Comments on: Fuel Economy Tip – Keep Your Tailgate Up

By: Cummins5928

Cummins5928 — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 21:47:15 +0000

I think there is a lot of disputes on leaving the tailgate up or down. I do believe under the right speed at long distances leaving the gate down may improve fuel mileage, but tell me when and were in the highway system now adays that you can achive this with all the different speed zones and retarded drivers on the road. Obviously GM, Dodge, Ford etc.. know something about the debate and keep putting tailgates on for a reason other than hauling dont ya think..Everyone is trying to save fuel no doubt there especially with gas prices anymore. With what ive tried with everyday driving leaving your gate up is best for mileage and it keeps some other idiot from hitting it at a traffic light cuz they werent paying any attention..

By: t saroch

t saroch — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 20:03:27 +0000

I have tried it many times @ 70 to 75mph & did not draw an accurate conclusion.However, on 1 trip to Calif. @ speeds above 80 mph I dbetter milage by 2.2mpg than ever before with the tailgate down. This was in a F-150 super cab, 4.6 engine, with 3.55 axle ratio,& 42 lbs. of air in the tires[ this is my normal amnt. when on a trip]. My conclusion=@ higher speeds it seems to aid mpg. with the gate down—@ 70mph little if any difference.

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:50:50 +0000

I have run tests as well and find that once I hit the 60 mph speed, having the tailgate down makes a small difference. At 70 mph it gives me a 3 MPG increase. 55 mph and slower, tailgate position doesn’t matter. These tests were done over hundreds of miles, not a 10 second reading of a flow meter. 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 quad cab 4×4 with multi- displacement. 21 mpg highway on regular gas.

By: johnny grivette

johnny grivette — Thu, 13 May 2010 22:53:14 +0000

20% Frank? I think you may need to start holding your breath when you fuel up.

By: Frank Giantonio

Frank Giantonio — Wed, 12 May 2010 18:55:32 +0000

In my situation I get a 20% increase in gas mileage with my tailgate down. I Think we’ve all see the mythbusters episode… but I have a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 with a 4.7 engine. I’ve tested this theory many times… my tailgate stays down.

By: Sean in CA

Sean in CA — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 03:54:40 +0000

No MK896, I just hate to see the English language morph into an unintelligible jumble of malapropisms and newly minted verbs that are really nouns. I don’t drive a VW (Chevy Colorado), don’t go to Starbucks (Peet’s) and don’t own a laptop. Getting back to the point of this commentary, I am in the tailgate up camp, but I don’t need to slam people who disagree with me. You are right, someone reputable should do a real world comparison test and perhaps put an end to the debate once and for all.

By: mk89

mk89 — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 01:42:03 +0000

You have to be the same guy using different names, I find it hard to believe that there are so many effeminate truck drivers in the U.S. that are more concerned about spelling than the issue of saving gas. Sean… close your laptop, walk out of Starbucks, get in your Volkswagon Beetle, drive off the nearest cliff.
I would like to see a test (no reality shows or college student theorems), with 2 identical trucks driving down I-95 side-by-side from Virginia to Florida, one tailgate up and the other down. This would have to be operated and documented by a respectable source.. but that should settle the debate for those that rely on what they read instead of personal experience.

By: mk896

mk896 — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:57:50 +0000

This has to be the same guy using different names, there can’t possibly be this many effeminate truck drivers in the U.S. that are more concerned about spelling and less about the issue of saving gas. Sean… close your laptop, walk out of Starbucks, get in your Volkswagon Beetle, drive it off the nearest cliff.
I would like to see a test, (no reality shows or college student theorems), just 2 identical trucks running side-by-side down I-95, one tailgate up and the other down. It would have to be operated and documented by a respectable source. Probably the only way this debate would be settled.

By: Sean in CA

Sean in CA — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:02:52 +0000

The prefix ir- (i-r) is a negative prefix, so if you add the prefix ir to a word that’s already negative like regardless, you’re making a double-negative word that literally means “without without regard.” Appear stupid at your own peril. Learn to spell trailer and moot while you’re at it.

By: mk896

mk896 — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 17:46:14 +0000

Irregardless is a term I picked up from my granddad, it’s been used since early 1900 like the word ain’t. Most men know the term. Here it means using a Dodge Ram 2500 to deliver bicycle parts is going to use alot of gas with or without the effects of the wind, but I think you knew that. Here it means you’re driving a large truck loaded down with metal parts on the back, making stops at bicycle shops (which are in town, not on the highway). Just like towing a trailor, fuel conservation goes out the door at that point. When you’re carrying a load, the tailgate being up or down is a mute point. The tailgate issue only matters when you have a mostly empty bed, you’re traveling down a highway at distance, and you’re maintaining a moderate speed.