Does leaving your tailgatedown on the highway save gas milege.?

Question

Does leaving your tailgatedown on the highway save gas milege.?

Answer 1

Those dudes on that TV show Mythbusters proved the answer is no. In fact, the tailgate down actually compromised the handling of the truck because air pressure builds up in the bed and allows the air to flow around the rear of the truck instead of thru the bed.

Answer 2

Maybe very minimally. If you are concerned about it buy one of those wire mesh or nylon mesh tailgates. The air will pass through it and the cops won't stop you for having an open or no tailgate

Answer 3

negative. this one was on the show mythbusters a while back they showed that by driving with your tailgate down you have a constant down force in the back of your truck which uses more gas. by leaving your tailgate up it creates a airbubble in the back of your truck right behind the cab thus allowing the air to flow over the cab and then down to the ground behind your truck. in other words with the tailgate up you only have to move the air once thats with the front of the veh. but with it down you move it with the front then again in the bed because the air is trying to push down but the tailgate stops it.

Answer 4

No they proved it on Mythbusters. Two exact trucks side by side, ran out of gas at the same time. Try and tivo that episode- very interesting.

Answer 5

Mythbusters did it and found theres more drag for some reason

Answer 6

NO.   It allows more disruption of airflow as the wind drops down to fill the bed.   With bed up,  a bubble of air can form at high speeds which actually improves aerodynamics.