flatbed mpg
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 153
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flatbed mpg
Looking at buying an early 80's F150 with a flatbed. Dont know if its steel or wood flatbed. Haven't had a chance to go see it yet. Any thoughts on how the flatbed will affect the mpg? Better or worse areo?
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Joined: Dec 2005
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Mythbusters (the Discovery channel show) tried to find out the answer on a recent show. Turns out that the closed tailgate of a truck bed creates a dam for the air flow. Much like the water at the bottom of a low-head dam on a river, the air churns in a bubble in the bed. This bubble of air is disconnected from the main airflow over the entire truck. The main airflow goes over the truck cab then over the "disconnected bubble" and finally flows down BEHIND the truck. This creates low drag. If the tailgate is down, there is no "disconnected air bubble". The main air flow travels over the cab and then down ONTO the bed of the truck. This creates much more drag. Turns out that a truck is more fuel efficient with the tailgate UP not down. I would think that the same effect would occur with a flat bed.
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James nice first post!
We are happy you have chosen the best source for Fords!
Enjoy FTE....and
JOIN CLUB FTE -SUPPORT THE FORUMS!
…..See you on the boards.
