Tailgate Net

hawaiianstiln · July 22, 2008

Do the bully tailgate nets for trucks really help in gas mileage?? I guess if you take the tailgate off that's less weight. I'm sure some of you have different opinions about the airflow in a truck without a bed cover and how much it helps or doesn't help to drop the tailgate or buy a tailgate net.

jrrod2004 · July 22, 2008

Do the bully tailgate nets for trucks really help in gas mileage?? I guess if you take the tailgate off that's less weight. I'm sure some of you have different opinions about the airflow in a truck without a bed cover and how much it helps or doesn't help to drop the tailgate or buy a tailgate net.

It would be easier to throw a tonneau on and close the gate. Many here will agree that dropping the tailgate with 1) Stretch your cables and 2) would have worse effect than leaving the gate open. Now as for removing the gate all together, it does save weight, but the problem is that the rear tires now have even less weight for them.

jnabq · July 22, 2008

According to Mythbusters, Episode 64: More Myths Revisited

http://mythbustersresults.com/episode64

hockeypro1411 · July 22, 2008

because if the mythbusters did it, it must be true

mi.bowtie · July 22, 2008

Leave the tailgate ON and in the UP position. The Wind Tunnel at The GM Tech Center has proven this. Believe Me.

Zembonez · July 22, 2008

Leave the tailgate ON and in the UP position. The Wind Tunnel at The GM Tech Center has proven this. Believe Me.

Yip... old wive's tale number 529 is BUSTED.

I had a bed cover on mine for 60 days or so and the difference was in very very tiny fractions of a mile per gallon. Certainly not worth buying for mpg gains.

Outbacker · July 22, 2008

I have watched the Mythbusters episode, and it is quite plausible that leaving the tailgate up will give you better mileage then having it down. I leave the tailgate up simply to keep prevent the cables from stretching, and keep the structural integrity of the box intact.

frogbiscuit · July 23, 2008

Before mythbusters, the National research council of Canada did the same thing (I think it was in Raod and Track), that tailgate down or net actually worsens the aerodynamics. A tonneau, even a partial, helps.

2000DV4.8 · July 23, 2008

Before mythbusters, the National research council of Canada did the same thing (I think it was in Raod and Track), that tailgate down or net actually worsens the aerodynamics. A tonneau, even a partial, helps.

That's in Canada though, and we all know they're crazy up there...

slimjim2525 · July 23, 2008

Leave the tailgate ON and in the UP position. The Wind Tunnel at The GM Tech Center has proven this. Believe Me.

hawaiianstiln · July 23, 2008

well, as far as less weight on the rear tires if I took the tailgate off, I was going to tow my boat 2200 miles (round trip) and thought by having a tailgate net would help.