While searching the web for drag racing stuff...
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: North Texas
While searching the web for drag racing stuff...
Drag coefficients. I wonder if the results are the same in our trucks.
The mythbusters disagree: "After 300 miles there didn't appear to be much difference in the gas consumed, but after 500 miles Adam (tailgate down) ran out of gas. Jamie made it another 30 miles before he ran out of gas. This result was the exact opposite of the myth."
Anyone done their own tests?
The mythbusters disagree: "After 300 miles there didn't appear to be much difference in the gas consumed, but after 500 miles Adam (tailgate down) ran out of gas. Jamie made it another 30 miles before he ran out of gas. This result was the exact opposite of the myth."
Anyone done their own tests?
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: SD
What year, make, model of pickup did they test? I've always been told that starting in the mid to late 80's the pickups were designed in the windtunnel with the tailgate up. Thus lowering the gate causes more wind turbulance and worse mileage...
Marty
Marty
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You see that's the only going discussion.
These auto companies do tons of research before they build them.
I can assure you, they didn't put a tailgate on so people could put them down for better fuel mileage.
The roofline is designed to push wind over most of the box but you know if you have loose straw in the bed driving down the highway at 60 that that straw will circulate around the box.
Yet with the tailgate down it will still circulate around the box.
The 70's truck would have been wind tunnel tested as well as they have been around a long time (wind tunnels).
These auto companies do tons of research before they build them.
I can assure you, they didn't put a tailgate on so people could put them down for better fuel mileage.
The roofline is designed to push wind over most of the box but you know if you have loose straw in the bed driving down the highway at 60 that that straw will circulate around the box.
Yet with the tailgate down it will still circulate around the box.
The 70's truck would have been wind tunnel tested as well as they have been around a long time (wind tunnels).
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Elder User
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From: North Texas
Originally Posted by Mil1ion
There are a few tailgate threads on either here or GAD forum as this encompases all trucks not just 73-79.
Yes, I know the tailgate issue is relative to all trucks, I was curious if anyone had an answer specifically for the 73-79 body, long bed & reg cab if I'm really lucky. The minor weight shift would be helpful(theoretically) for drag racing, but if there's an increase in drag that would be more detrimental.
Last edited by derherr65; Mar 15, 2006 at 03:32 PM.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: USA
I watched that show on the mythbusters with great interest. While everyone will agree that our body style has the aerodynamics of a brick so did the F-4 Phantom and it served up well through a couple of conflicts. What I found fascinating was how the did the visual with a homemade water tank shaped like a doughnut and a trolling motor. When they used rice as a median it could be clearly seen to form a rotating "ball" at the front of the bed which forced all the rest of the rice over the top and beyond the tailgate. I'm leaving mine up.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Eustis FL
I know a few guys who race pickups. They ran gate down and gate up, and found no noticeable difference in ET or trap speed either way.
Still bugs me to this day to see these guys with the gate down, thinking it will help them beat that fast Ford in the next lane.
Mark
Still bugs me to this day to see these guys with the gate down, thinking it will help them beat that fast Ford in the next lane.
Mark