Does the tailgate catch much air?
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: SW Indiana melon fields.
Does the tailgate catch much air?
I'm going to put a lift gate on my new F-250. I notice that they now offer a mesh gate option. Will the air passing through the gate help my mileage a little? a lot? not at all?
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Joined: Apr 2007
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They tested it on mythbusters. Makes no difference to worse. The vehicle was designed with the tailgate in mind. I tried it both ways myself using my scangauge during a trip to Delaware and noticed no difference.
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Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Airdrie Alberta
Originally Posted by tac53parsons
They tested it on mythbusters. Makes no difference to worse. The vehicle was designed with the tailgate in mind. I tried it both ways myself using my scangauge during a trip to Delaware and noticed no difference.
I don't know how long wind tunnels have been around but I'm sure when trucks were first invented with the pickup bed, nobody had any tests to see how the tailgate could be used to increase the mileage of a vehicle
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Newport, WA
The air moving over the cab doesn't drop back down for quite some time. I know this from my own personal testing- we went and bought a computer desk one time that came in a box and hauled it home in the rain. I was really worried about it getting damaged, but when we got home there wasn't a single drop of rain on the box. That was a 92 F250 single cab 8' bed- I think our big "behemoth" trucks are more aerodynamic than most would give them credit for.
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Joined: Jun 2007
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From: brighton, ill
Originally Posted by rollerstud98
That was just mythbusters speculation on the vehicle being designed for that function, all it is though is pure luck that it works out like that with the design of the vehicle.
I don't know how long wind tunnels have been around but I'm sure when trucks were first invented with the pickup bed, nobody had any tests to see how the tailgate could be used to increase the mileage of a vehicle
I don't know how long wind tunnels have been around but I'm sure when trucks were first invented with the pickup bed, nobody had any tests to see how the tailgate could be used to increase the mileage of a vehicle
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Post Fiend
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From: Texas
Check out the diagram here https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/m...2Bfreedom.html
There's been some recent discussion (with more tests to come) on this.
There's been some recent discussion (with more tests to come) on this.
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From: Stephensville WI
When towing my car hauler, I get worse mileage if I leave my hard tonneau cover on the truck OR remove my tailgate.
When not towing, not much if any difference, at least with a short bed Super Cab.
When not towing, not much if any difference, at least with a short bed Super Cab.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: SW Indiana melon fields.
Originally Posted by spinella
i see the original post said LIFT GATE.is it higher than the bed rails?if it is i think that would create wind drag. i would go will the mesh option.(can't hurt)
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by having the tailgate up you create somewhat of an air pocket that can work like a toneau cover (not to that degree but same principle) but when the tailgate goes down or mesh goes in the bubble disappearrs and air loops behind the cab creating a vacume there and as a result more wind drag. thats why mpg tends to go down if anything it was more of a luck of the design when pick-ups were first made now i doubt it but some manufacturers could design the cab roof to help create less drag but from looking at it i would say no