tailgate up or tailgate down for MPG

[pistolpete837]

I know their is a lot of debate about this subjectbut what do yall do. i guess tailgate down gets better flow but im no expert

[Blue01F250]

tailgate up!


and even better is a bedcover...

[westcoaststrokin]

Beat me to it.

[planeoldguy]

I drove my '99 Chevy 2500 ec 4x4, 350, auto, from Phoenix to St Augustine, FL, I got 1 extra mpg with the gate down, I alternated each tank, results were the same the whole trip.

[720Deere]

Mythbusters split this one wide open. Tailgate down actually hurt the aerodynamics and the economy in their testing. A cover is definitely the best way to go unless you get an ARE like I have and then the weight negates the nominal gain from aero.

[Blue01F250]

I'm with you Matt -- I like my roll-up bedcover -- ist somewhat bulky, but no where near as heavy as the fiberglass ones and my mileage on hwy trips is definately better since I've put it on..

and yes, Mythbusters blew it outta the water -- tailgate down prevents the pocket of air from swirling between your cab and bed and allowing rest of the air to flow over the tailgate, preventing a larger % of drag... with the gate down -- there is no pocket and you create drag on all the bed components and such... a bedcover just moves the pocket up and streamlines the bed much more and give much better airflow, resulting in better mileage

[najaf4life]

well well.... you all beat me to this one... and yes mythbusters got this one pretty darn good