Louvered Tailgate Advantages?

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Mar 30, 2003 | 09:06 AM

muffett

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Joined: Mar 2003

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Louvered Tailgate Advantages?

Does anyone have any before & after experience with louvered <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">tailgate</a>s?

I tow a 30' 5th with my F250SD V10. Looking at improving performance, handling, mileage etc (not that I have any complaints now), and have heard that a new <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">tailgate</a> is one way to go. Pricey though.

Any experiences would be appreciated.

Greg

Mar 30, 2003 | 04:18 PM

jschira

Logistics Pro

Joined: Nov 2002

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From: Mansfield, TX USA

Louvered Tailgate Advantages?

Consumers Report tested the tailgate up versus tailgate down MPG a few years ago. Ran a p/u around a test track (in both directions) with the tailgate up and with the tailgate down. Differences in MPG was in 1/10's of an MPG and within the margin of error of the test equipment.

Mar 30, 2003 | 09:44 PM

PSD_Power

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Joined: Mar 2002

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From: Oregon USA

Louvered Tailgate Advantages?

I beleive with a fiver on it might make a difference. Their is a lot more air flow through the bed with it hooked up. I have lost a few things out the bed from such a high velocity of wind. I am in the process of building my own tail gate for my fiver. I used a stock tail gate and cut it out for the hitch to fit through. Then welded peices in where I cut out. I mainly want one so I dont have to put the tailgate down every time I hook and unhook. Go buy one and tell me if it helps.

Mar 31, 2003 | 09:13 AM

e12769

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Joined: Mar 2003

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From: Eastern Pa

Louvered Tailgate Advantages?

I have a flow through tailgate from Stromberg Carlson and like it a lot. I really can't say I saw an increase of any kind in mileage or handling. I mainly bought one because of the convienence of hooking up with it. Also because I had my regular tailgate up at the wrong time. Enough said about that though. Mine is the plastic kind and I take it off every end of season to put my regular tailgate back on.
Denny

Mar 31, 2003 | 11:40 AM

nafzimo

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Joined: Jun 2002

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From: Central Illinois

Louvered Tailgate Advantages?

This is an interesting link on the subject.

Matt

http://mars.vnet.wnec.edu/~ehaffner/did.htm

Apr 25, 2003 | 03:16 PM

ClydeSDale

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Joined: Apr 2003

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From: Minnesota

Louvered Tailgate Advantages?

Two years ago we did a trip from MN to CO & NM. Clyde was pulling a mid-profile 24' fifth wheel bucking a 17-25 mph continuous headwind out of the southwest! There is no way I know of to get to CO from MN without going either south or west. Same weather pattern all the way down!

I was dying out there. My secondaries weren't working correctly (hindsight!) and it was so hot I was overheating. In desperation I jumped off at an exit and pulled the tailgate, laying it flat on the bed behind the hitch, and strapping it down with ratchet straps.

My "stupid act of desperation" gained me ~3 mph against the same headwind I'd been fighting all day up to just minutes before.

My conclusion: Tailgates on fifthwheel trailer towing vehicles create drag.