Hey all im going on a long trip was planning on taking my 97 ram ext cab sport MPG not very good any tips what kind of new cheap way i might improve this a little bit

Better Plugs and Wires ?
different air filter ?
different tailgate ?
i cant spend too much money got a wife and kids so im on a budget

 

i get a bit better MPG wen i leave the tailgate down (open) if im going on long trips and i know im not gonna put anything in there i usally take it off so it duzent get rocks/road grid thrown up at it

 

im thinking of getting one of those net tailgates there only 20 $ and any extra MPG will help

 

opening or taking off the one you have is free i dont like the net ones personally i think there kinda tacky

 

No truck will get better mileage with the gate down or removed, it has been very well documented. There was a thread on here a while back explaining it in detail, do a search for it.

 

well i do so regardles of so called "documentation" ill keep doing it

i just read that thred ( https://dodgeforum.com/m_330416/mpag.../tm.htm#330416 ) if your "documentation" is the tv show mythbusters then theres your problem there its a TV show created for entertainment purpses here is some REAL documentation it was done by engineers students on dodge ram truck aerodynamics and it won a prize from SAE (thats something ill belive more than the TV show mythbusters)


from http://web.archive.org/web/200304141...affner/did.htm

Improving Aerodynamic Characteristics of a Dodge Ram Pickup Truck.
by Todd J. Ortolani & Vanwijak (Kehm) Ewosakul
Faculty advisor: Dr. Alan K. Karplus

This is a brief collection of information and images from the projects completed by Todd and Kehm during the Spring semester 1997 in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The baseline condition of the pickup was evaluated. Several conditions including aftermarket devices were simulated in a water tunnel. A new cap design was developed and tested. The new cap reduces drag by 30% and provides for a 3 mpg reduction in fuel consumption. This project won the 1997 American Society for Mechanical Engineering Young Design Engineer's Paper Competition International Award.

Solution to Did You Know?
Drag Coefficient
Baseline condition Cd = 0.432 (without mirrors)
Square Cap Cd = 0.480 11.11% Increase in drag
Replace tailgate with a cargo net Cd = 0.461 6.71 % Increase in drag
Removed Tailgate Cd = 0.447 3.47% Increase in drag
Lowered Tailgate Cd = 0.414 4.17% Decrease in drag
New Cap Design Cd = 0.302 30% Decrease in drag

i will grant that this studdy shows that it is worse to remove it it also shows an improvment with it lowered