pertaining to gas mileage for pick-ups with tailgate (up and down), hardtop and tailgate net. Couldn't believe the results...the net was actually the best, not by much but still the best. Hardtops coming in right after that and the worst, no tailgate at all! I was shocked, thought for sure the first time they did it that tailgate down would be the way to go. Shows what I know.

 

I saw that, i was very surprised.

 

if you look at the new '05~'06 1500 rams, they have a flat extention coming off the tailgate. that is said to be worth .5~.75 mpg. Chevy has it and now the Dodges have it.

 

Also if you measure across the front of your bed and the the rear of your bed you'll find it is narrower at the rear. I don't know how much fuel it save.

 

I have read that the best mpg gains come from a quality bed cap:

http://www.snugtop.com/p_topgun.htm

Then again, it's a truck. Much like the space shuttle (AKA the gliding brick) aerodynamics can only do so much for you.

 

I didn't think their experiment was very scientific though. I know I saw a solid 2 mpg increase in highway mileage when I installed my tonneau. City mileage was unaffected.

 

I haven't tried driving with my tailgate down partly because I would have to clean the bed of my truck.

 

Dropping the tailgate would clean it for you

 

If you empty the bed of your pickup truck by driving real fast in reverse and slamming on the brakes








You might be a redneck

 

Or point it up a steep hill and hit that gas.