Tailgate Up or Down

[06SRT10]

Lower a truck's tailgate improves mileage, myth or truth. Drivers of pickup trucks have long assumed that lowering the tailgate is better for aerodynamics & therefore improves gas mileage. But, according to Diane Bloch, an aerodynamic-performance engineer for General Motors, driving with the tailgate up is actually more aerodynamically efficient. She says that as air flows over the truck, it falls over the truck, it falls over the cab & pushes forward on the rear of the truck. The benefits of that air flow are diminished when the tailgate is down. Bloch says that replacing the tailgate with an aftermarket net is worse than having no tailgate at all, she compares it to a boat dragging a fishing net through water. What are your thoughts.

 

[SRT10VENOMOUS]

tail gate up, keeps a bubble of air, in the bed and reduces friction and increases mileage, gate down blows the bubble and causes major suction to the back of the truck and decreases mileage, its a proven fact...

 

[Stone MD]

Mythbusters did a full episode on the fact that you need the air bubble.

 

[phxpoolguy]

You have a cover with wing Jim, not really a problem for you.

 

[Psycho1122]

Myth.


Milk and cookies keeping you up at night Jim?!?

 

[moparviper]

Id take it off. I believe it weighs around 60 -80 pounds. Most people on the site dont believe in taking it off because your taking weight off the rear wheels. But to me weight is weight and the lighter you are the fastwer you go

 

[06SRT10]

Psycho, been staying up late drinking beer to build up a tolerance for my 4th of July party. Don't want to be the first to get drunk & fall into the pool or throw up on my pool table. It's a bitch, but that's what a good host has to do. Anyway, that's what I tell the wife. It's also important to watch the born on date on the beer, you don't want to serve your guest old beer, right.

 

[VPRPWRD]

Id take it off. I believe it weighs around 60 -80 pounds. Most people on the site dont believe in taking it off because your taking weight off the rear wheels. But to me weight is weight and the lighter you are the fastwer you go

58.0 lbs to be exact, photographic evidence to follow:





follow this thread for accurate weights of easily removable parts.

http://www.vtcoa.com/forums/f8/vprpwrds-weight-reduction-thread-54504/

 

[Psycho1122]

Psycho, been staying up late drinking beer to build up a tolerance for my 4th of July party. Don't want to be the first to get drunk & fall into the pool or throw up on my pool table. It's a bitch, but that's what a good host has to do. Anyway, that's what I tell the wife. It's also important to watch the born on date on the beer, you don't want to serve your guest old beer, right.

Few tips.... Buy your 15.5 under 30 days, let sit overnite at 34 deg. before tapping. Keep pressure at 10 psi. It will keep fresh to the bottom:rock:

Enjoy!

 

[Yellow venom]

Mythbusters did a full episode on the fact that you need the air bubble.

That's correct, I watched that one! :rock:

 

[VenomTruck]

yea but did they do it with a winged truck?

 

[trussman]

yea but did they do it with a winged truck?

Excellent point!