Tail Gate
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,021
Likes: 5
From: Almost Heaven
Tail Gate
Hey guys, I wasn't sure where to post this. My question is this; Is it true that if you drive with your tail gate down, you get better gas milage?
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,575
Likes: 11
From: Puyallup, WA
One other thing to think about - if you hit a bump with the tailgate down and no load on it, it can raise up, and if it hits the right spot and combination of bumps, it can fall off! they were made to come off easily.
This happened to one of our work trucks, of course the straps caught it so it did not leave completly, but enough to mess it up.
David
This happened to one of our work trucks, of course the straps caught it so it did not leave completly, but enough to mess it up.
David
Carpenter Local 745
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,794
Likes: 11
From: on da beach
Mythbusters revisited this myth and they found out that the plastic tailgate nets worked the best.
I drive with my tailgate up.....I just have too much junk in the back!
Once I drove around with a snicker bar on my rear bumper-- and I was there when I remembered about it. I also left a wingnut for my Hilift jack on my bumper and it was still there. I think I left my keys there too.
How come some things stay in the bed with the gate down? The junk stays, but the good stuff falls out!
OH. Keep the gate up. IMO.
I drive with my tailgate up.....I just have too much junk in the back!
Once I drove around with a snicker bar on my rear bumper-- and I was there when I remembered about it. I also left a wingnut for my Hilift jack on my bumper and it was still there. I think I left my keys there too.
How come some things stay in the bed with the gate down? The junk stays, but the good stuff falls out!
OH. Keep the gate up. IMO.
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,021
Likes: 5
From: Almost Heaven
Okay thanks gentleman! One more question for the moment then; Is it true that BED COVERS will help with gas milage? I heard this from a man on this site, and saw it stated in a magazine selling them. Of course I know not to trust sales lines, but I figured a man in the "real world" would know.
Trending Topics
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 601
Likes: 0
From: Denver
I put a soft tonneau on my '00 4.0 ohv and it helped mileage about 1mpg. I put a soft tonneau on my '03 4.0 sohc and it didn't change mileage at all.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
Senior User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
There was an article in Tailgate Talk about this very subject. Here is an exert from that article:
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: May 2007
Posts: 514
Likes: 0
From: Northern Colorado
I read all of the time about improvements that have been seen or predicted by the addition of tonneau covers. I guess in a perfect situation, they are probably true, to an extent. However, in my experiences with a toyota, chebbie and, currently, my PSD CC, I saw in the real world over extended periods of time absolutely no change in the fuel consumption. If there was any, it must have been so minor as to not be able to calculate it. But in defense of the tonneau covers, I never purchased any of them with the expectation of mileage improvements - they were purely for their practicality, protection and appearance. I do like them!
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 0
a lightweight fiberglass or aluminum canopy that is the same height as the top of the cab, and stays that height for the entire length of the bed can also improve gas mileage by reducing drag. (not always cause if the canopy hurts gas mileage through excessive weight more than it helps with aerodynamics, you can go in the reverse direction, thats why the lighter the canopy the better)
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Huntsman
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
19
Sep 10, 2004 06:46 PM