hey guys. a friend told me about a tail gate controler that you can adjust your tail gate lowerig on the fly? anyone know what I'm talking about?

 

found it ...


http://www.fordtruckworld.com/tenArt...?aid=179&sid=2

 

Pretty nifty, but what would you use it for? Maybe if you didn't have any arms????

 

yea why would you need to adjust your tailgate "on the fly"? aerodynamics?

 

I think its for when your on the hwy and forgot to lower it and dont want to stop somewhere to do it yourself. Or I guess If you were cruising around town and all of a sudden wanted to race someone and your tail gate is up.

 

at the track my truck runs faster with the tailgate up. I would always put it down and run consistant 13.3s. On one run I forgot to put it down and then ran a 13.24.

 

Thats going to be a luck difference,as in you just happend to do better that time off your start. Look at your time slips, but look at all the numbers and compare. The wind that deflects off the roof comes down into the bed right smack into the tailgate. I could always feel the difference on the hwy when it was down. I just bought a bed cover instead. I leave it on for racing since its heavy and the elctric lock wires would have to be cut to remove it.

 

Thats not a fact most trucks to day are wind tunnel tested with there gates up. This creates an air bubble behind the cab creating the effect of a smooth wind line!! Artie

 

Maybe its like trim tabs on a boat. You adjust the tailgate down to get up on plane quicker, or up when you're going through the rough stuff.

 

right behind the cab is wind proof practically. Ever notice how when it rains your bed covers dont get wet on the part right behind the window until you stop driving. We are talking about the tailgate being up vs. down...there is no way that the tailgate doesnt catch resistance in the upward position. Whether or not the actual amount of drag is going to hinder a 1/4 time is the question...it would most likely, just not enough to notice probably.

 

Konig,

Somebody actually did a wind tunnel test several years
ago, and the data was irrefutable. The tailgate in an up
position does not impact performance. It actually goes
slower if you lower it because the air bubble in the bed
is now missing. You can test this yourself. Just get in the
back with the gate up and put your head against the gate ...
Or in the front where the "farmhands" usually ride.

 

yep...there is a pocket of air in your bed that deflects any coming down to your tailgate so it doesn't matter....

 

I know there is a "bubble" of sorts directly behind the cab that has no wind at all. I have had leaves however in the back of a previous 99 flareside that told me otherwise about the rest of the bed. The leaves were in the bed on the floor, when I was done driving the leaves were stuck on the inside of the tailgate because it was wet. How would this happen if there is no wind at all pushing the leaves into the tailgate? Is it not reasonable to think that if the leaves hit the tailgate then wind also does the same ? especially since the wind is what moved the leaves to begin with?

 

An electric adjusting tailgate will give you an 'intimidation' factor.
You're at a light and the car next to you revves his engine and is trying to get your attention.

You casually glance his way and hold up one finger indicating you are not quite ready.

You glance over your shoulder (he follows your glance) as you adjust the tailgate from 360 degrees to 25 degrees, electrically from the cab.

You look over his vehicle, taking in tire dimensions, exhaust diameter, gound clearance, etc..

You once again glance back and change the tailgate from 25 degrees to 16, no wait, make that 14 degrees.

The driver in the other vehicle contemplates what you have done.
He puts on his blinker and makes a right on red, obeying all applicable speed limits.

 

i dont know if the one linked to is the one im talking about but there is a kit out there that automatically drops the tail gate a certain distance after a certain amount of speed. kind of like the porches spoilers that go up at like 60. then when you slow down the tailgate closes.