Best MPG: Tailgate up or down?

[Ray Kane]

Would you have better airflow with a truck if the tailgate was down instead of up? Or is the truck designed with airflow over the closed tailgate in mind?

[george60]

******************************

Do a search on this site. UP

Watch an episode of Mythbusters. UP

[chenster]

Tailgate Up. It's designed as such.

[cupidstoy]

yep, i think it's pretty well been busted that driving with the tailgate down is any help to the gas mileage and it actually causes lower mpg. plus, it bounces the crap out of your gate cables everytime you hit a bump. don't do it.

[rcjunkie]

Tailgate up.

Ever wonder why some items such as paper cups and leaves sometimes do not fly out of the bed at high speeds? An airpocket behind the cab is created. Just watch the Mythbusters episode or do a search on this site, it's been discussed before. Check out this thread. There are others but that should help you get started.

Have fun reading!

[allrightnow]

Just saw the Mythbusters piece not long ago and it just confirmed what I already knew. There are several papers out that show the same thing, one I read by a Ford engineer that was done several years ago.

[Jer]

Up=good.