The mythbusters ran 5 tests to see how to get the best fuel economy out of a truck. Tailgate up, the truck consumed 5.0 gallons per hour @ 55mph and 1.0 gallon per hour at 25mph. Tailgate down, the fuel consumption was 5.2 gallons per hour @ 55mph and 1.2 gallons per hour @ 25mph. They also tested the truck bed covers, a net in place of a tailgate, and taking the tailgate completely off, but the results from all of those were the same as having the tailgate down. The reason for this is that the tailgate acts as a sort of air dam, restricting the flow of air and causing it to horizontally spin over the bed of the truck, which reduces drag by allowing air to flow over the vortex, which in turn offers a slight, but significant increase in fuel economy.


Modified by mnaines at 5:34 PM 11/5/2006

 

ive known this for a number of years. i used to laugh at the trucks at the drag strip that would put the tailgate down.


wind tunnel testing doesnt lie, and niether do the mythbusters.

i wish they would try a "dogs cant eat chocolate" bullshit.... my dog eats chocolate all the time and is completely normal.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by STREETWERKZ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
i wish they would try a "dogs cant eat chocolate" bullshit.... my dog eats chocolate all the time and is completely normal. </TD></TR></TABLE>

LOL!

 

actually you mis quoted the results. They found the truck got the best gas mileage with the air net in place. Go check it again