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Author
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Topic: Tail gate up or down
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rellik74
Gearhead Posts: 127
From: Trinidad , Colorado, USA
Registered: Jul 2000
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posted 08-15-2002 10:25 PM
   
With the tail gate down is your gas millage any better. With my 98 ranger 4x4 4l I get about 2 mpg better on the highway, around town no diff. When I had my 94 ranger 2x4 2.3L the highway millage was only about .5 mpg better but the performance was noticablely better. What your thought????????????????
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68F100
Gearhead Posts: 2111
From: Fort Madison, Iowa USA - United We Stand
Registered: Oct 99
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posted 08-15-2002 10:32 PM
I leave mine up. Even if it meant 10% better gas mileage, I'd only gain 1 mpg.
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ccode67
Gearhead Posts: 1805
From: douglasville,ga,usa
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 08-16-2002 07:17 AM
Putting the tailgate down does NOT increase gas mileage, with the gate up the air forms a bubble and the airstream goes over the tailgate, with it down, the airstream is sucked into the bed and causes turbulence and drag.IF, IF the tailgate being down would save gas, the savings would be more than used up by some bozo rearending the tailgate instead of the bumper.
Bumper = $200 Tailgate + paint = $500
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 36138
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 08-16-2002 09:35 PM
But leaving the tailgate down works your bed sides loose. My older brother Don has ruined a few truck beds because he never leaves the tailgate on.  ------------------
All Fords since 1977!
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 3578
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 08-17-2002 09:19 PM
Besides,that is so 70's!  Trucks were designed to have a tailgate. If you want mileage,get a bed cover.
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rellik74
Gearhead Posts: 127
From: Trinidad , Colorado, USA
Registered: Jul 2000
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posted 08-17-2002 11:28 PM
My problem with bed cover you can not carry any thing unless it fits under it, with 6' ben every thing sticks out the back, same with camper shell. It even gets worse with a full size spare in a ranger
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GypsyR
Journeyman Posts: 44
From: SC
Registered: May 2002
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posted 08-18-2002 09:53 PM
My 89 F150 gets noticeably better mileage on long hiway trips with the gate down. I leave it down.
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 36138
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 08-19-2002 08:42 PM
quote:
Originally posted by rellik74:
My problem with bed cover you can not carry any thing unless it fits under it, with 6' ben every thing sticks out the back, same with camper shell. It even gets worse with a full size spare in a ranger
My tonneau cover takes about two minutes to roll back and tie down. ------------------
All Fords since 1977!
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67stang
Gearhead Posts: 1719
From: Lynn Haven FL
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 08-20-2002 09:27 PM
For those who want better gas mileage with a tailgate, get one that is louvered. That is the route I am going.I personally think trucks look better with the tailgate.
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Dad Vishus
Gearhead Posts: 613
From: Moscow, Iowa, USA
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 08-21-2002 03:39 PM
quote:
Originally posted by rellik74:
My problem with bed cover you can not carry any thing unless it fits under it, with 6' ben every thing sticks out the back, same with camper shell. It even gets worse with a full size spare in a ranger
My new Ranger FX4 has a factory bed cover that is hinged in the middle. The bed on a Ranger is not very deep and I've already found several things that won't fit under it as they are too tall, like gas cans and most coolers. This bed cover has also had problems with both sides latching. Seems like the things get out of adjustment easily. I looked at taking the thing off and that looks like about a 2 day job and needing 3 men, 2 boys and possibly an engine hoist to accomplish. I don't think I'd buy another one. If I had to haul anything bigger than a cooler, I'd be up a creek. I can't compare mileage with versus without due to the difficulty of removing the darned thing.
I've owned pickups for years and never ran one with the tailgate down. Doesn't look cool and puts the tailgate in harms way. I suspect the mileage may be a bit better, but just never tried it.
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lyle29464
Gearhead Posts: 865
From: Mt. Pleasant S.C.
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 08-27-2002 11:09 PM
When I leave mine down it fills with rain water. when I put it up almost a gallon comes out.
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Boss302
Gearhead Posts: 841
From: Coleman, Wisconsin
Registered: Jan 2002
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posted 08-28-2002 09:22 PM
when my dad had his '85 F250(Big Red) he left the tailgate off...just because it was bent, steel pipe holding it together, and hard to open. hardly ever kept it on.------------------
Max
-1989 Mustang GT (MaxTang)
225/50R15 tires
BBK Strut Brace
K&N Filter
4 cats, no muffs
180* stat
Member 1,861 "My Best Friends Are My Dog, and My Car"
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skynyrd302
Journeyman Posts: 3
From: Greer, SC, Greenville
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 08-29-2002 06:08 PM
I saw something on t.v. a long time ago about a study G.M. did on tailgates. The engineers said that the tailgate down caused problems with the structural integrity of the truck and it would probably be worse off in a collision. I don't remember gas mileage changing with the tailgate down. They mentioned the airbubble theory, but I keep mine up because of the safety factor.
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70MachT-5
Gearhead Posts: 132
From: Pasco, WA (on the banks of the Mighty Columbia River)
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 09-06-2002 01:21 PM
Whenever I see a truck with the tail gate down, it looks like the guy forgot to close it (like leaving your fuel door open).I leave my tailgate in the 'up' position and locked all the time. ------------------
MarkC ~ 1970 Mach 1 T-5
1965 Shelby Trans Am coupe (clone)
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