I am looking to put a flow-through tailgate on my truck (in signature) and would like to know if anyone here has one and what they think of it. I took my tailgate off about a month ago and got about 0.3 mpg increase (hand calculated). I just don't like the look without a tailgate and want to put something in it's place.
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-Dave
'01 F350 Lariat, Crew, 4x4, DRW, LB, 7.3L PSD, 320K Miles
Zoodad Mod, Foil Delete, S&B Intake, Auto Meter Gauges, Fumoto, WW & HPX
** Coming : 4" Exhaust, Tuner
There's no place like 127.0.0.1
the flow through tailgate increases drag so it will decrease mileage compared to the solid gate, it acts like a parachute compared to the tailgate acting like an air foil....
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Bryan
2003 Excursion 180,000 mi
Where can I order Blinker Fluid?
The metal fin kind, or the nylon strap version? I had a metal fin kind on a 95 truck. If you ever use your truck as a truck, my advice is stick with the regular tailgate. I had to fix the cable release numerous times and weld a few fins back to the edge more than once.
They were using a light duty pickup, I don't even think it was a half ton. Let alone a 3/4 ton CC LB. Too many variables. Even so, I wouldn't give up my tailgate for less than .5mpg. What is that, like $50/year?
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Keith
"The Wicked Flee When No Man Pursueth, But The Righteous Are Bold As A Lion."
'00 F350 CC LB 4x4 PSD - DP Live Tuning, ATS housing, 6.0 IC, Ford AIS, 4" Magnaflow, BD X-Monitor, Front leveling kit, Firestone air bags, JWVB, FRx, HPX, coolant filter, Hutch mod, ITP in-tank, Carter lift pump, CCV, Tru-cool, AIH delete, OBA, cold a/c
My testing showed an average of 0.3 mpg increase. I drive the same road every day, about 100 miles round trip.
That sounds about right to me. Trailer Life did some testing using the V shaped tailgates that don't need to be lowered for hooking up to a 5er and they saw a slight improvement in MPG. On the other hand I recall another other test that claimed a raised tailgate was better than a lowered one and it was claimed that if there's no cross wind certain road speeds result in a stable bubble of air forming in an empty bed that acts like a tonneau cover and provides less drag than with the tailgate lowered but no tests were done with the tailgate removed.
You also save some weight with the tailgate removed or replaced with a lighter substitute and this saves some fuel every you accelerate up to speed!
Another factor, with my SRW open and the tailgate installed, I get significant air flow up through the cab and out the drivers window. With the tailgate removed, there is only a slight breeze.
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-Dave
'01 F350 Lariat, Crew, 4x4, DRW, LB, 7.3L PSD, 320K Miles
Zoodad Mod, Foil Delete, S&B Intake, Auto Meter Gauges, Fumoto, WW & HPX
** Coming : 4" Exhaust, Tuner
There's no place like 127.0.0.1
Another factor, with my SRW open and the tailgate installed, I get significant air flow up through the cab and out the drivers window. With the tailgate removed, there is only a slight breeze.
That would probably be because an open back window would disrupt the mentioned air bubble that forms in the bed which helps airflow over the tailgate. If you drive often with the back window open, the flow through tailgate might be of some use.
Tape some string to the frong of your bed across the rail that's about 12" long and experiment with the back window open, closed, and with the tailgate removed. You 'll be able to see what the air is doing in each situation.
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