Forum Discussion

frizzen's avatar
frizzen
Explorer
Mar 17, 2015

5ers and tailgates

I see quite a few pickups with the louvered tailgates and the notch that lets the kingpin through. Do these improve gas mileage when you aren't towing?
  • rhagfo wrote:
    B.O. Plenty wrote:
    Nope, just makes it easier to hitch.

    B.O.


    Pretty bold statement, they do reduce turbulence in the bed. You can't base the answer on the Mythbusters test, as the truck bed was empty.

    Base on the fact that there is no air bubble, so air going down needs an escape route.
    I use one just because it i easier to hitch.


    the only way you're going to get rid of the bubble is to have the bed completely full and in that case a tailgate isn't going to matter.
  • rhagfo's avatar
    rhagfo
    Explorer III
    B.O. Plenty wrote:
    Nope, just makes it easier to hitch.

    B.O.


    Pretty bold statement, they do reduce turbulence in the bed. You can't base the answer on the Mythbusters test, as the truck bed was empty.

    Base on the fact that there is no air bubble, so air going down needs an escape route.
    I use one just because it i easier to hitch.