Myth Busters.......Tail Gate up or Down

[cobraF100]

Well it was just Shown/Proven on Myth Busters that it is Better to have your Tail Gate UP then Down.....

Having the Tail Gate up causes a Air Bubble/Bubble of Air right behind the Cab that keeps the Air flowing over the Tail Gate....Remover this "Air Bubble/Bubble of Air" then the Air hits the Lowered Tail Gate and causes Drag.....

Who would of Thunk it.....

http://dsc.discovery.com/tvlistings/epi ... hannel=DSC

[heep70]

WOW, I thought you would get better MPG if it was down. interesting.

[fordman]

yes i saw that.

[rjewkes]

Actualy i knew this before it was ever passed around as the myth. Infact the only way to get good aerodynamicy and better mpg is to drive something lossange/Teardrop/Egg Shaped.


i had read it a few years back taking an auto cad program. it had a wind tunnell simulation.

[spartman]

Another way to get decent mileage I heard is to put a bed cover on the back. Keeps the air moving I guess.

[Comet]

Yeah, I read some study some university did about 10 years ago on this topic. I thought it was common knowledge by now as I see less and less of those "pre-runner" tail gates people were buying to supposedly increase mileage.

[boots]

I watched it yesterday and was suprised

[qman]

Yeah, Click and Clack reported this years ago. Someone did a study in a wind tunnel. I read it wen Click and Clack reported it.

http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns/ ... er/05.html

[flyboy2610]

I heard about that a while back, too.
Doesn't seem to make much sense though, does it?

[fordman]

in 82 when i first got my truck i was told to take my tailgate off to get better mileage. i'm glad i never listened to them. back then i didnt care either. @99 cents a gal.

[steveheer]

Ok, I would have never guessed that!
Lesson #1: KEEP TAILGAIT ON

[OldBlue67]

...Infact the only way to get good aerodynamicy and better mpg is to drive something lossange/Teardrop/Egg Shaped.

As opposed to driving something brick/box/house shaped like our trucks? Yah I've been hearing that thats the case for a while (think theres even been some threads on it) but it would be cool to have seen on mythbusters, I like that show

I'm sure its true with all the simulations, autocad etc that they use to design today, but I have to wonder if thats the case with old beasts like ours. These things are brick walls with wheels, do you think the guys designing them were thinking about the aerodynamic air bubble in the bed? ( I heart my wheel-y wall )

[rjewkes]

I have seen the air bubble effect first hand in my 72 when mom and sis needed my help moving but i was too tired to drive mom drove while i sat in the bed. I had leaves and stuff blowing all around me in a circular motiion.

I actualy got 2 less mpg with my gate off this summer plus i also lost half the stuff in my bed.


I'd say between the 200.00 in tools and $100.00 worth of gas mileage or so i lost having no gate on it this summer i lost more than saved any money.