Tailgate Up or Down
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2003
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I read an article a few years back, I beleive it was in "Truck Trend" magazine, But It may have been in some other mag. Anyhow, I beleive it was Dodge that did some wind tunnel testing with the tailgate up and down to see which way would create the most drag on the truck. They found that it has less drag with the tailgate up. It seems the cushion of air that stays in the bed with the tailgate up, helps ease the drag from the air going over the top of the truck and creating turbulence and drag on the rear of the truck, which in turn probably helps you to get one bizillionth of a mile per gallon better milleage! Does anyone else remember this article from a few years back?
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
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I completly removed my tail gate I just got 17MPG highway driving allthough I only get 11-12 MPG around town this is hand calculated since I dont have the overhead computer sure wish I could get the 15-17 MPG around town and 19 -21 MPG on the highway that othwers claim
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2003
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Recently took a trip south in a 30mph headwind. After about 50 miles and a 13mpg reading on the display, which is within 1/10th of a mile from hand calc., put the tailgate down and went up to 16.3 mpg. I think maybe everything has to be just so so for the tailgate up theory. Just my humble opinion of course.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: NH
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Los Angeles safe and warm
I've seen mini-truck equipment to allow variable gate position.
The manu. claims that the optimum position is in between closed and open with the angle varying with speed.
The manu. claims that the optimum position is in between closed and open with the angle varying with speed.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 174
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From: Pacific Northwest
Its a tailgate, leave it up for other reasons than than the so called mpg difference. Like keeping your "loose" items secure, kicking up debris and damaging your gate...and lastly...preventing those wannabe theives from stealing it. My freedom of typing .02 worth. 
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 78
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From: Spring Valley Ca
I rode in a truck where one of those variable leuvered gates was installed. Driving down the road at 65 MPH the gate was opened to various settings and i could actually feel the difference in the drag when closed as opposed to open at various settings. I can only imagine the difference in fuel mileage just by using this experience as a gauge. If mpg is what you are after, i believe you will get it.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 270
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From: Okinawa Japan
I will leave mine up and locked. Talked to a guy at the dealership ordering everything needed to build two tailgates there were stolen from there trucks. Parts alone where 740 ish with an addition 500 for ford to put them togethor.
Kinda high to not use that little inexpensive lock back there.
Kinda high to not use that little inexpensive lock back there.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 99
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Well, I have heard about the tailgate issue for many years as well. I finally put it to the test (well my test anyway) Having a 1200 mile drive ahead of me this past summer, I alternated between up and down. 1st tank drove with tailgate up, 2nd tank tailgate down etc. All highway miles, at relatively same speed (65-70mph) What I found in calculating by hand was that I was able to go 10-12% further on a tank of gas with the tailgate down. Take it for what its worth.
I dont think it would make a difference in the city as the speeds are not great enough to create a drag issue.
I dont think it would make a difference in the city as the speeds are not great enough to create a drag issue.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 136
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From: Stacy, Minnesota
The only thing about tailgate down is, some people get so intent on leaving it down that after loading the bed they still won't close it. thereby dumping garbage on the highway. On some trips ya have to leave it up, for safty sake!
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 125
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From: Florida
There have been articles abuot this and the wind tunnel tests showed less drag with the tailgate up. I have just removed my tailgate because i pull goosenecks ALOT and the tailgate just gets in the way. I did not want to forget to lock the thing and have it stolen also. So i guess in 10 years the tailgate will look like new and the truck will look like hell. oh well.
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 48
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From: Seattle, WA
I read the article from 5 or six years ago, I believe it went in this order:
1 truck with tonneau cover was best mileage.
2 truck with tailgate up
3 truck with shell
4 truck with tailgate down
Cuz'n Bob, the engineering type always sends me these type of articles. What are cuzzins for.......?
Cheers,
Bryce
1 truck with tonneau cover was best mileage.
2 truck with tailgate up
3 truck with shell
4 truck with tailgate down
Cuz'n Bob, the engineering type always sends me these type of articles. What are cuzzins for.......?
Cheers,
Bryce