Here's a new company at least trying to make a aero camping trailer

[freebeard]

If the air always flowed lengthways to the corrugations, they still would. The increased wetted area isn't such a problem, but aircraft like laminar air flow.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Modern aircraft with pressurized cabins couldn't rely on a corrugated skin, but for a road-going vehicle (or a trailer) it may still be far from the worst option.

[slowmover]

Hersbird, have you considered a GMC 2.8L diesel and a Scamp Deluxe 19' fifth wheel?

KamperBob dragged one around a few years.

Given a 31-mpg highway EPA rating that would mean (probably) 18+ mpg. With some aero, maybe more. Break 20-mpg. Sleeps six. Nice amenities. Needs to be changed to torsion axle if leaf-sprung.

In a combined rig the trailer is the more important vehicle. Nearly any pickup can tow this thing.

Why wait eleven years? There is always someone sick and tired of an RV they don't use. Start looking. On the Airstream forum it's a given that 1200-miles is an acceptable search range.

[Hersbird]

We just bought a new camper which we love, and works well considering the max we will tow is 1000-2000 miles a year. This is a larger camper as we still have a kid at home and another close and married with a baby as well. So it's usually 6 people camping, sometimes more with a friend or two. In 11 years when I retire it should just be my wife and I, and we want to spend lots more time driving the whole US. The rest of the family will be busy working and what not so that's when something smaller would do, and getting better MPG would be a bigger factor. I am going to throw my Hemi on Craigslist and if it goes for a reasonable price I will replace it with the best diesel I can find for $15,000. Resale is so good at that point on those things, keep it nice and get most of that back in 5 years. If the Hemi doesn't sell, oh well, it is nice, adequate towing, and not costing me more than $1000-1500/yr total in gas. I like having a 3rd car around in case we have a breakdown or a friend does and needs it (which it has been loaned out more often than not.)

I tell you though, after seeing that cedar strip topper on the Tacoma, I just want to keep my Hi-Lo and rebuild an aero roof on it like that. Maybe even redo the whole thing all cedar and aero, like a Hi-Lo, combined with Airstream, mixed with 50's teardrop. Tow it with a ecodiesel, baby duramax, or MB 3.0 bluetec and be styling 25mpg.

[compdrag]

nothing against the aero of the camper, but Ill keep my VW bus for camping.

[freebeard]

23-window or Vanagon?

[Goober]

I just got back from my first trip with the new 2.8L Duramax Colorado, towing a 177 SE Retro and carrying a homebuilt camper on the truck which weighs 600lbs. Over the 700 mile trip, Salt Lake to Canyonlands and back I averaged 16.2 mpg. A similar trip with a 4.0L V6 Tacoma I averaged 12 mpg. The Duramax tows this so much better, never felt like I was taxing the engine like I was with the Tacoma. My daily commute I was averaging 20 mpg with the Tacoma and the Colorado averages 27.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Goober

I just got back from my first trip with the new 2.8L Duramax Colorado, towing a 177 SE Retro and carrying a homebuilt camper on the truck which weighs 600lbs. Over the 700 mile trip, Salt Lake to Canyonlands and back I averaged 16.2 mpg. A similar trip with a 4.0L V6 Tacoma I averaged 12 mpg. The Duramax tows this so much better, never felt like I was taxing the engine like I was with the Tacoma. My daily commute I was averaging 20 mpg with the Tacoma and the Colorado averages 27.

Interesting comparison between what gas and Diesel engines can do.

2.8L Duramax Specs | Colorado & Canyon Diesels

2.8L Duramax LWN
Colorado & Canyon 4 Cylinder diesel

A 4 cylinder diesel option was added to the 2016 model year GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado midsize pickups. This addition made the Canyon and Colorado the first and, for the time being, the only diesel option available in its segment. The Canyon/Colorado competes against Nissan's Frontier and Toyota's Tacoma pickup models, while Ford and Dodge continue to abstain from the mid-size market. The inline 4 cylinder 2.8L Duramax LWN produces 181 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. For the 2017 model year, General Motors made the 2.8L Duramax optional in GMC Savana and Chevrolet Express 2500/3500 vans.

[skyking]

yeah those corners in the OP, Ouch! wouldn't matter so much in the tunnel, but we always tow in some sort of crosswind. That's when the harsh corners really bite, and not just in terms of economy. The handling is poor too.

[compdrag]

Originally Posted by freebeard

23-window or Vanagon?

Baywindow Panel that Riviera turned into a camper. That I Re-did a year and a half ago.