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As a Ford van owner and guy who travels and camps a lot, I think you're denying your family one of the largest benefits of a vehicle of this type and that's the ability to move about whilst underway. With your roof lowered you'll be reducing what should be a home on wheels to a passenger vehicle and be forfeiting the majority of your available space to see a minimal benefit in mileage. Think smiles per gallon. That being said, all is not lost with regard to fuel efficiency; see the threads about camper and motorhome aerodynamics. Just build a simpler, more reliable, (fewer leak points, etc) lighter, fixed body that's pretty aerodynamic and give it a tapered tail, wheel spats, fender skirts, a flat belly, etc. The whole movable roof thing is neat but it overrides the recreation portion of recreational vehicle. If you've never traveled in a motorhome you probably don't fully appreciate your passengers being able to use the restroom or change seats or get a drink from the fridge while you keep moving down the road. Believe me, traveling with a family will be MUCH better if they can use your entire rig all the time vs just when parked and the roof is raised. I've traveled pretty extensively with my family both young and old. First it was with 5th wheel travel trailers towed by extended cab pickups. Then crew cab pickups. Then bumper-pull campers towed by large SUVs. Then a camper towed by a fullsize van. Those were all reasonably comfortable modes of travel but the more interior space, the better. The van was winning until we tried a motorhome. Whole different ballgame with regard to comfort and willingness to travel.
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