Highway driving w/ tailgate down.
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 88
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From: Iron Mountain, MI, USA
Highway driving w/ tailgate down.
I made a 30 mile trip yesterday with the tailgate down (anything to save gas). I could not believe the difference it made! I don't have any mileage numbers to share but I can say that it really improved the ride and performance of an already great vehicle.
The ride was smoother, there was less wind noise and the mild buffeting vibration that I used to feel was gone. There must be a lot of turbulence going on in the box with the tailgate up because with it down even the engine performs way better. I have the 4.6L and it did tend to go out of OD a lot on small inclines. Not this time. Rarely went out of OD and when it did it was back up to speed almost immediately. I cannot believe the difference it made! Passing cars going 55 was instantaneous. Cruising at 60 felt like we were going 30. My wife kept looking at the speedometer because it felt so slow.
I know that the tailgate being down certainly helps at highway speeds but I did not expect this much of an improvement. I wonder if the longer cab / shorter bed of the SuperCrew makes this drag at highway speeds even worse than say a SuperCab.
I have planned on getting a tonneau cover all along but like a lot of you are still looking for the right one. In the meantime I have found a trick that is certainly worth the effort. You guys with bed extenders will look really cool doing this.
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2001 SuperCrew, XLT, 4x4, Island Blue/Silver, Med gray int., 4.6, 60/40, 6 disc, cab steps, power seat, 17" 10 spoke.
The ride was smoother, there was less wind noise and the mild buffeting vibration that I used to feel was gone. There must be a lot of turbulence going on in the box with the tailgate up because with it down even the engine performs way better. I have the 4.6L and it did tend to go out of OD a lot on small inclines. Not this time. Rarely went out of OD and when it did it was back up to speed almost immediately. I cannot believe the difference it made! Passing cars going 55 was instantaneous. Cruising at 60 felt like we were going 30. My wife kept looking at the speedometer because it felt so slow.
I know that the tailgate being down certainly helps at highway speeds but I did not expect this much of an improvement. I wonder if the longer cab / shorter bed of the SuperCrew makes this drag at highway speeds even worse than say a SuperCab.
I have planned on getting a tonneau cover all along but like a lot of you are still looking for the right one. In the meantime I have found a trick that is certainly worth the effort. You guys with bed extenders will look really cool doing this.
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2001 SuperCrew, XLT, 4x4, Island Blue/Silver, Med gray int., 4.6, 60/40, 6 disc, cab steps, power seat, 17" 10 spoke.
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 685
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
I gotta agree with Thad. That's gotta be bad on the paint to drive it like that for extended periods of time. Maybe a bed cover might be a better solution?
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2000 F150 XLT 4x4 Short Bed. Amazon Green, 5.4L, SuperCab, ORP, Tow Package, Sliding Rear Window, Electronic Shift, Keyless Entry, LT265-70-17 Tires, Clarion Pro Audio, Herculiner Bedliner, Air Silencer Removed.
1994 SVT Mustang Cobra. #1032 of 6009. Black coupe with black leather int., 3.73 rear, Bassani Exhaust, Aluminum D/S, Bridgestone RE-71 255-45-ZR17
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2000 F150 XLT 4x4 Short Bed. Amazon Green, 5.4L, SuperCab, ORP, Tow Package, Sliding Rear Window, Electronic Shift, Keyless Entry, LT265-70-17 Tires, Clarion Pro Audio, Herculiner Bedliner, Air Silencer Removed.
1994 SVT Mustang Cobra. #1032 of 6009. Black coupe with black leather int., 3.73 rear, Bassani Exhaust, Aluminum D/S, Bridgestone RE-71 255-45-ZR17
My Home Page
Member
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: Pacifica, CA, USA
With a Dirt Bike to haul, I have had to make several trips already with tailgate down while using the bed extender. I was concerned about wear and tear on the paint as well. I am happy to report that I do not have a single scratch or chip! I just got back from a trip that involved 30 miles of bumpy dirt and gravel road. I even spun the wheels a few times on a couple of hills. The Supercrew was covered in dust but the tailgate did not even have any dust on it when I lifted it up at the campgrounds to inspect. That leads me to believe that the airstream does not flow that way. A short ride with gate up had it covered in dust!
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2001 Supercrew 4x4 XLT Harvest Gold, 5.4L, Bed Extender, 6 disc CD changer, Limited Slip, Keyless Entry...
MODS: K&N filter, Trenz billet grille
FUTURE MODS: Rhino bed liner, exhaust system (Flowmaster or Gibson?), Centerline autodrags w/ BF Goodrich A/T's...
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2001 Supercrew 4x4 XLT Harvest Gold, 5.4L, Bed Extender, 6 disc CD changer, Limited Slip, Keyless Entry...
MODS: K&N filter, Trenz billet grille
FUTURE MODS: Rhino bed liner, exhaust system (Flowmaster or Gibson?), Centerline autodrags w/ BF Goodrich A/T's...