Louvered Tailgates

LowRyter wrote:
I was talking to a fellow with a truck like mine, pulling a 5th wheel larger than mine, saying that he gained 1 1/2 MPG by replacing the tailgate with a louvered one.

Does anyone confirm that ?

That fellow has been spending too much time in Colorado...:W

A "V" tailgate (louvered or not) has no mpg benefit.

The advantage is *not* raising/lowering a factory TG for hitching.

Bonus is *not* having a factory TG - a "hot item" for EZ theft.

My 'V' TG is solid - no louvers, removable 'V' section.
When *not* towing, with Fold-A-Cover over bed, everything is out of sight, out of mind.

Improved mpg = less lead in your right foot...:C

.

Dog Folks wrote:

donn0128 wrote:
Debunked on Mythbusters a couple years ago.

Actually twice by Mythbusters. Very carefully measured, using scientific methods.

OEM tailgate up gives the best mileage.

Tailgate up and a 14 cu ft chest freezer behind the cab gives even better mileage. :-) Best mileage I ever got, even running 75, on a trip to Cortez CO a couple years ago.

FWIW, I do have a (free) louvered tailgate and like it for ease of hitching. It =does= noticeably reduce turbulence in the bed with my FW. YMMV...

Lyle

I have a louvered customflow 5th wheel tailgate that I bought off of Craigslist last year for not much, $80 used. I don't see any increase in MPG that I am able to calculate anyway. But it has made it easier to hook and unhook the fiver if I'm on a trip with it. There are other things that would probably help MPG greater than the vented tailgate that one could invest in.

donn0128 wrote:
Debunked on Mythbusters a couple years ago.

Aw man, next you'll be saying fuel line magnets don't work either.

yeah. I've read the studies that debunked it many times before. I just wanted to see if there was another point of view.

This pretty much confirms what I thought already.

Thanks for your replies.

donn0128 wrote:
Debunked on Mythbusters a couple years ago.

Actually twice by Mythbusters. Very carefully measured, using scientific methods.

OEM tailgate up gives the best mileage.

donn0128 wrote:
Debunked on Mythbusters a couple years ago.

Was going to post this...

I had one on my old truck and made no difference in MPG. I'm not even considering one for this truck.
Jim

Debunked on Mythbusters a couple years ago.