get facts, opinions and legends regarding this.  i abandoned the rv community here because most of the na sayers towed 5th wheels or grossly overweight monsters.  i turned to the enclosed utility trailer community (towing motorcycles, racing, etc.) for their opinions instead since the our specs are similar.  they seem to be more in favor. i wont know my results untill our first trip in march (600+ miles). i am hopeful for increased mpg especially since trip two of the year will be 4000+ miles however i have budgeted for my normal 12.5 mpg.

  i recently bought a scangauge 2 that i put in the truck that will reward or punish me pretty quick for my efforts since it tells me instantly what my mpg is and how many horsepower i am using to move down the road. i originally bought that to monitor transmission temp. (which it does, but some vehicles it will not) and it has become my favorite toy.  i tinker a bit, (no one guessed that, right?) and that hobby goes hand in hand with towing  and camping for me  i will also be trying  airtab vortex generators at the same time, so my results will be form that combination.  i will let you know what i find out.  my goal is to make our little guy tow as good or better than airstream and casita claim.  all that said, i drive a 2007 caravan with the 3.0l as a company vehicle daily, it has been a great vehicle.