5th wheel tailgates?

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Sep 16, 2025 | 09:42 AM

#16

acdii

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordan Perry

I've recently purchased a 5th wheel camper. I'm considering getting the 5th wheel tailgate. Does it actaully help any with fuel mileage like some company's claim? What is everyone running here (pics if you have them)? Anf does anyone know of one that may come with a camera like mine currently has? Thanks for the help

They remove the beds ability to create a cushion of air that then deflects the airflow from the cab to flow smoothly over the bed and reduce drag. Without a tailgate or a partial tailgate that cushion goes away and induces a tremendous amount of drag directly behind the cab. You would be astonished at how much aerodynamics go into our trucks, even little things like directing air to flow through the bumper and around the wheels to reduce aerodynamic drag on the tires. If the only reason you want one is so you don't have to open and close the tailgate, consider how much fuel will be wasted when you are not towing, a 1MPG drop can mean as much as a 30% increase in fuel used. It all adds up.

Sep 17, 2025 | 06:17 AM

#17

99powerstrokedF250

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Quote:

Originally Posted by acdii

This is slightly anecdotal, but I have issues with the statement that removing or dropping a tailgate ALWAYS increases drag on a pickup truck.

Because AFAIK, it has ONLY been tested professionally on short box trucks.

Now, I've DONE the test, in a wind tunnel AND real world, it was part of one of my Fluids classes back in college. And YES, on short box trucks, better mileage is achieved with the stock tailgate in place and closed.

HOWEVER...

My dad has been driving 1-ton long-box duallies for decades, and we've done the math several times - with a LONG BOX truck, it appears from our math that leaving the tailgate ON and DOWN does improve mileage, on 3 different trucks with 3 different drivelines.

Now, I have seen NO ONE professionally test this in controlled environments such as a wind tunnel to get drag data, so as I said, it's anecdotal. Take that for what you will.

Sep 17, 2025 | 06:20 AM

#18

99powerstrokedF250

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One other thing I'll add - My FIL has had the fifth wheel tailgate on several of his trucks in the past, and something we've learned is that you can't leave lighter objects in the box unsecured when towing (we usually throw the boards for under the front landing gear, and wheel chocks, in the bed of the truck for easy access), because without the solid tailgate in place, they get buffetted around with the wind and he's actually had stuff fly out of the box. I have NEVER had that happen when towing with the standard tailgate in place.

Sep 17, 2025 | 12:04 PM

#19

torq'ta 5 8

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Myth Busters did 2 studies on it, same results, wores milage tail gate down, on either truck, the swirl took longer on long wheelbase than it did on short wheelbase, but it still did it, tail gate down doesnt matter how long, its still down, and causes drag up to 45-50mph

Sep 17, 2025 | 12:44 PM

#20

99powerstrokedF250

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Quote:

Originally Posted by torq'ta 5 8

I watched both episodes, they were both SHORT box trucks. Neither test included long box (8 foot bed) trucks.

Sep 17, 2025 | 04:18 PM

#21

acdii

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Ford has done considerable wind tunnel studies and every single little element is looked at. The design of the tailgate is even factored in to reduce COD.

Sep 18, 2025 | 10:17 AM

#22

torq'ta 5 8

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From: N.W. Alabama

Quote:

Originally Posted by torq'ta 5 8

Myth Busters did 2 studies on it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 99powerstrokedF250

I watched both episodes.

Read my post again, instead of assuming, I said, they did STUDIES, not episodes, on drag, even did golf ball dimples, in clay gave better MPG, even a bubble around a motorcycle, that one was dumb, lol...even wanted to do a crew cab, didnt have one, but in the end both beds short and long get better MPG up, not down.