MPG's tailgate up or down?
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 891
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From: Lost some where in the middle of the Ozark Mountains!
Tonneu?
LOL..Sorry, The board has been taking my post copying the last 1/2 and pasting it in the middle on oocasion. Then it wont let me edit it when it does that..Sorry.
I was trying to do some hillbilly math, but after it did that it even confused me!
rally,
How did it effect it if you have a tonneau cover on?
I was trying to do some hillbilly math, but after it did that it even confused me!
rally,
How did it effect it if you have a tonneau cover on?
Last edited by PSS-Mag; Jan 25, 2005 at 04:33 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,248
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From: Rochester, NY, USA
As you've seen in an earlier post, scientific tests show that running with your tailgate up is indeed more efficient. Real world testing is difficult due to the number of variables involved.
I have two other big reasons for running with the tailgate up. First, you're more likely to get the top edge of your tail gate whacked when its down because it now sticks out past your rear bumper. Second, hitting bumps in the road with the tailgate down puts a hell of a strain on the two cables that hold it in the horizontal position because it jumps up and down. Ever break those bad boys? It puts a heck of a crease across your tailgate!
I have two other big reasons for running with the tailgate up. First, you're more likely to get the top edge of your tail gate whacked when its down because it now sticks out past your rear bumper. Second, hitting bumps in the road with the tailgate down puts a hell of a strain on the two cables that hold it in the horizontal position because it jumps up and down. Ever break those bad boys? It puts a heck of a crease across your tailgate!
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Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Winnipeg, Manitoba
It has been proven through testing by Ford that it is better to keep the tailgate up. This topic has been covered on numerous occasions. Try a search for the info your looking for.
Last edited by Tbird69; Jan 26, 2005 at 07:41 PM.
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Joined: Mar 2002
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From: NH
As was stated before with information billycouldride provided it has been proven in a wind tunnel that you get the best gas mileage:
Tailgate up.
Better with tailgate up and tonneau cover
Worse with tailgate down and no tonneau cover.
I seen this on Discovery channel a few years ago, or some channel like that and they showed it in a wind tunnel with the smoke and you could see the difference.
That is the ONLY kind of data you can use. You can’t use different people’s personal test because they are not controlled nor accurate test. For accurate and controlled testing you have to have the exact same weather, road conditions, same path of travel, truck in the same condition (i.e. tire pressures, fluid temperatures, gas level, weight etc).
By the way, if you put a shell on your truck you will really get bad gas mileage because it causes a HUGE amount of turbulence in the back, regardless how aerodynamic the shell may be you will get worse mileage…
Tailgate up.
Better with tailgate up and tonneau cover
Worse with tailgate down and no tonneau cover.
I seen this on Discovery channel a few years ago, or some channel like that and they showed it in a wind tunnel with the smoke and you could see the difference.
That is the ONLY kind of data you can use. You can’t use different people’s personal test because they are not controlled nor accurate test. For accurate and controlled testing you have to have the exact same weather, road conditions, same path of travel, truck in the same condition (i.e. tire pressures, fluid temperatures, gas level, weight etc).
By the way, if you put a shell on your truck you will really get bad gas mileage because it causes a HUGE amount of turbulence in the back, regardless how aerodynamic the shell may be you will get worse mileage…
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
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Originally posted by arrbilly
geez, this subject again
Nascar did extensive wind tunnel testing a few years back and the result was TAILGATE UP!!!
geez, this subject again
Nascar did extensive wind tunnel testing a few years back and the result was TAILGATE UP!!!
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 47
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From: Oxford, CT
Just dealing with fixing chips from leaving the tailgate down would offset any imaginary fuel savings anyhow 
I read a bunch of different truck forums and every single one has this topic repeated over and over. Fun to talk about though...
I read a bunch of different truck forums and every single one has this topic repeated over and over. Fun to talk about though...
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10
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From: franklin, oh.
just to stir up the conversation some more, heh heh, it was maybe 20 or so yrs ago i saw a pickup,forget what brand, but anyway it was kind of a windy day and he was hauling a brand new washing machine and it was asingle cab with said machine up against the cab. Unsecured , tailgate up and low and behold it just decided to vacate the bed and land on the road and tumble to the side. road was paved did'nt seem to be going any faster than the speed limit of 55, luckily no accident ensued.
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 891
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From: Lost some where in the middle of the Ozark Mountains!
Just to Stir up LOL
That could have been me except mine was a dryer and about 12-14 years ago...one of my Grandpa's businesses was he owned a large appliance repair shop and luckily it was my mom and dads machine that we were replacing. I was brining in the old machine with my grandpa, I can't remeber if we were in my 69 F-100 or my grandpas little GMC Sonoma...I think it was the F-100 and we were only driving 40-45mph when it slid back, hoped over the tailgate and on to the highway. Luckily it slid over to the shoulder and not into oncoming traffic and it suffered minimal cosmetic damages.
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Joined: Mar 2001
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Originally posted by 2stroked
As you've seen in an earlier post, scientific tests show that running with your tailgate up is indeed more efficient. Real world testing is difficult due to the number of variables involved.
I have two other big reasons for running with the tailgate up. First, you're more likely to get the top edge of your tail gate whacked when its down because it now sticks out past your rear bumper. Second, hitting bumps in the road with the tailgate down puts a hell of a strain on the two cables that hold it in the horizontal position because it jumps up and down. Ever break those bad boys? It puts a heck of a crease across your tailgate!
As you've seen in an earlier post, scientific tests show that running with your tailgate up is indeed more efficient. Real world testing is difficult due to the number of variables involved.
I have two other big reasons for running with the tailgate up. First, you're more likely to get the top edge of your tail gate whacked when its down because it now sticks out past your rear bumper. Second, hitting bumps in the road with the tailgate down puts a hell of a strain on the two cables that hold it in the horizontal position because it jumps up and down. Ever break those bad boys? It puts a heck of a crease across your tailgate!
forgot the third reason...
driving extended periods with the tailgate down creates flex in the side panels. This ultimately weakens the metal and can potentially cause a poor fit with the tailgate when you do want to put it up (The air flow pulls the sides inward when the tailgate isnt there to reinforce)