LDG2012
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Toronto
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Message Posted: Feb 27, 2012 12:02:23 AM
I have always wondered this. I know people say installing bed covers improves their mileage greatly.
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13Octane
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Tucson
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Message Posted: Jan 2, 2012 6:54:48 PM
ask the myth busters. they did a whole show on it
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jetta_gia
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Toronto
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Message Posted: Jan 2, 2012 11:28:42 AM
No idea. Give it a try.
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jetta_gia
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Toronto
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Message Posted: Jan 2, 2012 11:28:41 AM
No idea. Give it a try.
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jetta_gia
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Toronto
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Message Posted: Jan 2, 2012 11:28:41 AM
No idea. Give it a try.
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jetta_gia
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Toronto
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Message Posted: Jan 2, 2012 11:28:40 AM
No idea. Give it a try.
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jetta_gia
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Toronto
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Message Posted: Jan 2, 2012 11:28:39 AM
No idea. Give it a try.
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oilpan4
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Virginia
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Message Posted: Jan 2, 2012 10:27:37 AM
Some pickup truck aerodynamics:
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthread.php/2004-silverado-most-bang-my-buck-19875.html
[Edited by: oilpan4 at 1/2/2012 10:28:44 AM EST]
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medic1633
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Illinois
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Message Posted: Jan 1, 2012 7:56:44 PM
yes i have a s-10 truck and if i leave the tail gate down i get apx +3-+4 more mpg
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dontuknowOH
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Ohio
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Message Posted: Jan 1, 2012 3:41:38 PM
I can't speak for others perception of fuel savings related to the effects of head/tail winds upon driving. I only decide that by watching those heavy steel power lines sway to and fro when the wind is 12-18 mph.or gusting higher.
Those lines have a small surface area compared to the frontal area of an automobile going against the same amount of wind force,that demonstrates to me that gas mileage tests outside done in the natural can be in error,or rather a bit flawed now/then. Some don't see it that way but.... They maybe have never flown; Sorry, Sailed a Kite before. LOL
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maryph1958
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Cincinnati
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Message Posted: Jan 1, 2012 3:00:53 PM
no
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dontuknowOH
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Ohio
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Message Posted: Jan 1, 2012 11:10:58 AM
My take is only concerning my pick-up,Long bed low profile bed toolbox(up front)Tailgate removed,no net or objects in bed,calm wind @ 2-3 mph. or near still at times,hiway travel 60 mph and less,cruise on = less than 2 mi. mileage improvement per gal.
Hard to notice,but the drive was only 65 miles level route (non step bumper also.No cover over bed.but with a Bug deflector/side window vent shades.
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gougedQC
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Montreal
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Message Posted: Jan 1, 2012 9:11:10 AM
ok I saw the mythbusters, and will concede to their findings.. although the snide comments werent necessary folks..
interesting they found that a mesh tailgate was the most efficient, even more so than a tonneau cover..
still their speed was 25 and 55... would wonder if there would be any difference in the finding at 35 and 65 as the airflow over the truck would be different
lots of folks also have a cross bed toolbox...wonder how that affects flow?
but ok if youre doing 55 in an empty bed truck, then tailgate up is better than down, but mesh is better than even the tonneau.
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wokeupdead
Rookie Author
West Virginia
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Message Posted: Dec 21, 2011 9:52:19 PM
best in pickup for me was full tonneau cover on bed when not using for a truck. leave tailgate up.
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pacecar68
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Oakland
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Message Posted: Dec 19, 2011 10:16:43 AM
no.
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WhiteFord23
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South Bend
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Message Posted: Dec 12, 2011 2:08:08 PM
Nope its a myth
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ghostsofcanton
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Kentucky
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Message Posted: Dec 12, 2011 11:12:55 AM
not according to the mythbusters. apparently with tailgate down the airflow generates some type of drag in the bed that negates any gain due to loss of force against tail gate.
but i think bed cover helps
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mightymoes
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Boston
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Message Posted: Dec 12, 2011 9:51:42 AM
Gouged. Do not let facts get in the way of an opinion.
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tattoo666TX
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Texas
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Message Posted: Dec 12, 2011 7:23:57 AM
Some people just like to guess and think they are right I guess!
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ricebike
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Message Posted: Dec 12, 2011 12:27:39 AM
agree with pick...
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ricebike
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New Jersey
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Message Posted: Dec 12, 2011 12:27:39 AM
agree with pick...
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pickfordite
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Michigan
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Message Posted: Dec 11, 2011 9:59:47 AM
gouged doesn't know what he's talking about. Study after study shows better mileage and better aerodynamic flow with the tailgate UP. Even Mythbusters investigated this on two different episodes (#43 and #64) and determined that tailgate UP produced better mileage and airflow.
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Z12
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Toledo
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Message Posted: Dec 11, 2011 9:02:44 AM
Don't know
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jonjon57
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Raleigh
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Message Posted: Dec 11, 2011 7:15:40 AM
Minimally at best
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tattoo666TX
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Texas
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Message Posted: Dec 10, 2011 10:33:44 AM
Hey gouged, go watch wind tunnel testing on trucks some time. You would be amazed at the amount of turbulance cause by the tailgate being down. To start with it causes turbulance where the air going under the truck exits and comes back up. Second, with the gate up it form (for a lack of easy to understand term) an air bubble inside the bed which helps direct air over the truck and past it. Have you never noticed when people leave empty cans in the back of the truck that they will get blown around, bounce off the back window, pop up, circle around, not get out of the bed? In tunnel testing you can see the vapor as in goes over and under the truck and you can see how it circles inside the bed to smooth the flow of air. When they drop the gate to do it all you see is turbulance from the top of the cab back. This is part of the reason that truck beds are a bit deaper these days compared to older trucks. SLight changes that help increase aerodynamics.
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gougedQC
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Montreal
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Message Posted: Dec 10, 2011 7:16:56 AM
the tail gate up creates an additional barrier and wind turbulence..it is an additional large flat surface you are trying to push through the air.
the tailgate up is NOT more aerodynamic, its the exact opposite.
lower the tailgate, or better yet get a tonneau as that will improve mileage even more
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86agent
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Florida
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Message Posted: Dec 9, 2011 12:14:34 AM
I put a tonneau cover on my Ranger and gas mileage went up 2 mpg on the highway.
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badbonita
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Syracuse
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Message Posted: Dec 6, 2011 7:43:43 AM
The difference is minor but tail gate up is more aerodynamic and thus better for gas mileage.
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DVMC
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Chicago
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Message Posted: Dec 5, 2011 8:32:27 PM
No
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tattoo666TX
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Texas
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Message Posted: Dec 5, 2011 8:20:53 PM
I keep saying no but people keep asking!
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ricardo_86
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Houston
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Message Posted: Dec 5, 2011 6:41:40 PM
tail gate up
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BabyMoosey
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New Hampshire
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Message Posted: Dec 2, 2011 11:53:22 AM
according to myth busters it wastes gas
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aerobie
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Houston
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Message Posted: Dec 2, 2011 2:56:35 AM
No it makes no measurable difference. Most truck beds don't create enough drag, a loaded bed will have more of a visible effect of fuel consumption.
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mightymoes
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Boston
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Message Posted: Dec 1, 2011 4:33:54 PM
This topic keeps coming back. Tailgate up is the best for mpg and safety. All car manufacturers recommend Tailgate up. Other experts have performed wind tunnel tests and real world testing. Tailgate down for better mpg is an old myth just like premium gas is better for your car if it calls for regular.
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2dieseldubs
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New Hampshire
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Message Posted: Dec 1, 2011 11:25:47 AM
According to the Mythbusters leave the original tailgate on the truck in the up position to achieve the best fuel economy the truck can muster. It all has to do with aerodymics and the low pressure zone created in the bed with the gate up.
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PawsVette
Champion Author
Naples
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Message Posted: Dec 1, 2011 8:21:07 AM
Yes, there is a difference....gate up,less MPG
[Edited by: PawsVette at 12/1/2011 8:22:01 AM EST]
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bustermoves
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Fort Worth
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Message Posted: Dec 1, 2011 5:48:21 AM
nope
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Heavyblaze
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Pennsylvania
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Message Posted: Nov 30, 2011 7:45:34 PM
no
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Z12
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Toledo
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Message Posted: Nov 30, 2011 4:13:24 PM
Nope
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gobux10
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Ohio
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Message Posted: Nov 30, 2011 10:34:51 AM
no - decreases mpg/ increases drag
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tattoo666TX
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Texas
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Message Posted: Nov 30, 2011 7:46:04 AM
No. It does not help the fuel mileage. It actually hurts it. Wind tunnel testing has show that at highway speeds there is actually (for a lack of better terms) an air bubble that forms in the bed of the truck. This bubble helps to direct the flow of air over the truck and reduce turbulence which reduces drag. With the tail gate down you have increased turbulence which means increased drag and lower fuel mileage. Supposedly a bed cover increases turbulence also, but not as much as having the tail gate down. I have not been able to find anything as far as wind tunnel testing on trucks with camper shells but going with their design it should not be too bad, more like a van or SUV would be.
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dontuknowOH
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Ohio
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Message Posted: Nov 30, 2011 7:39:04 AM
I have slightly seen the vortex action in my truckbed area at times,when leaves get inside. At 50-60 mph the leaves will rise up and rotate on a horizontal axis pointing across the bed left to right at the rear,then a bit of cross wind naturally removes a few after time.
My bed toolbox seems to cause the vortex action to stay low toward the rear gate,trying to watch this in the rearview mirror,leaves swirling up and around but not actually blowing out of the bed area. I can't see the deflected air stream off the cab which is supposed to glance(ride smoothly back and slide off the rotating V.. motion,missing the tailgate at the top.
What is funny the vortex seems to be turning the same direction as the wheels are rotating,but the air stream I can't see would be rubbing it in the opposite direction as it flows away over the gate top in the(up position.
Anyway with the gate removen the leaves are quickly gone out at 55 when the T-Gate is removed,truck is a few lbs.lighter,and I do notice a mileage improvement,city/hiway,also I had removed two 20' heavy log chains/hardware,less truck weight. Noticable fuel savings!
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steelers6
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Indiana
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Message Posted: Nov 30, 2011 7:01:09 AM
No
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OilerFan
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Tulsa
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Message Posted: Nov 30, 2011 6:48:24 AM
I've heard arguments both ways. My feeling is that if you really want to know, test it out both ways and decide for yourself. I can tell you that driving with the tailgate down makes highway driving more stable in a pickup.
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WhiteFord23
Sophomore Author
South Bend
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Message Posted: Nov 30, 2011 6:14:05 AM
Nope
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the1roadhog
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Atlanta
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Message Posted: Sep 27, 2011 8:00:01 AM
Reaching back to the archives
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itkowboy
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Michigan
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Message Posted: Sep 27, 2011 7:56:50 AM
MythBusters did a test on a pair of identical F150's a while back, and found no difference under most conditions, but actually got less mileage with gate down under some conditions.
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OilerFan
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Tulsa
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Message Posted: Sep 27, 2011 6:46:03 AM
I doubt they've tested every truck. Do your own testing and find out.
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oilpan4
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Virginia
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Message Posted: Sep 27, 2011 6:13:06 AM
If you find your self pondering the misteries of tailgate up Vs. down then you might like this forum, ecomodder aerodynamics.
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bustermoves
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Fort Worth
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Message Posted: Sep 27, 2011 6:00:08 AM
drove pickups for over 20 years,and never notice any differance.seems i saw something on tv,or read about it,tail gate down actually lowers milage,due to the fact it upsets the aerodynamics,airflow,over the truck
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