More Mpg?
- Thread starter Chatolue
- Start date
altaford
SDD Junior Member
Everything I've read says the flowthru's or tailgate removal actually will cost you mileage.
Never tested this just passing on what I have read.
Never tested this just passing on what I have read.
Zookie400
I WANNA GO FAST
no tailgate/flow through tailgates will make your mileage worse. a bed cover is best if its an option.
TampaDieselFX4
Full Access Member
Full Topper will make mileage worse. It makes aerodynamics WORSE and it's heavy. I'd go with tailgate up, or tonneau cover.
ckamp52
ckamp52
just curious as to why takin the tailgate offf makes it worse i didnt know thiss and i have my tailgate off simply because i pull a lot of goosenecks and all i have to do is back straight up and wheel her down and take off
Zookie400
I WANNA GO FAST
its much easier to explain with pictures.....
when you take the gate off, the air jumps up over the cab, and then is sucked immediately back down all the way to the bed floor.
with the gate on, (and especially with a bed cover) the air jumps up over the cab, drops a little to about the bed rails, and then drops a little again at the rear of the truck. with the gate, there ends up being much less turbulence, much less of a "vacuum area" being created.
basically the truck is much more aerodynamic with the gate on, and will get you better mileage.
when you take the gate off, the air jumps up over the cab, and then is sucked immediately back down all the way to the bed floor.
with the gate on, (and especially with a bed cover) the air jumps up over the cab, drops a little to about the bed rails, and then drops a little again at the rear of the truck. with the gate, there ends up being much less turbulence, much less of a "vacuum area" being created.
basically the truck is much more aerodynamic with the gate on, and will get you better mileage.
Driving with the tailgate down actually increased drag on the pick-up and caused it to consume fuel faster than the identical truck driven with the tailgate up. It was later revealed that the closed tailgate creates a locked vortex flow that created a smoother flow of air over the truck. With the tailgate down the trapped vortex was dissipated and the drag increased.
SPINOFF: A plastic mesh tailgate provides superior fuel efficiency compared to the standard metal tailgate. (From episode 22)
confirmed
Again using a calibrated fuel flow gauge, Adam and Jamie proved that the mesh was the most efficient way to configure a pickup truck.
SPINOFF: A plastic mesh tailgate provides superior fuel efficiency compared to the standard metal tailgate. (From episode 22)
confirmed
Again using a calibrated fuel flow gauge, Adam and Jamie proved that the mesh was the most efficient way to configure a pickup truck.
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