Tailgate = parachute? 2 questions
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 997
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From: texarkana, tx
Tailgate = parachute? 2 questions
1) Leaving the <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">tailgate</a> seems to increase my fuel consumption dramatically and makes him "ride better" (less buffeting from S-10's passing me.....). Am I dreaming or does anybody else do this?
2) Is it illegal to leave the gate down (as far as I can see if somebody is close enough to tap your gate, they are tail-gating and need to be pulled off the road anyway....)
What's your feeling?...
2) Is it illegal to leave the gate down (as far as I can see if somebody is close enough to tap your gate, they are tail-gating and need to be pulled off the road anyway....)
What's your feeling?...
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 8,238
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From: Oregon
Tailgate = parachute? 2 questions
In many states it is illegal to leave your <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">tailgate</a> down, consult your local sheriffs dept. I doubt you'd ever be ticketed however. Many studies have been done on the drag coefficent of trucks <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">tailgate</a>s, and whether no gate or nets help mpg. All of them have shown no gains with the <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">tailgate</a> down or absent. I would have expected otherwise myself, but I just report the facts...
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,838
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From: SD
Tailgate = parachute? 2 questions
I've always found that it will help in our older pickups, worth it for long highway trips, mine stays up for my daily driving. Starting in the mid to late 80's, the pickups were designed in wind tunnels with the gate up. So lowering or removing the gate will not help and possibly hurt the mileage.
Marty
Marty
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 551
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From: USA
Tailgate = parachute? 2 questions
If you decide it helps to keep the gate open, and you don't want to switch to a net, I've seen some louvered steel <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">tailgate</a>s that are strong like a regular gate (you can stand on it or load an ATV) but they're louvered to let the air through.
I'm not sure who carries them though.
I'm not sure who carries them though.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
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Tailgate = parachute? 2 questions
If you think the truck gets better mileage with the <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">tailgate</a></a></a></a> down,your mind is playing tricks on you.
It has *Been Proven* many times that it doesn't provide better mileage.
It only makes the bedsides weaker not having the <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">tailgate</a></a></a></a> up.
These trucks are Designed to have them up not down.
Strange I know,but it's true.
There have been may discussions on this <> check them out!
Here is the best one to read.
Talking about
It has *Been Proven* many times that it doesn't provide better mileage.
It only makes the bedsides weaker not having the <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">tailgate</a></a></a></a> up.
These trucks are Designed to have them up not down.
Strange I know,but it's true.
There have been may discussions on this <> check them out!
Here is the best one to read.
Talking about
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,258
Likes: 0
From: clementsport canada
Tailgate = parachute? 2 questions
i won't argue with ya dennis, but i didn't knotice a difference in my 79 with the gate down..... now i have a gate made with expanded metal. best of both worlds.....
