Driving a truck on the highway, tailgate up or down??

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Driving a truck on the highway, tailgate up or down?? (Page 1 of 2)

Posted: 4/8/2006 6:27:25 PM EDT

Posted: 4/8/2006 6:27:49 PM EDT

[#1]

IBTP?

It was mythbusted. it's better to drive tailgate up.

Posted: 4/8/2006 6:27:51 PM EDT

[#2]

Per Mythbusters, up.

Posted: 4/8/2006 6:28:43 PM EDT

[#3]

Quoted:
IBTP?

It was mythbusted. it's better to drive tailgate up.

Missed it, sorry, was that recent?

Posted: 4/8/2006 6:28:53 PM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
IBTP?

It was mythbusted. it's better to drive tailgate up.

+1

Posted: 4/8/2006 6:29:08 PM EDT

[#5]

Up, I wonder how many sales air gate lost after the airing of that segment.

Posted: 4/8/2006 6:34:14 PM EDT

[#6]

Mythbusters proved up is better for gas milage.

Posted: 4/8/2006 6:35:14 PM EDT

[#7]

Guess it must just be me, but it sure did seem like I went farther on a tank of gas with the tailgate down, but there ARE many variables involved.

FWIW, it didn't matter on my shortbed Dodge Ram, but my Dakota with the longbed seemed to make a difference.

Posted: 4/8/2006 6:36:36 PM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
Mythbusters proved up is better for gas milage.

Not only is it better for milage it is structually important for the box for it to be closed

Posted: 4/8/2006 6:37:37 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
IBTP?

It was mythbusted. it's better to drive tailgate up.

the post whore is right.

Posted: 4/8/2006 6:39:03 PM EDT

[#10]

the airflow over the cab and into the bed creates a vacuume that actually helps push the vehicle along, I believe. I was wondering, did they try it with the gate at 45 degrees elevated?

Posted: 4/8/2006 6:41:44 PM EDT

[#11]

With the tailgate up the bed of a pickup produces a pocket of air. For a lack of a better discription a spinning ball of air just behind the cab. The reason a soda can will float around in the bed. The air pocket make a pickup airodynamic. leave the tailgate down,lose the air pocket and the airflow coming over the top of the cab flows into the bed and turbulance occurs creating drag.

Posted: 4/8/2006 6:43:23 PM EDT

[#12]

I used to get better mileage with it down, but that was on a fullsize longbed.

Posted: 4/8/2006 6:43:41 PM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
the airflow over the cab and into the bed creates a vacuume that actually helps push the vehicle along, I believe. I was wondering, did they try it with the gate at 45 degrees elevated?

no. they did it with 2 trucks driving along at 55mph till they ran out of gas. they then water tunnel tested it, and verified the results

Posted: 4/8/2006 6:44:47 PM EDT

[#14]

You're probably best off with a tonneau cover... or something other than a truck.

Posted: 4/8/2006 6:57:57 PM EDT

[#15]

My old NISSAN got much better milage with it down, or removed.

I think the new Ford on Mythbusters was engineered to have better milage, even with the tailgate up.

I doubt my old Nissan design ever saw a wind tunnel.

Posted: 4/8/2006 7:01:11 PM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:
You're probably best off with a tonneau cover... or something other than a truck.

Buy a Avalanche

Posted: 4/8/2006 7:15:06 PM EDT

[#17]

I hate seeing trucks with the gate down. Drives me nuts. Driving at high speeds with the gate down, or none at all is bad for the bed. The high winds can warp the bedsides and make the bed not square. This is especially true with new model trucks that the bed is held together by a super adhesive and generally the only bolts in the thing are the ones that bolt it to the frame.

Posted: 4/8/2006 7:22:12 PM EDT

[#18]

It probably depends on the truck, but the newer ones are wind tunnel tested, and work better with the tailgate up.

Who know with older trucks though.

Posted: 4/8/2006 7:23:33 PM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:
Quoted:
You're probably best off with a tonneau cover... or something other than a truck.

Buy a Avalanche

those things are fugly

Posted: 4/8/2006 7:30:43 PM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:
Mythbusters proved up is better for gas milage.

wow, never knew that.
Thanks, Arfcom, you've done it again!

Posted: 4/8/2006 7:39:21 PM EDT

[#21]

Posted: 4/8/2006 7:40:22 PM EDT

[#22]

leaving the tailgate down will also make it rattle off, the bolts will actually rattle loose

Posted: 4/8/2006 8:15:26 PM EDT

[#23]

It was mythbusted, but with all the variables involved it was really only mythbusted if you're driving an F150 of the same configuration they tested. Use a vented tailgate, remove the tailgate, install a toolbox, etc. and your mileage (pun intended) may vary.

Posted: 4/8/2006 11:50:21 PM EDT

[#24]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
You're probably best off with a tonneau cover... or something other than a truck.

Buy a Avalanche

those things are fugly

Beat me to it. If you are gonna buy a truck get something you can haul stuff around in. I'd like to see someone try to haul a stack of 4 x 8 sheets of plywood in one of those things. It's gotta be designed for the metrosexual crowd.

Posted: 4/9/2006 4:55:18 AM EDT

[#25]

Quoted:
Quoted:
You're probably best off with a tonneau cover... or something other than a truck.

Buy a Avalanche

Yes, by all means let's continue to support Mexico...

Posted: 4/9/2006 5:05:33 AM EDT

[#26]

I never noticed a difference with mine.

Posted: 4/9/2006 5:10:13 AM EDT

[#27]

It is actually illegal in some areas to drive with the tailgate down.

Kind of the same reason it is illegal in some areas to drive with the
hitchball installed if you aren't towing anything.

Posted: 4/9/2006 5:20:16 AM EDT

[#28]

1-2 months ago. I keep mine up, but also have a Tonneau cover. I wonder how caps and tonnueaus compare to the lack there of.

It was mythbusted. it's better to drive tailgate up.

Missed it, sorry, was that recent?

Posted: 4/9/2006 5:25:53 AM EDT

[#29]

With my Dodge 2500 and on Interstate driving with the tool box and nothing else in the bed it has been proven that I receive 2 mpg more in fuel mileage at 65-70 MPH 7 more MPG at 55 mph with the tailgate down. Anything less than interstate driving, no significant deviation in fuel mileage with respect to the tailgate up or down.

I do my own testing

Posted: 4/9/2006 5:47:20 AM EDT

[#30]

Tail gate down blocks redlight cameras!!!!!!!!

Posted: 4/9/2006 6:03:58 AM EDT

[#31]

It has been proven, however, that if you have a load in the pickup bed and drive backwards very quickly and apply the breaks with maximum force (F = M x A) you can unload said contents in under 3 seconds. YMMV according to the weight of the load and the value of the contents therein.

Posted: 4/9/2006 6:13:12 AM EDT

[#32]

I had an S-10... I tested it and my results were that I got better mileage with it down.

YMMV (literally!)

Posted: 4/9/2006 6:29:30 AM EDT

[#33]

The money you save on fuel you will spend on a new tailgate when some kid hits it.

Posted: 4/9/2006 6:30:53 AM EDT

[#34]

Mythbusters never tested my old truck. Better mileage with it down.

Posted: 4/9/2006 6:48:35 AM EDT

[#35]

I had a friend that worked in a body shop and said that if someone rear-ended you with the tailgate down it can shove it into the bed. He said most of the ones he saw would have been virtually no damage if the tailgate was up but he had to replace the bed on a couple with the tailgate down.

Posted: 4/9/2006 6:54:03 AM EDT

[#36]

Who cares?

I drive a pick-up, not for its fuel ecconomy

, but because I can haul things that a Ford Escort or other high MPG car can't. Deal with it or sell it!

Travis

BTW.... I love my truck and am very happy with the 18-22 mpg I get!

2004 Dodge Ram 3500 Cummins Turbo

Posted: 4/9/2006 7:25:14 AM EDT

[#37]

Quoted:
I had an S-10... I tested it and my results were that I got better mileage with it down.

YMMV (literally!)

I have a Sonoma too....so...

Posted: 4/9/2006 7:27:23 AM EDT

[#38]

Quoted:
The money you save on fuel you will spend on a new tailgate when some kid hits it.

Brother In-law owns 5 body shops and I have excellent insurance.

Posted: 4/9/2006 7:32:18 AM EDT

[#39]

I drive a lightning. Tailgate up or down or with a cover, I still get around 12mpg on 93 octane.

Matt

Posted: 4/9/2006 8:05:41 AM EDT

[#40]

5 out of 5 illegals surveyed said that when they dogpile in the back of a pickup, they prefer the tailgate to be up and securely latched.

Posted: 4/9/2006 10:26:25 AM EDT

[#41]

Quoted:
Quoted:
You're probably best off with a tonneau cover... or something other than a truck.

Buy a Avalanche

An oversized, overpriced El Camino, no way.

I drive with the tailgate down, when I am southbound.

Trip #1 to the Lupe River took just over 3/4 of a tank of go-go juice.(tailgate up)

Trip #2 took just under a 1/2 tank of gas(tailgate down)

I've only noticed this when I am southbound. Eastbound makes a difference in favor of tailgate down, but not a big difference.

Another reason I am currently driving with my tailgate down is I'm trying to get the remnants of a bunch of limbs and stuff I took to the city landfill.

Posted: 4/10/2006 3:43:20 AM EDT

[#42]

I really don't see how it could be better to drive with a 4' by 2" straight up wall versus putting it down. I definatly notice a difference with mine down. I usually get about 19 on the highway. I got 25 saturday.

2005 f150 v6 short bed standard cab

Posted: 4/10/2006 3:51:08 AM EDT

[#43]

Quoted:
5 out of 5 illegals surveyed said that when they dogpile in the back of a pickup, they prefer the tailgate to be up and securely latched.

Posted: 4/10/2006 5:14:20 AM EDT

[#44]

I would expect to get better mileage with it down. That being said, I always drive with my tailgate up. I've always felt that a big bump could cause it to come off (they are designed to come off very easily).

I also have one of those louvered tailgates for towing. I never tried to check the fuel economy using that vs the standard one, so I don't know if it would be any better by itself. It's meant for use with the 5th wheel and a trailer.

Posted: 4/10/2006 5:18:30 AM EDT

[#45]

If you're blowing toll booths in Illinois, it's better to leave it down.

Posted: 4/10/2006 5:42:11 AM EDT

[#46]

The other reason not to drive with it down is that it will ruin your paint. I used to drive with mine down until I noticed that all sorts of crap blew up and hit the painted surfaces causing a sand-blasting effect.