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Tail gate down?

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by flyhi2, Jun 19, 2011.

  1. Jun 19, 2011 at 10:39 PM
    #1
    flyhi2

    flyhi2 [OP] New Member

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    This is probably an age old question that has been raised for decades, but I'm new to this forum, and wondering if anyone has experimented with driving with the tail gate down to improve mileage. I drive a 2010 access with a 2.7, about 50 highway miles a day in a very windy mountainous area.
     
  2. Jun 19, 2011 at 10:40 PM
    #2
    RyanK1

    RyanK1 Well-Known Member

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    I think Mythbusters debunked this one
     
  3. Jun 19, 2011 at 10:43 PM
    #3
    Maverick904

    Maverick904 Resident Fishing Expert

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    plus it looks stupid...
     
  4. Jun 20, 2011 at 1:45 AM
    #4
    Hardscrabble

    Hardscrabble Well-Known Member

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    A little of this and a little of that.
    Tail gate closed=better mpg.
     
  5. Jun 20, 2011 at 1:48 AM
    #5
    genxer36

    genxer36 Lord of Tomfoolery

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  6. Jun 20, 2011 at 2:03 AM
    #6
    georgeandkanoa

    georgeandkanoa the point is simply this

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    bilstein5100's front tinted windows access cover pioneer stereo weathertechs grillcraft grill kc's behind cbi sliders
    tonneau cover helps
     
  7. Jun 20, 2011 at 4:03 AM
    #7
    T@co_Pr3runn3r

    T@co_Pr3runn3r XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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    Watch the video, tailgate net was best mpg. Not good enough for me to change from tailgate up tho.
     
  8. Jun 20, 2011 at 4:18 AM
    #8
    buddywh1

    buddywh1 Well-Known Member

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    Yeah... I think they were a bit stunned by those results! It would be useful to understand why the mesh gave better results... it could just be a fluke that only a dakota longbed regular cab would achieve because of it's unique aerodynamics.
     
  9. Jun 20, 2011 at 4:24 AM
    #9
    T@co_Pr3runn3r

    T@co_Pr3runn3r XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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    Crap, they didn't test this on different trucks! Not sure there'd be enough of a difference to matter. The brick silouhette of most trucks would make it pretty much the same but long and shortbed, reg cab and double cab could make it a bit different I suppose...They got more testing to do now, lol.
     
  10. Jun 20, 2011 at 5:35 AM
    #10
    Bloom

    Bloom Well-Known Member

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    I found a lot of good info on the EcoModder.com website, starting with this list of "68 vehicle mods for better fuel economy"
    http://ecomodder.com/forum/fuel-economy-mpg-modifications.php#64

    There are several posts discussing the tailgate up or down issue and the Myth Busters episode, but this thread: "Truck Aero, Bed cover DIY tonneau?" is from someone moding a Tacoma and you might find it helpful.

    http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthread.php/truck-aero-bed-cover-diy-tonneau-1494.html

    I've never understood the aerodynamics of the Avalanche or Honda Ridgeline or why a cover helps the airflow, but this post has pictures:
    http://ecomodder.com/forum/15799-post17.html

    Question from the thread's OP:

    I've also wondered if adding a slight lip off the back of a flat bed cover helps or hurts aero?
    like this..
    [​IMG]

    Reply:

    The way I see it the lip is only going to help FE on a (very) short bed, or with an abnormally tall cab. The lip would help improve the angle between the top of the cab to the top of the tailgate. Ideally that angle will be between 12-13 degrees. That angle is the steepest angle at which airflow will remain attached at highway speeds. Obviously, there's no bodywork for the air to attach to behind your cab, but the angle is still important, because the stagnant air trapped between the cab and bed will still have to conform to that angle.

    So here we have a stock (current gen) Taco. And you'll notice that the angle between the top of the cab to the top of the tailgate is already 12.5 degrees, quite the optimal angle already. No need for alteration there!


    taco1_4fde610ddbf659ee85b9bed807a3cbc59449e9fa.jpg

    So here's a hypothetical short bed Taco (don't know if they actually have beds this short.) The angle has changed from 12.5 degrees to 14.3 degrees, too steep for airflow to remain "attached."
    Now, adding a little lip to the top of the tailgate will help to get that angle back to 12.5 degrees.

    taco2_829f488898a0d2e1b78f704cdf6832cf5651d0ce.jpg

    I got a great deal on an Access LE from Truck Alterations.com and hope it helps with gas mileage. But even if it doesn't, I still like the price, look and function of the cover.
     
  11. Jun 20, 2011 at 3:23 PM
    #11
    lwszabo

    lwszabo Well-Known Member

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    Tail gate down also weakens your bedsides over time.(doing it all the time)
     
  12. Jun 20, 2011 at 3:26 PM
    #12
    RyanK1

    RyanK1 Well-Known Member

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    Really, good point, never considered that
     
  13. Jun 20, 2011 at 4:46 PM
    #13
    Jerry Bear

    Jerry Bear Well-Known Member

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    Tailgate down can get you pulled over. The rear license plate is not visible with the tailgate down.
     
  14. Jun 20, 2011 at 4:50 PM
    #14
    genxer36

    genxer36 Lord of Tomfoolery

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    Also they never said in the video if they refueled for every test. (Or did I miss that.)
     
  15. Jun 20, 2011 at 10:19 PM
    #15
    flyhi2

    flyhi2 [OP] New Member

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    Wow...this is the first time I posted a question on here and I really appreciate all the great feedback, especially the mythbusters link. I never watch it, and was not aware they did a test with a Fuel flow meter...that's good enough for me.
     
  16. Jun 20, 2011 at 10:29 PM
    #16
    JKD

    JKD Well-Known Member

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    You should email that to Adam Savage so he can drive to your house and beat you to death with a fuel line magnet.
     
  17. Jun 21, 2011 at 3:44 AM
    #17
    T@co_Pr3runn3r

    T@co_Pr3runn3r XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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    or if they used the same fuel from the same station..........
     
  18. Jun 21, 2011 at 4:26 AM
    #18
    buddywh1

    buddywh1 Well-Known Member

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    Mythbusters is really a great show even though i'm not always convinced they've exhausted all possibilities before declaring a myth 'busted'. But in their defense: you can test forever to get normally random events to line up just right.

    But what makes the show great in my opinion is that the personalities involved are real people, not trumped up over-dramatized, over produced junk like the other 'reality' shows.

    And besides... I love the creative ways they blow things up!
     

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