does lowering the tailgate of a pickup help save fuel?

not significantly and in some states its illegal for safety reasons.

No. Extensive research has been done to show that you typically save about 5% in fuel economy with the tailgate up over the tail gate down.

It was also shown on Mythbusters on the discovery channel and tested extensively in manufacturer’s wind tunnels.

Tail gate UP gets you the best fuel economy.

No, they did the test on Mythbusters and actually found that the opposite is true, which was a surprise to them.

No it was proven on myth busters, I think it gives you a little extra power though.

less drag in the truck bed that way…more streamlined…but it may be illegal in most states (if not all) to run with the tailgate down (as opposed to REMOVED from the vehicle) unless you are carrying an over-length load tagged with safety flags

no -saw it on an episode of myth busters on the discovery channel.

people used to think so but car and driver did a test and found no differnce…. with the gate up the air just blows over the back gate but with it down air hits the whole bed. check it yourself….

It does reduce drag in a small way, but only when you are driving at highway speed. Sooo you will not save much fuel when driving around town.

Yes, but very miniscule.Best to try it for a few weeks. Its` not a good idea to leave the tailgate down for safety reasons; better to remove it and install an aftermarket nylon web made for this reason.

No. It does not. Have you ever seen the TV show Mythbusters? It’s a show where people send in myths, legends, and weird questions and they put it to the test, scientifically, of course, to see if the stuff works or not. Well, on one of the shows, they tested your particular question and found that it did not increase fuel efficiency and may actually lower it. It has something to do with the way the air flows over the truck. When the tailgate is lowered, it makes the truck less aerodynamic.

NO I had a 89 GM, 90Ford ranger, 92 F150 96 F150, 2000 F150 2002 Ranger. 2005 Ford Lariat I have tried both with and without a tail gate and in one word NO it doesn’t make a difference. Regular oil changes and don’t forget the air filter at least 2 times a year is the best thing for better fuel ratings. Oh and don’t gun it when pulling away from a stop light.

no

Not only will driving with the tailgate open NOT improve fuel mileage, it will also weaken the bedsides to the point of breaking off the truck. With the tailgate in the open position, or removed from the vehicle entirely, the bedsides will literally flap in the wind, causing the metal to warp, brackets to bend, etc, etc. Also, with the tailgate closed, wind coming over the back of the cab will “swirl” over in the bed, and back out the rear. Think of it as the loop-de-loop rollercoaster ride at the amusement parks.

some people think that if you lower your tail gate it causes less wind drag on the truck.(back presure from the wind)just make sure that you tie down what ever you have in there

I saw that episode of Mythbusters; as usual, they neglected one small detail-not all trucks are created equal, even ones of the same make/model/year. Test it for yourself and see what works for you. Or get a cap or a tonneau and stop worrying about it.