2006-09-02 14:35:55 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
it's a huge difference in millage the tailgate closed creates a bubble of air in the back witch makes it more aerodynamic in tests i think the trunk with the tailgate closed went a good 50 miles further .
2006-09-02 14:43:29 · answer #1 · answered by eve 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
They did an experiment on this on mythbusters. They found that driving with the tailgate up causes the air to swirl around in such a way that it causes a "bubble" that makes the vehicle more aerodynamic, and therefore improving gas mileage. Driving with the tailgate down makes the air flow down and out the back of the bed, causing more drag. The difference is very slight, but tailgate up is the way to go.
2006-09-02 14:42:59 · answer #2 · answered by cynthetiq 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you get better fuel mileage with the tailgate up, it allows the air to circle in the back of the truck. Because a circular pillow of air forms behind the cab of the truck when the tailgate is up. This "separated bubble" keeps the faster moving air from contacting the truck, and thus reduces drag. With the tailgate down, the bubble breaks down and is no longer able to keep the fast moving air out, increasing drag.
2006-09-02 14:43:51 · answer #3 · answered by CrazdSquirel 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They actually tested this on the show Mythbusters. Much to everyone's surprise, the trucks did actually perform better (less wind resistance) with the tailgate properly stowed. After thinking about it for a moment, it does make sense. I mean when they design the trucks, they are designing them to be driven with the tail latched, right?
Anyway, in the test on tv, they showed that the wind doesn't even acknowledge (in terms of drag) the space in the bed, it goes over the hood, over the top of the truck, and never goes down far enough in the bed to be obstructed by the tail, just over it.
2006-09-02 14:45:00 · answer #4 · answered by micke 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Myth-busters did this not to long ago. They found a completely different result than common sense dictates. They tested two exact pickups, same amount of gas, etc. One had the gate up and one had it down. The one with the gate up, had better gas mileage then the one with the gate open. The reason was airodynamics. There was more drag on the one with the gate down, due to the air came over the cab and hit the back of the bed then circled, creating a drag. When the gate was up this didn't happen. (They used a wind tunnel after there road test). So the moral of the story is, put the gate up and save fuel.
2006-09-02 14:42:47 · answer #5 · answered by 345Grasshopper 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Up or down, you'll never notice. That's how much. In fact, some studies show it may hurt your mileage to drive with it down. Either way, it's negligible, and sitting at one red light or in one McDonalds drive through will do more to screw up your MPG than the position of your tailgate ever would.
2006-09-02 15:27:47 · answer #6 · answered by Me again 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think having your tailgate down increases your mpg very much, but gas is expensive so it's worth trying out. I don't drive a truck anymore though.
2006-09-02 14:42:39 · answer #7 · answered by albinopolarbear 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-10-01 05:49:17 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it really saved gas dont you think they would have designed trucks without tailgates......
2006-09-02 15:40:19 · answer #9 · answered by davecat350 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
with it up you don't have to stop every 10 minutes to pick your stuff up out of the road!Just a girl's answer!lol
2006-09-02 14:39:36 · answer #10 · answered by happy1here♥ 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋