2006-12-25 02:40:05 · 12 answers · asked by bgreve1 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Commuting
Mythbusters tested this on TV.
Highest mileage was a net in place of the tailgate.
Up or down (or removed) made no difference.
http://kwc.org/mythbusters/
2006-12-25 02:42:41 · answer #1 · answered by Sir J 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I even have seen countless analyze in this and the records and technology would not help it. the way a pickup is designed, with the draft coming over the actual of the cab, enables the air to bypass over the cab and over the tailgate with little or minimum drag. once you positioned the taigate down it creates a pocket in the back of the cab that certainly provides drag, as a result inflicting the truck to get much less gas mileage than while this is up.
2016-11-23 16:32:52 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it can, with it up it increases drag... you sometimes see trucks with the tailgate gone and one of those nets on there instead... or they add a fin across the back of the box to help.
I doubt its a huge difference, we had a pickup and didnt really notice either way. But if it was down, usually we were hauling something and the fuel economy was a little worse due to the extra weight. Hope this helps.
2006-12-25 02:44:48 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes and no, in town driving will have very minimal effect but when your on the highway or interstate driving at high speeds the tailgate will not allow air to flow freely out of the bed of the truck it circles around it, have you ever seen **** flyin in the back of a truck bed but not come out its because of the tailgate being up . my suggestion if you decide to put ur tailgate down, clean out the bed, as in nothing in it before u drive or ur fellow commuters will not be happy when things fly onto their car
2006-12-25 02:45:55 · answer #4 · answered by Punisher 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i saw the mythbuster show it got better gas mileage with the tailgate up
2006-12-25 05:14:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You get slightly better mileage while it is down (better aerodynamics), however it's illegal to leave it down in town limits, so I think I would rather pay the little extra in gas then risk an expensive fine.
2006-12-25 02:50:14 · answer #6 · answered by krissy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
havin the gate up will improve gas mileage on the highway. check out the mythbusters episode on this.
2006-12-25 05:32:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you can get a slight improvement with no tailgate or removed tailgate.
2006-12-25 02:42:59 · answer #8 · answered by done wrenching 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, I have read where they did a test and it didn't come up different, well, a fraction of a difference maybe...not enough to say yes, keep it up or down.
2006-12-25 02:49:32 · answer #9 · answered by chazzer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no! mythbusters proved that it actually improves mileage w/up. if you get a chance to watch the repeat, they show intelligent info on it
2006-12-25 02:47:12 · answer #10 · answered by buddy leight 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋