Cargo Bag Gas Mileage

[ellroy2]

We will be making a long trip coming up(1,700 miles). We will have the rear seats folded down and the entire back of the truck will be filled up to the brim. We will still need more space and so I was thinking about buying one of those soft shell roof cargo bags. One I was looking at says it holds 10-15 cubic feet of cargo. From what I read, it is said that these things can cost you up to 5mpg in gas mileage, depending on the car. Does anyone have any experience with using a roof top cargo bag on their 4Runner?

They also make a bag you can attached to the back of the truck. It looks kind of stupid to me, but claims 13 cubic feet without the effect in gas mileage.

 

[ebg18t]

I regularly car Rubbermaid totes on my BajaRack. The totes are ~14" higher than the rack. It usually cost me 1-2mpg depended how loaded the truck is with gear.

 

[timmay217]

What about a carrier that attaches to the rear hitch?

https://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Cargo-Carrier/Pro-Series/63153.html

 

[dougiefreshmx]

On a couple trips to see my wife's family in Canada, we had a roof top bag and it came out to be around 1-2 mpg loss. We have a yakima skybox now and it seems to be about the same too. It's a lot more secure though.

 

[morphious]

What about a carrier that attaches to the rear hitch?

https://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Cargo-Carrier/Pro-Series/63153.html

These things work great and you don't have to haul all the stuff up on the roof.

 

[Zuke]

We have used a cargo bag a few times both with the 4R and the mini van. Maybe 1MPG less if any. Heavy items in the front is the key making it not lift.

I like the cargo bags because when its not in use it folds down to the size of a large shoe box.

 

[ellroy2]

1-2 MPG loss is not that bad. Probably a lot better than pulling a trailer. I wonder what the weight capacity is on the rear hitch carrier.

 

[daka320]

Ellroy2, I was up your way this last summer for my brothers wedding in KC. We had an empty rack on the roof on the way up there. Lost between 1-2 mpg. On the way back with it loaded in a rubber bag we lost 3 mpg. If you have a lot of headwinds heading out into the plains, you may lose up to 5 mpg like what we did.

As far as weights on the hitch, you can load up to 500 lbs. This includes the rack and anything you have on it. Your mpg shouldn't change much since nothing is in the wind.

 

[cmoua]

Ellroy2, I was up your way this last summer for my brothers wedding in KC. We had an empty rack on the roof on the way up there. Lost between 1-2 mpg. On the way back with it loaded in a rubber bag we lost 3 mpg. If you have a lot of headwinds heading out into the plains, you may lose up to 5 mpg like what we did.

As far as weights on the hitch, you can load up to 500 lbs. This includes the rack and anything you have on it. Your mpg shouldn't change much since nothing is in the wind.

I agree with daka320. I have a rola basket carrier and I lose anywhere from 1-5 mpg depending on head winds. I remove it and will only use it as a last resort. I also have a rear hitch carrier from harbor freight and prefer to use that.