Tailgate Up or Down??

[Mud_Puppy]

Now I've never been crazy about the idea of driving with my tailgate down, but, I see allot of pickups driving with the tailgate down. I can where it might reduce wind drag. Has anyone tried this? If so did it help your MPG? With gas at $3.79 and going up tonight (gas delivery). I'm willing to try almost anything.

[Jet Pack]

Leave it up.

[xridgelinex]

Click on the search button and find out that you should???????????????????????

[rdharper]

Originally Posted by Mud_Puppy

Now I've never been crazy about the idea of driving with my tailgate down, but, I see allot of pickups driving with the tailgate down. I can where it might reduce wind drag. Has anyone tried this? If so did it help your MPG? With gas at $3.79 and going up tonight (gas delivery). I'm willing to try almost anything.

You will hear lots of claims...but the one I expect is about correct... is the one done by somebody at the scangauge site. He did a fairly careful check... and was surprised at his 1mpg improvement.... he expected more given all the hype... and the obvious fact that the tailgate is hanging up a big flat surface.

In any event, it can't hurt... although I'm not sure I like the idea of the tailgate bouncing around on dirt roads... in my case.

I might try the experiment myself, when I get my scangauge in... I think about Monday. (I'm not promoting scangauge... but... well... we'll see)

So many promotions on this site... but this one sucked me in.

More data... Stephanie....

[Jack]

Didn't anybody see this one on Myth Busters! I did,and the outcome was gas milage actually worsened with the tailgate down. They didn't use a Ridge, but used a Dodge that belonged to one of the busters. Measuring fuel consumption, they got better mileage with the tailgate up and when they did a fluid tunnel test (wind tunnel using water) they found that the closed tailgate created a vortex just behind the cab that created lift, making the truck lighter (not by much) and it made the airflow go completely over the truck and not creat drag. It made a 2-3 mpg difference. With the tailgate down the vortex moved back toward the lowered tailgate and caused drag, reducing gas mileage because of lost lift and the rear of the truck causing drag. In the fluid tunnel they placed little white pellets in the water and the bunched up right behind the cab in a vortex. With the tailgate down the pellets swirled erratically and some even slipped out of the vortex due to drag. So according to them, better up than down.

[madi05]

Originally Posted by Jack

Didn't anybody see this one on Myth Busters! I did,and the outcome was gas milage actually worsened with the tailgate down. They didn't use a Ridge, but used a Dodge that belonged to one of the busters. Measuring fuel consumption, they got better mileage with the tailgate up and when they did a fluid tunnel test (wind tunnel using water) they found that the closed tailgate created a vortex just behind the cab that created lift, making the truck lighter (not by much) and it made the airflow go completely over the truck and not creat drag. It made a 2-3 mpg difference. With the tailgate down the vortex moved back toward the lowered tailgate and caused drag, reducing gas mileage because of lost lift and the rear of the truck causing drag. In the fluid tunnel they placed little white pellets in the water and the bunched up right behind the cab in a vortex. With the tailgate down the pellets swirled erratically and some even slipped out of the vortex due to drag. So according to them, better up than down.

that is too funny, i remember that one, it was cool the way they tested it

madi05

[arteegee]

Originally Posted by madi05

that is too funny, i remember that one, it was cool the way they tested it

madi05

Yet the question keeps surfacing. Close the gate.

[ChrisM]

Originally Posted by arteegee

Yet the question keeps surfacing. Close the gate.

Agreed. Not only the question but the answers.

Q: Tailgate up or down?
A: Someone gives the correct answer
A: Use the search
A: Leave it down or it doesn't matter (which is the wrong answer)
A: The mythbusters episode
A: Someone again gives the correct answer

Sometimes reading some of these posts are like watching the movie Groundhog Day with Bill Murray. These threads repeat themselves over and over and over and over again.

[arteegee]

Look at the design work in the tailgate. See how it appears to be short. Them's aerodynamics. Throw some stuff in the bed and watch it dance at freeway speeds.

[VoicesInMyHead]

Originally Posted by ChrisM

Sometimes reading some of these posts are like watching the movie Groundhog Day with Bill Murray. These threads repeat themselves over and over and over and over again.

Newbie Forum Posting Etiquette! - (Funny)

I liked Groundhog day! Funny movie!


I liked Groundhog day! Funny movie!


I liked Groundhog day! Funny movie!