Did anyone catch the Mythbusters on TV last night? One of their segments was on whether gas mileage is better with the tailgate up or down. They used two 2007 Ford F150 Supercrews with the 5.5 box identical in every way including the colour. Filled the tanks with fuel and drove the same route one with the tailgate up and one with it down. The results at the end were surprising to say the least. The truck with the tailgate in the up position went 30 miles farther!
This result goes against everything I have ever heard about this method of improving gas mileage. They didn't give what the actual gas mileage was per vehicle, but it makes one wonder if all previous tests about this method of better fuel economy is valid. I have a cap on my Screw and I saw my mileage improve over an open bed when it went on.

Any comments?

 

I put a tonneau on my truck, you can feel a difference of no drag on the highway. I wonder how the show can explain their findings?

 

I only believed you would get better mileage with the tailgate down back when I was in high school and didn't know any better. While I would think on average there will be no significant gain either way, I still would keep my tailgate up...

-Brian

 

I did not see the show but did they reverse the trucks for comparison purposes? In other words did they run the one with the tailgate down in the first trial, with the tailgate up for a second trial? The gas milage varies on these trucks from the factory so I am curious if they ruled out everything else but the tailgate.

 

I've seen a few internet "tests" on this and they have all proven the same thing tailgate up for better gas mileage

 

A tailgate up or down comparison has nothing to do with a cover. It has long been proven that the air flows better over the bed if the tailgate is up, the wind does not push down on the bed, thus less drag. It has also been proven that a lid on the bed is fuel efficient as it eliminates drag more than enought to offset the extra weight. This has been discussed in some older posts that you might want to search and read.

 

Well the truck was designed to be driven with the tailgate up, I'm sure if having it down was better to do it would be mentioned somewhere in the owner's manual.

On that note, ride around in the back of a truck with the tailgate up, there's not a ton of wind there.

 

Tailgate down you probably leave a dirty airstream behind the truck. Turbulence is going to add drag and reduce mileage.

 

It drives me nuts seeing people driving trucks with the tailgate down. You can afford the huge payment but you can't afford the gas for it. Some people just have no clue.

 

yup.

 

I like it when they do cause I picked up alot of toolboxes full of tools, straps, even got a hammer as of last week. Idiots do a jack rabbit start at a stop lite with the tailgate down and all that stuff comes flying out. I just pull over and pickup my prize. Almost got a wet dry vac once

 

That particular Mythbuster's episode is REALLY old (episode #43). They even revisited the myth in episode #64. On the second test, they used Jamie's Jap truck and monitored actual fuel consumption:

Tailgate down: 5.2 gallons/hr @ 55mph. 1.2 gallons/hr @ 25.

Tailgate up: 5.0 gallons/hr @ 55mph. No reading for 25mph given, but tailgate up was once again confirmed as more efficient.

Hardcover over pickup bed: 5.0 gallons/hr @ 55mph. 1.2 gallons/hr @25mph

Tailgate mesh: 5% more efficient

Tailgate removed: about the same as tailgate up and hardcover

 

Well around here, we have people that lower their tailgates to drive around and we also have people that take the tailgate off.

The tailgate being in the down position blocks the license plate...so you'd get a ticket...and the tailgate being removed is against PA vehicle regulations (even with nothing in your bed) so you'd get a ticket.

Personally, I've always had a tonneau cover or a full cap.

 

What if you bought some lumber over 10 feet long?
Do you get a ticket if you are hauling something longer than the bed and that is why the tailgate is down?

 

I saw someone on here lose a fridge out the back... now where's my scrap metal?