Tailgate removal and MPG???????

different_seasons · May 23, 2006

I saw someone in another topic (I didn't want to go off topic in the guys thread) say that MPG won't increase if you remove the tailgate. Is this true? I haven't tried it but it makes sense to me that it would increase your millage.

03z71 · May 23, 2006

I saw someone in another topic (I didn't want to go off topic in the guys thread) say that MPG won't increase if you remove the tailgate. Is this true? I haven't tried it but it makes sense to me that it would increase your millage.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Actually, the University of Michigan did a detailed study and found that it DECREASES mileage to remove/open your tailgate. There is apparently a "bubble" of air that gets created by a swirling effect with the tailgate that actually helps air move over the truck more efficiently. Their results are posted on the web - I'm sure you can Google it.

SS77 · May 23, 2006

The bubble explains why that darn coffee cup won't fly out! Umm, not that I'd allow it to.

J45p3r · May 23, 2006

The Mythbusters actually did an episode on this and found that tailgate up is better mileage. The air pressure builds up in the bed a forces the air coming over the cab to stay out of the bed and over the gate. When you put the gate down, the air coming over the cab slams in to the bed floor creating increased drag.

mmmikkke · May 23, 2006

Did they evaluate "bug deflectors" too? I'd love to see something scientific about how they actually perform.

asilverblazer · May 23, 2006

Did they evaluate "bug deflectors" too? I'd love to see something scientific about how they actually perform.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

iF YOU MEAN DEFLECT THE BUGS AWAY SO THAT THEY DON'T SPLAT ON THE TRUCK, THEN NO THEY DON'T WORK, IF YOU MEAN PROTECTOR, THEN YES THEY PROTECT THE HOOD FROM BUGS SPLATTING ON IT.

Crap, did it again.

mmmikkke · May 23, 2006

Did they evaluate "bug deflectors" too? I'd love to see something scientific about how they actually perform.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

iF YOU MEAN DEFLECT THE BUGS AWAY SO THAT THEY DON'T SPLAT ON THE TRUCK, THEN NO THEY DON'T WORK, IF YOU MEAN PROTECTOR, THEN YES THEY PROTECT THE HOOD FROM BUGS SPLATTING ON IT.

Crap, did it again.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

yEAH, i hate WHEN THAT HAPPENS!

But actually I was referring to mpg effects of adding a bug deflector. Here's an article that implicates the bug deflector as increasing aerodynamic drag , but I was hoping for something that quantified the mpg loss.

firefighteremt3100 · May 23, 2006

Did they evaluate "bug deflectors" too? I'd love to see something scientific about how they actually perform.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

iF YOU MEAN DEFLECT THE BUGS AWAY SO THAT THEY DON'T SPLAT ON THE TRUCK, THEN NO THEY DON'T WORK, IF YOU MEAN PROTECTOR, THEN YES THEY PROTECT THE HOOD FROM BUGS SPLATTING ON IT.

Crap, did it again.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Actually it does deflect a lot of stuff upward and over the cab. Take a look at a truck that doesnt have one. You'll see a lot of paint chipped off and lots of bugs almost merged in with the paint.

J45p3r · May 24, 2006

My father bought his truck used with 50k miles on it with out a deflector and the hood had a TON of rock chips in it, even up near the windshield. My truck which came with deflector already on it has 0 rock chips in the hood. That's all I needed to see to see it was worth it for me.

RobDarden · May 24, 2006

Everything I've read is that having the tailgate is better and bug deflectors do increase drag. I've read other boards where this has been a hot topic. Besides, trucks look better with the tailgate on!

OUMike · May 24, 2006

The Mythbusters actually did an episode on this and found that tailgate up is better mileage. The air pressure builds up in the bed a forces the air coming over the cab to stay out of the bed and over the gate. When you put the gate down, the air coming over the cab slams in to the bed floor creating increased drag.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

haha, I friggin' love the Mythbusters.

So..how does this apply for those airgates or whatever? The black cloth ones with all the holes in them. I'd think that would do the same thing as tailgate down maybe?

J45p3r · May 24, 2006

The Mythbusters actually did an episode on this and found that tailgate up is better mileage. The air pressure builds up in the bed a forces the air coming over the cab to stay out of the bed and over the gate. When you put the gate down, the air coming over the cab slams in to the bed floor creating increased drag.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

haha, I friggin' love the Mythbusters.

So..how does this apply for those airgates or whatever? The black cloth ones with all the holes in them. I'd think that would do the same thing as tailgate down maybe?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yea I would think it would be as bad as gate down or maybe even worse since the net would act like a sail.