Tire Size Calculator
06-19-2011, 09:39 PM
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#1 |
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flyhi2 [OP]
Junior Member
 Joined: Jun 2011, #58389
Gender: Male
Posts: 2
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Tail gate down?
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.
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06-19-2011, 09:40 PM
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#2 |
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Member
Name: Ryan
Joined: Mar 2011, #52799
Location: Penticton, British Columbia
Age: 28
Gender: Male
Posts: 72
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I think Mythbusters debunked this one
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06-19-2011, 09:41 PM
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#3 | |
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Painted valve covers aren't a performance mod
 
Name: Christian
Joined: Dec 2009, #27905
Location: Chino Hills, CA
Age: 28
Gender: Dude
Posts: 30,150
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It doesn't help. There is more drag with it down.
__________________
  ^^^That includes drag racing and offroading Why did Father give these humans free will? Now they're all confused Learn how Toyota's 4wd and traction systems work!!! Banks Exhaust here and here. My build! Don't be a bro! Don't buy a truck expecting good MPGs! Quote:
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06-19-2011, 09:43 PM
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#5 |
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Resident Fishing Expert
Name: Kameron
Joined: Sep 2009, #23084
Location: Northeast Florida
Gender: Dude
Posts: 3,800
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plus it looks stupid...
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 "If you like southern women, Raise your glasses. If you dont, Raise your standards!" '08 Tacoma Build '95 Bronco Build |
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06-19-2011, 09:49 PM
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#6 | ||
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Painted valve covers aren't a performance mod
Name: Christian
Joined: Dec 2009, #27905
Location: Chino Hills, CA
Age: 28
Gender: Dude
Posts: 30,150
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Quote:
__________________
^^^That includes drag racing and offroading Why did Father give these humans free will? Now they're all confused Learn how Toyota's 4wd and traction systems work!!! Banks Exhaust here and here. My build! Don't be a bro! Don't buy a truck expecting good MPGs! Quote:
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06-20-2011, 12:45 AM
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#7 |
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Senior Member
Name: Scott
Joined: Feb 2011, #50838
Location: McDonough, GA
Gender: Male
Posts: 586
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Tail gate closed=better mpg.
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06-20-2011, 12:48 AM
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#8 |
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Lord of Tomfoolery
Name: Sean
Joined: Nov 2007, #3442
Location: Bethlehem,GA
Age: 43
Gender: Dude
Posts: 14,222
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__________________
2011 Tacoma DC Sport Pre Runner V6, Tail gate theft mod, EGR in-channel vent visors, Saved from my 2005 - 20" Enkeis with 265/50/20 Nitto NT420 tires, & K&N air filter [IMG]
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06-20-2011, 01:03 AM
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#9 |
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the point is simply this
Name: jeff
Joined: Mar 2010, #32864
Location: calgary
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,751
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tonneau cover helps
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06-20-2011, 03:03 AM
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#10 |
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XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Joined: Jan 2009, #12767
Location: <----------------->
Gender: Male
Posts: 7,091
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Watch the video, tailgate net was best mpg. Not good enough for me to change from tailgate up tho.
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06-20-2011, 03:18 AM
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#11 | |
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Senior Member
 Joined: Apr 2010, #35825
Location: Philly PA
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,408
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Quote:
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. |
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06-20-2011, 03:24 AM
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#12 | |
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XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Joined: Jan 2009, #12767
Location: <----------------->
Gender: Male
Posts: 7,091
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Quote:
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06-20-2011, 04:35 AM
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#13 |
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Member
Joined: Feb 2011, #50897
Location: NASCAR, North Carolina
Gender: Male
Posts: 57
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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-econ...cations.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/showthrea...neau-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..  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!  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.  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. |
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06-20-2011, 02:23 PM
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#14 |
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Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2011, #54776
Location: Concord NC
Gender: Male
Posts: 128
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Tail gate down also weakens your bedsides over time.(doing it all the time)
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06-20-2011, 02:26 PM
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#15 | |
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Member
Name: Ryan
Joined: Mar 2011, #52799
Location: Penticton, British Columbia
Age: 28
Gender: Male
Posts: 72
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Quote:
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06-20-2011, 03:46 PM
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#16 |
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Senior Member
Name: Jerry
Joined: Feb 2011, #51743
Location: Mesquite, Texas
Gender: Male
Posts: 144
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Tailgate down can get you pulled over. The rear license plate is not visible with the tailgate down.
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06-20-2011, 03:50 PM
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#17 |
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Lord of Tomfoolery
Name: Sean
Joined: Nov 2007, #3442
Location: Bethlehem,GA
Age: 43
Gender: Dude
Posts: 14,222
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Also they never said in the video if they refueled for every test. (Or did I miss that.)
__________________
2011 Tacoma DC Sport Pre Runner V6, Tail gate theft mod, EGR in-channel vent visors, Saved from my 2005 - 20" Enkeis with 265/50/20 Nitto NT420 tires, & K&N air filter [IMG]
[/IMG] |
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06-20-2011, 09:19 PM
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#18 |
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flyhi2 [OP]
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2011, #58389
Gender: Male
Posts: 2
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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.
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06-20-2011, 09:29 PM
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#19 | |
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Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2009, #18207
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,851
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Quote:
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1. The sticker is not related to the TSB. 2. The display is not burned, it is a vacuum fluorescent display and that's an artifact of manufacturing. |
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06-21-2011, 02:44 AM
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#20 | |
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XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Joined: Jan 2009, #12767
Location: <----------------->
Gender: Male
Posts: 7,091
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Quote:
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| Products Discussed in this Thread |
 Access Limited Edition Tonneau Cover - $511.70 |
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