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Ye Olde Tailgate Debate

Discussion in 'Technical Chat' started by Brunes, May 2, 2009.

  1. May 2, 2009 at 7:47 AM
    #1
    Brunes

    Brunes [OP] abides.

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    Looking for Tacoma in a Wind Tunnel video I found this:

    http://ecow.engr.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/getbig/me/363/ghandhi1/pickup.pdf

    I don't think I've ever seen it before...but it's definitive measurements (including Coefficient of Drag or Cd) regarding what to do with your tailgate.

    Enjoy the read....or the pictures. Whatever you style is!!
     
  2. May 4, 2009 at 3:48 AM
    #2
    brian

    brian Another Traitor

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    Good reading, but its been years since I've seen calculus or anything that complicated in math. The physics seems about right though! Good info... just wanted more visual :p
     
  3. May 4, 2009 at 4:06 AM
    #3
    RelentlessFab

    RelentlessFab Eric @Relentless Fab Vendor

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    Relentless Armored! Too many others to list.
    interesting read. Thanks for posting.
     
  4. May 5, 2009 at 6:54 PM
    #4
    sweater914

    sweater914 Well-Known Member

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    Concrete proof to keep your tailgate up, don't see many tailgates down in the great white north but down south was a different story.:D
     
  5. May 5, 2009 at 7:07 PM
    #5
    EquinsuOcha

    EquinsuOcha Bourbon

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    We just do that so it'll be easier for the day-laborers to get in and out. We're courteous is all.
     
  6. May 5, 2009 at 7:16 PM
    #6
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    The tailgate debate will NEVER end!!!!!

     
  7. May 6, 2009 at 4:01 PM
    #7
    sweater914

    sweater914 Well-Known Member

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    Most of the time the tailgates had simply rusted away, along with most of the truck. Trucks in the high school were making the "I'm not a boy anymore" statement and putting on super cool cargo nets. I still enjoy the south, but some of the jokes are just to good to pass up.

    That's awesome I posted before I read the link that Chris4x4 put up, thanks for proving my point.
     
  8. May 6, 2009 at 4:35 PM
    #8
    NetMonkey

    NetMonkey Well-Known Member

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    mythbusters did an episode on this.

    they reported; from best to worst mpg:
    • mesh tailgate
    • tailgate up
    • tailgate down
    • tonneau cover
    • tailgate off
     
  9. May 7, 2009 at 7:54 PM
    #9
    flatlander

    flatlander Well-Known Member

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    It is hard for me to notice any difference in rpms no matter how I am configured. In my instance with the gate up w/o my undercover on or with the undercover on. Also today I was hauling a pretty good load of plywood and lumber and stiil did not notice much rpm difference. I had the tailgate up with 14 and 12 foot boards hanging out the back, sloping into the bed and tied down.

    I did not get to see the mythbuster's, so I am not sure what they used to monitor the differences. It seems like I did hear they did it with an F150 and not a taco.
     
  10. May 7, 2009 at 7:56 PM
    #10
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    prm's arent gonna change. Once in a gear, your in that gear, no matter if you are hauling nothing, of 1000#. And, a truck is a truck, weather its a ford, dodge, Toyota, or nissan. They all have a similar shape.
     
  11. May 7, 2009 at 7:59 PM
    #11
    wildjerseyfirefighter

    wildjerseyfirefighter I sell fishing and fishing accessories

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    stock, for now

    they did..identical trucks to the T...exact same fuel amount in them(filled from a 5 gallon jug) went around the track exactly the same speed, but one with a tailgate off, and one with one on. The first one to run out of gas, looses.

    Its on youtube..check it out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3aqHbD-O9E
     
  12. May 8, 2009 at 5:57 AM
    #12
    Rocketball

    Rocketball If The World Didn't Suck, We'd All Fall Off

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    +1. I saw this too.
     
  13. May 8, 2009 at 6:48 AM
    #13
    flatlander

    flatlander Well-Known Member

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    Fascinating. So what do you think accounts for the difference in fuel consumption / mpg? Is it that it just takes takes more fuel to maintain a certain rpm when there is more resistance/drag?

    Thanks
     
  14. May 8, 2009 at 10:28 AM
    #14
    22b22

    22b22 Well-Known Member

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    Load. The greater load you put on the motor, the more fuel it requires to maintain those RPMs
     
  15. May 8, 2009 at 11:20 AM
    #15
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    Bingo!
     
  16. May 9, 2009 at 6:21 AM
    #16
    river rat

    river rat Tool Geek

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    GM did these same wind tunnel tests right after WWII since they suddenly had all these wind tunnel chambers that weren't being used for aircraft. Same results with those old pick-ups of the 40s. When the tailgate is open, it dumps the "bubble" of slowly rotating air behind the cab. Instead of the air stream riding smoothly over the bubble of trapped air, you get a big vacuum behind the cab.
     

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