Does lowering the tailgate while driving actually decrease air resistance therefore increasing MPG or is that just an old wives tale? I've heard conflicting reports. Thoughts?

 

I tried it for a while and couldn't document a change.

 

be carefull, the gate holds the sides tight. with the gate down thesides will get loser and loser then flap in the wind and gate wont line up right
bob

 

I did it on my '89 150 and I think I got ~.1 better mileage. NOT worth it in my book. And that's after running both tanks dry with more than half of the miles being highway. To each their own.... I like keeping stuff in the bed of my truck...

 

Thank you for all the input. Just wondering if there was an advantage to spending $50 on one of those Gator type nets and getting rid of the tailgate. Anyone have one of those? What do you think?

 

the net still lets the sids flop around, ive seen screened gates that hold the bed together buy allso let air pass through
bob