True or False
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,782
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From: Lower Mainland B.C.
FALSE
Leave the tailgate up and add a piece of 4x8ft plywood tilted so that the high end is by the tailgate and the low end is at the front of the box.
NEVER drive the truck without supporting the bedsides or they WILL break their welds and you will have to live with floppy bedsides when you put the tailgate on and try to close it while pulling in on both bedsides at once to make the latches line up.
Want better aerodynamics? Buy a canopy or tonneau cover for the box.
Leave the tailgate up and add a piece of 4x8ft plywood tilted so that the high end is by the tailgate and the low end is at the front of the box.
NEVER drive the truck without supporting the bedsides or they WILL break their welds and you will have to live with floppy bedsides when you put the tailgate on and try to close it while pulling in on both bedsides at once to make the latches line up.
Want better aerodynamics? Buy a canopy or tonneau cover for the box.
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Originally Posted by 76supercab2
I also go with false or if there is an improvement it will be too small to notice.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Nothern Indiana
Well I can tell you this much Beer Cans in the back of a truck will get sucked out of the bed at 70-80 mph with tailgate up With tailgate down they don't move and stay towards the front of the bed. So as useing this as my own personal windtunnel test I would say False. There is very little air that hits the tailgate . Try this test if your brave enough. Sit in the back of your truck with your back aginist the gate and have a freind drive down the road at 70 mph and see how much wind hits you in the chest. I should also say safty equipment should be worn at all times (so you don't get hit by a stray beercan or two)
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Originally Posted by mettech
Several studies have been done on this subject. They all say false.
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Originally Posted by firesoutmatt
SnoMan where not talking the Model T
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,555
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From: Concord, NC
With the gate up, a pocket of air is formed in and over the bed, so that air flows over the pocket and doesn't even hit the tailgate. With the tailgate down, you don't have this pocket and the drag behind the cab is greater. The difference is not the same on every truck cab/bed configuration, but it is proven that it certainly isn't any worse with the tailgate up.
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From: Nothern Indiana
Originally Posted by The SnoMan
No kidding? Neither am I. With the gate up it creates a big air drag dam behind cab that is not there when gate is down and it takes extra power and fuel to pull the dam through the air at speed.
Its was supposed to be funny . Just take a breath and chill for a bit . Its only a question . We know your not changing your mind on this and thats O.K. You drive with your tailgate down .It doesn't make you any less of a man. If it does they have pills for that too.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Milpitas, CA; Tyler, TX
Everything I've heard says false. A little counterintuitive, but then, so are a lot of things.
Putting a canopy on also seems to pull the MPG down too, though. At least, it did in my Dad's 5.2 1500 Ram.
Putting a canopy on also seems to pull the MPG down too, though. At least, it did in my Dad's 5.2 1500 Ram.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 222
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From: NE Ft Collins, Colorado
What about the louvered tailgates for 5th wheels/goosenecks?
I have a hitch so I wonder if those tailgates help with air flow and drag or just help when you have a trailer behind you.
I have a hitch so I wonder if those tailgates help with air flow and drag or just help when you have a trailer behind you.