To tailgate, or not to tailgate?

[steved]

OK, this is a tailgate question... I know there have been studies, but not sure they did this.



I'm driving to Washington this weekend... I got almost nothing in the bed (only a crossover box and my 2x2x4 storage box), at least nothing that will fall out. So the bed is over 2/3 full.



I am considering taking the tailgate off for this trip... think it will hurt/help mileage? I know dropping the gate causes a drop in mileage, but what about no gate at all?

 

[Grizzly]

I believe the difference will be negligible.

 

[steved]

I'm doing it more for handling than anything... this truck responds better to wind if the gate is down/off. Driving that far, without the need for the gate...

 

[klenger]

Try it and let us know. My milage did not get any worse when I replaced my tailgate with a vented tailgate.

 

[WDaniels]

klenger,

I read a very large article about the tailgate gambit. The short of it is that when the air hits the tailgate it creates an air bubble that swirls in the bed of the truck and then the rest the on coming air rides that bubble over the tailgate thus reducing the overall drag of the pickup bed. The article went on to say that the truck that got the best milage with the gate up was Ford but it was also the worst with it down. Then Dodge was the second best with the gate up and just second with it down and Chevy was the worst with it up and best with it down. Now we are only talking less than a mile per gallon over all. I know that when I put the Leer topper on my truck, my milage went down. And on fords, if you leave the gate off for to long on rough roads, the sides of the bed will get weak and wobble.

WD

 

[steved]

I've seen that comparison of gate up/gate down... I'm talking no gate at all!

 

[JacobsD]

I think that if anything you'll notice more of a mileage increase because you have less weight then the fact that your flowing more air through your bed.



As far as handling, probably also won't make much of a difference.

 

[AKAMAC]

I found that "tailgating" i. e. drafting, will do more for mileage than your tailgate. The tailgate up will create a vacuum in the bed area that will assist in "pushing" the truck at speed on most P/Us on the market.

While I haven't tested this with my Ram I did do it in my Plymouth Arrow back in the day. With the Arrow my mileage decreased about 10% and top speed decreased about the same precentage.

I can say that my cap reduced my mileage by 3 MPG with the Ram.

If you have stuff in the box your tailgate removal may or may not affect your mileage, it would be cool if you did the test for us and reported back. Mike

 

[steved]

As far as handling, probably also won't make much of a difference.

You'd be surprised how much difference it is driving in high winds with the tailgate down, versus the tailgate up.

 

[Grizzly]

klenger,

I read a very large article about the tailgate gambit. The short of it is that when the air hits the tailgate it creates an air bubble that swirls in the bed of the truck and then the rest the on coming air rides that bubble over the tailgate thus reducing the overall drag of the pickup bed. The article went on to say that the truck that got the best milage with the gate up was Ford but it was also the worst with it down. Then Dodge was the second best with the gate up and just second with it down and Chevy was the worst with it up and best with it down. Now we are only talking less than a mile per gallon over all. I know that when I put the Leer topper on my truck, my milage went down. And on fords, if you leave the gate off for to long on rough roads, the sides of the bed will get weak and wobble.

WD

... . yet another good reason why not to buy a Furd!

 

[JasonCzerak]

If you take you truck to the track, and yo gain ET and MPH. it's going to help out on the road. I've noticed 2 tenths and forgot the mph when my truck was stock.

 

[steved]

If you take you truck to the track, and yo gain ET and MPH. it's going to help out on the road. I've noticed 2 tenths and forgot the mph when my truck was stock.

So you gained ET and MPH with or without the gate? I'm confused???

 

[JasonCzerak]

So you gained ET and MPH with or without the gate? I'm confused???

with out. it's weight first off. as far as win resistance, I'm sure if the little bubbl was worth it, the top trucks would have gates on at hte tracks right?

 

[JDinterman]

Didn't you guys see the mythbusters episode where they did this. Putting the tailgate down is worse for mileage. The poster up above talking about the air bubble is correct. With the gate down it puts more downpressure on the rear creating more drag.

 

[steved]

Didn't you guys see the mythbusters episode where they did this. Putting the tailgate down is worse for mileage. The poster up above talking about the air bubble is correct. With the gate down it puts more downpressure on the rear creating more drag.

Again, tailgate down may not equal no tailgate at all... :-laf



I also don't agree with their method of calculating fuel mileage by relying on the computer to tell them what they are getting... not sure if that was the case with that episode, but that's what they did with the A/C versus Windows one.



I know there is hard data showing the tail gate does make a difference, I also know the guys putting the little tailgate topper from the 1500s are gaining mileage from that deal alone.

 

[JasonCzerak]

Didn't you guys see the mythbusters episode where they did this. Putting the tailgate down is worse for mileage. The poster up above talking about the air bubble is correct. With the gate down it puts more downpressure on the rear creating more drag.

I about drove to where they film that show and smack them two idiots upside the head... not only is tail gate down, illegal in most states (with nothing on it, like a 10 foot 2x4). it's going to brake/bend when you hit bumps, it's a rather obvious "drag".



Tail gate off is the only way to go unless you wanna buy a light, vinal cover, that's even better. other wise, leave the gate up.



And they did correct the show later, and found tail gate down is the worst.



remember the episode where they were trying to shoot a bullet at a window to see if it would reflect? they did the front window and wondered why it wouldn't' shatter... . they know nothing about cars/trucks/anything_on_4_wheels.

 

[steved]

Well, no time to goof with it now... probably drop it at my parents when I get there late tonight. Might as well try it...company is paying for fuel...