Tailgate: up or down
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
I can't remember where I saw this info I think it was in some science news from reuters or somewhere.
Anyway,
There was a recent study conducted using a wind tunnel to test the aerodynamic efficiency of different truck setups. The best milage gain of any bed cover was a Tanu/full bed cover(tanu might not be spelled right) . The tail gate nets were among the worst. And, i believe that the tailgate down also had a negative affect on milage. From what I remember, the reasoning is that a high pressure pocket develops when the gate is closed, this pocket of air helps to push the airflow smoothly over the rear of the truck. Thus reducing drag.
Also, they found that an increase in efficiency, almost equivilent to the Tanu cover occured when the rear 30 inches(or so) of the bed was covered( i believe flush with the sides). This is what I remember of the article. You should be able google the actual article.
OR you could just test it yourself the next time you take a long trip.
I hope this helps.
Good luck
Anyway,
There was a recent study conducted using a wind tunnel to test the aerodynamic efficiency of different truck setups. The best milage gain of any bed cover was a Tanu/full bed cover(tanu might not be spelled right) . The tail gate nets were among the worst. And, i believe that the tailgate down also had a negative affect on milage. From what I remember, the reasoning is that a high pressure pocket develops when the gate is closed, this pocket of air helps to push the airflow smoothly over the rear of the truck. Thus reducing drag.
Also, they found that an increase in efficiency, almost equivilent to the Tanu cover occured when the rear 30 inches(or so) of the bed was covered( i believe flush with the sides). This is what I remember of the article. You should be able google the actual article.
OR you could just test it yourself the next time you take a long trip.
I hope this helps.
Good luck
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,978
Likes: 1
From: Alvin, Texas.
Don't worry a thing. The engineers with those graduate degrees already engineered these bad boys to run better with the tailgate up.
As it is, with kooky drivers all around, would you want to sacrifice an open tailgate? It's bad enough that some are targets of thievery in a big way....
As noted with those tailgate nets...having one of those flapping around probably does not lower resistance!
As it is, with kooky drivers all around, would you want to sacrifice an open tailgate? It's bad enough that some are targets of thievery in a big way....
As noted with those tailgate nets...having one of those flapping around probably does not lower resistance!
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: Northeast Florida
I left my tailgate down in a thunderstorm once, when I closed it later I found out it was full of water! Only thing I could figure is the water must have gotten in through the drain holes on the bottom (?). Just one more reason to not leave it down all the time.
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: Tampa Bay
The reason I find most persuasive for not leaving the tailgate open, is that driving over a bunp could make the tailgate swing up to the 45 degree and it could come out of the hinge and be bouncing off the bumper doing a bit ov body damage.
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Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: ontario
Driving with the tailgate down places undue stress on the side panels. The tailgate is engineered to hold the truck down at high speeds keep your hound in and to stop the beer from splashing on the ranger behind you.....
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Mercer, PA
I live in Pennsylvania, and you can get a nice sized fine for a) driving with your tailgate down, or b) having no tailgate. Only way around this is to have a cargo net in place of the tailgate or have no bed on the darn thing lol.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 225
Likes: 0
From: BC Canada
I never drive with the gate down..even with a load. I usually put the lumber or whatever over the gate with the cap window down, resting on the supply.
I almost backed into a job I finished with the gate down...Not something I would want to do.......
I almost backed into a job I finished with the gate down...Not something I would want to do.......
Tackwelded the cable clips this time 
