View Poll Results: Does MPG's imporve without Tailgate?
Yes - a lot 5% and More
7
16.67%
Yes - a little 1 - 5%
16
38.10%
No
18
42.86%
No Gets Worse MPG
1
2.38%
Voters: 42. You may not vote on this poll
Tailgates Up, Down, Doesn't Matter?
New User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
I had my tailgate off for about a year and a half, when I went to put it back on it wouldnt close properly. I talked a friend of mine at the dealership and he told that running without a tailgate will warp the sides of the bed.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 759
Likes: 0
From: North Dakota
Originally posted by ArMAgeDDoN_PoB
I know, it amazed me too. I know it sounds like TOTAL bull****, but it's true. Before, when I drove to my buddies, (about 1 hour drive from my house) it used to take about a quarter of a tank to get there and back. That drive only takes a little more than an 1/8th of a tank, now. I've even tried to make my truck burn a quarter of a tank on that drive, and it just wont do it. It doesn't make any sense to me either. I havn't built the motor any since I took the tailgate off, either. I had to help haul some stuff for his sister the other day, and I put my tailgate back on, and my miliage went back down to what it was before. Strange as hell, but true. My truck also handles alot better with the tailgate off, too.
I know, it amazed me too. I know it sounds like TOTAL bull****, but it's true. Before, when I drove to my buddies, (about 1 hour drive from my house) it used to take about a quarter of a tank to get there and back. That drive only takes a little more than an 1/8th of a tank, now. I've even tried to make my truck burn a quarter of a tank on that drive, and it just wont do it. It doesn't make any sense to me either. I havn't built the motor any since I took the tailgate off, either. I had to help haul some stuff for his sister the other day, and I put my tailgate back on, and my miliage went back down to what it was before. Strange as hell, but true. My truck also handles alot better with the tailgate off, too.
If you are judging just from the gauge and not actual gallons at the pump, your method needs to be changed. A fuel gauge is not accurate enough to determine better MPG.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 299
Likes: 2
From: central valley California
areas of drag ....are the rear bumper... axles ...... and the wind dam aka tail gate.... i run with it up and down and yes i do get better fuel economy with it down.. with in the last month i damaged my gate and had it off and the economy jumped even higher. I drive over a mountain pass weekly and the winds there can exceed 50 miles an hour. with my gate off i felt less drag than i felt with the gate on. i also noticed that with the gate off on the old country roads i stirred up more dust on the side of the road, with the gate on the air flow gets traped and loops back on itself. in the bed area. don't believe me put and empty soda can in the bed next to the cap drive down the freeway and watch the can do flips in the bed...take the gate off and the can just sits in the corner.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 376
Likes: 0
From: Wanatah In,
It seem like common sence? Tailgate up is kind of like a parachute. Tailgate down the wind blows right out the back. But hey I'm not college educated so what do I know. lol
I always have mine down on highway trips. It also helps from being jerked around when its really windy out.
I always have mine down on highway trips. It also helps from being jerked around when its really windy out.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
From: West Virginia
Originally posted by Steven@nd
If you are judging just from the gauge and not actual gallons at the pump, your method needs to be changed. A fuel gauge is not accurate enough to determine better MPG.
If you are judging just from the gauge and not actual gallons at the pump, your method needs to be changed. A fuel gauge is not accurate enough to determine better MPG.
New User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: Minnesota
I just read at the dealership, someone, I cant remeber who, did a windtunnel study on the subject. The verdict was that drag coeffecient is lower with the tailgate up, because a mass of air is trapped in the bed and it begins to rotate and diverts the airflow over the top. I would tend to think that lower drag means higher MPG. I'm going to trust the guys with the PHD's and a wind tunnel and run with my tailgate up.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 282
Likes: 0
From: East Wenatchee, WA
Well all I know is that my truck with the tailgate down got almost a 1mpg improvement on the drive to Corvallis, Oregon to Biggs Junction. 3 trips with it up consisted of an average of 16.64 MPG and 3 trips down consisted of 17.45 average.....that is with an average speed of 72 mph all trips. for the record this is a 1993 4x4 short box standard cab f-150 with an E-4OD, 5.0L and 4:10 gears I might add.
One thing to think about......my tailgate weighs like 120 damn pounds with the diamond plate that covers the whole bedside, that can be like one small passenger......my truck also weighs 4,550 lbs with full tank of fuel (if anyone cares). So I can see where removing the tailgate could help gas mileage do too weight reduction.
One thing to think about......my tailgate weighs like 120 damn pounds with the diamond plate that covers the whole bedside, that can be like one small passenger......my truck also weighs 4,550 lbs with full tank of fuel (if anyone cares). So I can see where removing the tailgate could help gas mileage do too weight reduction.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 376
Likes: 0
From: Wanatah In,
They way I look at it they can do all of the test and studies that they want, In all of my "real world" experiance the mileage is better, doesnt matter what truck, Ive had fords and a chevy. What looks good on paper doesnt always work in the real world.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 282
Likes: 0
From: East Wenatchee, WA
Depends on what the trade is for.......everything is for sale 
I know you guys probably think I am full of BS.....but I did learn how to do math in school.....and I know my #'s are right since it was an average of 3 trips.
I know you guys probably think I am full of BS.....but I did learn how to do math in school.....and I know my #'s are right since it was an average of 3 trips.
New User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: USA
My brother-in-law drives a 01 Dodge Ram 1500 and he gets better mpg's with his tailgate down. I drive an 88 F-250 and i also get better mpg's with my tailagte down as well.
Last edited by countryboy75; Oct 16, 2003 at 11:57 AM.
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
That is my point. With it up the wind has less surface area to contact because an air "dome" is created with it up. But either way I've tried it up or down and it doesn't matter squat for mileage. I'm not sure how everyone's comparisons are being done. Was the temp. the exact same both tries, how about wind, etc.
Senior User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 203
Likes: 1
Originally posted by downhillfast
I just read at the dealership........ I'm going to trust the guys with the PHD's and a wind tunnel and run with my tailgate up.
I just read at the dealership........ I'm going to trust the guys with the PHD's and a wind tunnel and run with my tailgate up.
I know that the tailgate up uses more gas, just look at the NASAR trucks they have a fin on the back that provides downforce and at the same time it makes a bigger hole in the air causing them to go slower
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 383
Likes: 1
From: Newport News USA
Simple question: If leaving the tailgate down is better for mileage and better airflow out the back, why would a truck, such as the Lightning, who's sole purpose is to go fast and not worry about anything falling out of the back, have a tailgate? If it were so detrimental to the airflow of the truck, why wouldn't the Ford engineers have decided that it is better to just put a net or other similar device in?