tailgate up or tailgate down?
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 146
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From: monticello fl
tailgate up or tailgate down?
Saw mythbusters last night. They took on the "myth" of getting better fuel mileage in a pickup(They used 2 identical new f150's)with the tailgate down. The results were that tailgate up gave better mileage and they went on to explain why. So what do you all think? Is the myth busted?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 185
From: Dedham, MA
I still have a hard time believing this. I didn't see the show, but it would seem like simple aerodynamics that there should be more drag on the close tailgate (like a brick wall) than with the tailgate down (like the wing of an airplane). How did they "prove" it?
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,414
Likes: 22
From: Tucson USA
basically what happens the air is trapped with the gate up and make like a soft tonoue cover. so you are carrying air and it then slides over the top of it and out. with the gate down the air from over the cab drops down creating turbulence which then basically forces the air down on the cab creating more friction. An example is to see what happens if you ride a motorcycle close to a 18 wheeler going down the road, all kinds of buffeting, or better yet, remember when they started adding the deflectors on the back of vans? remember before how dirty the windows got vs dirty but a little less so with a deflector!
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,413
Likes: 11
you know i've wondered about the trucks that pull a gooseneck with the tailgate gone or the V in the gate. if the tounge of the trailer actually help keep the air stream going straight over the truck and someone tied it to the tailgate being down. i know people that swear by it me myself i havent found it to make a difference either way.
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,414
Likes: 22
From: Tucson USA
mainly for the rv set all the tail gate is for is to let them get the hitch in and still allow them to carry some sort of stuff in the back so it wont fall out.
I tried one of those soft/air gates and still no improvement as claimed.
I tried one of those soft/air gates and still no improvement as claimed.
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 615
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From: Austin TX
Well, with the torsion bar that our newer trucks have in the tailgate, you won't want to leave it down. Hit one bump and that sucker will slam shut because they're so easy to close! More than one forum user has actually damaged their tailgate due to this fact.
A tonneau, Retrax, cap, etc. will help, but that's about it (IMO).
A tonneau, Retrax, cap, etc. will help, but that's about it (IMO).
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 185
From: Dedham, MA
So it's true that the tonneau's really do increase gas mileage, as those numbers show in that article.
Another tidbit, these things now have such high walled beds and sleeker cab designs, that I would assume the wind buffeting over and around the cab has almost no chance to get "snagged" in the bed anyway. Make any sense?
Another tidbit, these things now have such high walled beds and sleeker cab designs, that I would assume the wind buffeting over and around the cab has almost no chance to get "snagged" in the bed anyway. Make any sense?
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 441
Likes: 6
From: Madison, WI
Not to mention, the cost of repainting your tailgate from all the stone chips that will fly off your tires.
The tailgate also acts to hold the box together, strengthening the entire vehicle.
Leave it up.
MK
The tailgate also acts to hold the box together, strengthening the entire vehicle.
Leave it up.
MK
