Wind resistance of truck tailgate?

[BillG_in_TX]

<font color="blue"> "We also heard from none other than Bob Stempel, the former GM president, who wrote us to say that aerodynamically it doesn't make that much difference. But, he says, a pickup truck is structurally much SAFER with the tailgate up." </font>

That's a quote from a 1997 CarTalk column, experts on all things automotive. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Maybe this should be moved to the Safety forum. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I read somewhere last week that it makes no difference (in most cases) if the tailgate is up or down.

I wonder how much fuel I'll use BACK-TRACKING to pick up my "stuff" that fell out of the truck bed because I left the tailgate down? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Robert_in_NY]

If I remember right, removing the tailgate or laying it down actually would hurt fuel economy. By having the tailgate up it creates a air pocket inside the truck box and the wind coming over the cab rides over this pocket. In fact, the Nascar truck series actually has a lip on what would be the tailgate that makes it stand up more. The only thing that will actually help is a box cover.

One thing I remember reading is this, if removing the tailgates would increase the mpg of a vehicle, then why don't the truck manufacturers make the tailgate optional like the rear bumper. It would help them with the EPA guidelines if it was true.

 

[JimR]

Robert in NY is absolutely corrct here. If you want to see what he's talking about, it is very easy. Put some medium weight trash in the back of your pickup and drive down the road. Watch it stir right in the very front of the bed near the cab while you drive. It justs floats around in the air pocket. Mileage is not affected by having the gate up. You do lose the pocket when the gate is down resulting in loss of areodynamics according to the info I saw years ago about this. I was going to put a net on the back of my truck. After reading the test results I left my gate in place.

 

[heehaw]

wow, does this bring back memories: my dad bought a new chevy truck in 1974: 350ci, automatic, long wheel base: it got 12mpg: he tried all sorts of stuff, lowering the tail gate, dual exhaust, and those multi fire spark plugs that jcw sells: and he still got 12 mpg:
heehaw