Do you get beter milage with tailgate up or down in a putruck?

Question

Do you get beter milage with tailgate up or down in a putruck?

Answer 1

Personal experience... I have never noticed a difference.  I am goign to try driving my new 1 ton with the gate down to see though, 11 miles to the gallon sucks.

Answer 2

Down that is why they have the net tail gates now

Answer 3

Up

Answer 4

didnt you see it in mithbusters tailgate up saves you more gas than tailgatedown

Answer 5

Up.

Answer 6

UP!!!!!! it was on mythbusters

Answer 7

Check out discovery.com for the 'Mythbusters' episode that covered this subject. They found that you get better mileage with the tailgate up.

Answer 8

I think the key here is down pressure.  A truck is designed to carry weight over the drive axle.   At highway speed, a tailgate can work like an air foil, and keep the drive wheels from floating or spinning, the same as a cargo would.

I keep weight in my F250 HD year around, and add a bit extra in the winter.

Answer 9

At Ford, we try to engineer the trucks to maintain the same fuel mileage whether the tailgate is up, down, or removed. But, traditionally, trucks get better fuel mileage with the tailgate up. That's also from personal experience too.

Answer 10

You don't get better mileage with the tailgate down. Thats a myth.