tailgate down better gas milage


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Old 11-26-06, 09:58 AM
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tailgate down better gas milage

Hi i all ways heard that leaving the tailgate down improves mpg .was watching a tv truck show they said thats not true .leaving tailgate up can help improve mpg .any one else heard this
 
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Old 11-26-06, 10:30 AM
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Mythbusters did a segment on this and the answer is...tailgate UP. The theory is that it creates an invisible "bubble" in the cargo area that casues the windstream to pass over and not drag on the bed.
 
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Old 11-26-06, 10:58 AM
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..or better still, add a tourneau cover to close the bed and then you'll get better, cleaner airflow over the entire cargo area. That's what Ive heard...
I think that air would still be 'captured' in an open bed...but mythbusters probably knows better.
 
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Old 11-26-06, 02:22 PM
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Haha, the_tow_guy even said "bubble" like Jamie off Mythbusters.
 
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Old 11-27-06, 05:48 AM
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up up up

Myth Busters did the tailgate up or down again last night but this time they tried a net, a cover,and removing the gate. The best was with a net but not by much and then with tail gate up gave best fuel mileage.
Those guys had a calibrated fuel flow meter installed in there what looked like a chevy S-10.
 
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Old 11-27-06, 05:49 AM
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Talking

they never tried drafting
 
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Old 11-27-06, 06:20 AM
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no drafting

No drafting that is something that should only be done on race tracks.
Most people can not drive while chewing gum can you imagine the carnage that would happen if normal people tried to draft?
Ever seen the movie red asphalt not a pretty sight.
 
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Old 11-29-06, 07:34 AM
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What they are doing is only conlusive for that particular vehicle. The airfoils would be different with different pickups. Most of the aerodynamics of vehicles have been determined in an air tunnel.

I would suspect, however, that design would have included the best fuel performance with the tailgate in its normal position of up. I don't know if the tailgate down position would be looked at as being unsafe and not endorsed by the manufacturer of the vehicle.

Interesting,

Bob
 
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Old 11-29-06, 12:42 PM
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Originally Posted by HotinOKC
Haha, the_tow_guy even said "bubble" like Jamie off Mythbusters.
Shhh. I'm incognito.
 
 

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