Tailgate vs. MPG
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Tailgate vs. MPG
I have always heard that there is a direct relation between MPG and the position of the tailgate.(up vs. down) Has anyone out there done a real comparison? I'm not too lazy to do it myself, I just don't need the tailgate beating my truck to death just to find out that I wasted my time.( no, I dont have anyplace to store it if I take it off.)
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Accokeek, MD
I haven't personally tried it, but I have read reasearch data on the topic. According to the research, modern trucks are enginerred(?) fro max MPG with the tailgate up. They say that the engineers took the drag into account when designing the boy style for aerodynamics. That being aid, the article states that driving around with your tailgate down or removed, will not increase your milage, and may even decrease it because of the enginnering...
Mike
Mike
Lead Driver
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From: Wheatland, Mo
I saw a show about this and it said the same as bullryder.... With the tailgate up, as you start moving, it creates a "bubble" of air in the bed which then keeps the moving air flowing over and past the bed. With the tailgate down, the air tends to hook the back of the truck and "drag" it causing less MPG. Besides...looks better with the tailgate up. 
Posting Guru
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From: central TX
My 99 Scab short bed doesn't seem to get much turbulence in the bed. Heavier leaves and cigarette butts pretty well stay put. With my ext. cab 98 Dakota, on the other hand, you hit 55 and anything like that in the bed is flying out (probably another reason the f150 gets better mileage). Doubt it will help much on these trucks, maybe on a different configuraton it would...
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From: N. Mississippi
I owned an 87 Nissan truck where I conducted tests with tailgate up and down back in 1988. The mileage was the same.....up or down on the highway. I managed 25 mpg in that truck until I installed a fiberglas topper. Then the mileage increased to 30 mpg.
I saw on the show "Trucks" back around the same time when it was on TNN that when they raced their Jeep truck....there was no difference in fuel used or time around the track with the tailgate down.
On my 97 F-150 with 4.6 auto.....no difference in mileage either way.
The tailgate is more likely to get damaged in the down position.
I saw on the show "Trucks" back around the same time when it was on TNN that when they raced their Jeep truck....there was no difference in fuel used or time around the track with the tailgate down.
On my 97 F-150 with 4.6 auto.....no difference in mileage either way.
The tailgate is more likely to get damaged in the down position.
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You may be right about modern trucks, I drive with mine off and a net up but I get the same as with the tailgate on. on older trucks with it removed or down I would get a 3 to 5 mpg bettter. guess I'll put the tailgate back on especially since i have to put it on all the time to haul things.
Lance
Lance
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Fleet Mechanic
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From: Central Ohio
I havent noticed any difference up or down - driven it both ways. I think there is more a difference in the conditions... for example my milleage drops almost 2mpg in the winter versus summer. Or if I drive it a little faster makes a difference. Its really hard in real world driving to to an equal comparison. WOuld have to be the same vehicle and same weight driving in the same conditions (tempeture, barometric pressure, same roads, etc.) and accelerating at the saem amount and cruising the same. Thats like impossible.
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Thank you one and all. I guess that my questions were answered beyond what I had expected.I drive a 97 F-150 4.6 short bed, reg cab...15 MPG is about the max,even with cat back duals and K&n air filter.( these are city miles...never had it on the highway long enough to burn a full tank of gas.)
Fleet Mechanic
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From: Central Ohio
Well your doin just as good as me - my city miles usually 14 to 15, 13 in winter. I only have the v6. But from what I gather, 4wd is probably the bigest hit on milleage for factory options (I have a 4wd). The 2wd seem to always get better milleage.
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I drive both city and highway miles back and forth to work every day get about 17, never had it on the hyway straight, maybe I should but hate to test it with the price of gas. Drove it today first itme 32 degrees. I could tell a difference in driving this morning. tranny shifted later than whenit is warm.
Lance
Lance