Tailgate MPG Experiment
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,708
Likes: 3
From: North Dakota
It really isn't worth the time, don't take offence but all you'll end up with is a chipped up tail gate! You'd be better off spending $400 on a bed cover of some sort, at least you have a way to keep things out of the weather then! JMO
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
Likes: 421
From: Long Island USA
I myself had a cab-height topper/cap on the bed, and thought it helped to a certain degree, until a few years later I made the same exact trip without the topper (but with a lot of stuff in the bed) and got the same exact mileage. 16.2MPG.
Empty bed, I seemed to never be able to hit 16MPG.
If you're careful taking off the tailgate, you won't chip it
Empty bed, I seemed to never be able to hit 16MPG.
If you're careful taking off the tailgate, you won't chip it
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 824
Likes: 1
From: Iowa
To me it is an "all in the mind thing". It just seems to get better mileage but in reality does't make a difference.
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 589
Likes: 3
From: Villa Rica, GA
I have seen results from a few different experiments and they all say keep the tailgate up. Like someone said it creates an air pocket at highway speed so air just flows over. I once saw some pictures taken in a wind tunnel, it was very interesting to see how the air just went right over the bed. you will not notice a difference at all around town or for short trips but after a long trip on the highway the mileage with the tailgate up will be better. Also I have seen tests with the tailgate nets on and they actually produced worse mileage than with the stock gate up or down. the best mileage will be had with a bed cover or a cap.
EDIT: I did a quick google search after posting and came up with a coupple things.
http://www.cartalk.com/content/colum...ctober/05.html
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m..._n9439015/pg_2
Jason
EDIT: I did a quick google search after posting and came up with a coupple things.
http://www.cartalk.com/content/colum...ctober/05.html
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m..._n9439015/pg_2
Jason
Last edited by chuck641; Feb 1, 2007 at 04:51 PM.
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Truck Trend had an article on the tailgate controversy last year, there was a little blurb on my homepage "news" screen about it in the last week or so, and long ago (like the '60's or 70's) my Dad did the experiment on a couple of trucks: the findings are always the same - NO improvement in mpg's and perhaps a little worse because of the air pocket that was mentioned earlier. Taking the tailgate off for better mpg's is an ol' wives' tale for trucks (an ol' truckers' tale?).
Cover the bed and be happy and secure!
Cover the bed and be happy and secure!
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
Likes: 421
From: Long Island USA
You all have to remember something very important.
Every truck design is different.
A crew-cab short-bed is different than a regular cab long-bed.
Each one is going to act differently... A crew-cab short-bed is not going to care much if the tailgate is there or not.
A regular cab long-bed on the other hand, it will probably effect MPGs.
As previously stated (which may not have come out right), in my Supercab short-bed, if I have stuff in the bed up to the top of the bed sides, or if I have a cap/topper on it, I can get better than 16MPGs.
Without the cap/topper and an empty bed, I can't break 15.5 or so.
I've checked and re-checked, hand-calculated, everything, over a 4 year period on many highway trips.
Maybe it's just coincidence because all of these magazines say it doesn't matter? You decide
Every truck design is different.
A crew-cab short-bed is different than a regular cab long-bed.
Each one is going to act differently... A crew-cab short-bed is not going to care much if the tailgate is there or not.
A regular cab long-bed on the other hand, it will probably effect MPGs.
As previously stated (which may not have come out right), in my Supercab short-bed, if I have stuff in the bed up to the top of the bed sides, or if I have a cap/topper on it, I can get better than 16MPGs.
Without the cap/topper and an empty bed, I can't break 15.5 or so.
I've checked and re-checked, hand-calculated, everything, over a 4 year period on many highway trips.
Maybe it's just coincidence because all of these magazines say it doesn't matter? You decide
Senior User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
This was discussed in an article by Bruce Smith in Tailgate Talk. A Ford engineer had done some studies on this:
According to many of those same experts, the best way to improve a pickup's fuel economy is to leave the tailgate up and cover the bed with a quality after market tonneau cover.
"Tonneau covers on pickup boxes reduce aerodynamic drag" said Ford's Jack Williams. "we've seen reductions of about 8 to 10 percent on the F150, which means the average fuel economy improvements for the EPA city/highway cycle(test) is about 2 percent.
"The average steady-state (cruise control) fuel economy improvement at highway speeds is close to 5 percent.."
Adding a tonneau could mean an improvement in fuel mileage that is the equivalent of a free gallon of gas for every 20 gallons used.
According to many of those same experts, the best way to improve a pickup's fuel economy is to leave the tailgate up and cover the bed with a quality after market tonneau cover.
"Tonneau covers on pickup boxes reduce aerodynamic drag" said Ford's Jack Williams. "we've seen reductions of about 8 to 10 percent on the F150, which means the average fuel economy improvements for the EPA city/highway cycle(test) is about 2 percent.
"The average steady-state (cruise control) fuel economy improvement at highway speeds is close to 5 percent.."
Adding a tonneau could mean an improvement in fuel mileage that is the equivalent of a free gallon of gas for every 20 gallons used.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 688
Likes: 0
From: right here in michigan
Originally Posted by krewat
You all have to remember something very important.
Every truck design is different.
A crew-cab short-bed is different than a regular cab long-bed.
Each one is going to act differently... A crew-cab short-bed is not going to care much if the tailgate is there or not.
A regular cab long-bed on the other hand, it will probably effect MPGs.
As previously stated (which may not have come out right), in my Supercab short-bed, if I have stuff in the bed up to the top of the bed sides, or if I have a cap/topper on it, I can get better than 16MPGs.
Without the cap/topper and an empty bed, I can't break 15.5 or so.
I've checked and re-checked, hand-calculated, everything, over a 4 year period on many highway trips.
Maybe it's just coincidence because all of these magazines say it doesn't matter? You decide
Every truck design is different.
A crew-cab short-bed is different than a regular cab long-bed.
Each one is going to act differently... A crew-cab short-bed is not going to care much if the tailgate is there or not.
A regular cab long-bed on the other hand, it will probably effect MPGs.
As previously stated (which may not have come out right), in my Supercab short-bed, if I have stuff in the bed up to the top of the bed sides, or if I have a cap/topper on it, I can get better than 16MPGs.
Without the cap/topper and an empty bed, I can't break 15.5 or so.
I've checked and re-checked, hand-calculated, everything, over a 4 year period on many highway trips.
Maybe it's just coincidence because all of these magazines say it doesn't matter? You decide
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,051
Likes: 166
From: Central Texas
I will say that on my old '65 it tracks better down the road with the gate down...not a mental thing either. I used to drive about 130 miles twice a week for several months. If I forgot to drop the gate it wouldn't take long to notice. As far as MPG goes, you don't discuss MPG in regards to that truck, it gets 7-8 MPG no matter what.