Posted: Sep 19 2005 at 8:47am | IP Logged

To ThePUFFMAN,

Actually the added wieght of a plywood cover is insignificant to the drag affect of a large tailgate. At 55 Mph, a 6'x2' tailgate will create roughly 250lbs of drag resistance and doubles that at 80Mph. I cannot remember where exactly I got this info, but it was off of a study by some professor at MIT that I got off the TRUCKS show. I do remember that it takes alot of math to figure out with calculations including the hight of the cab, length of the bed, size and hight of the tailgate, and speed. So even if tou built a bed cover that wieghed in at 100lbs, Its still better than driving with the tail up uncovered. I just drive around with the tail gate down all the time when Im not hauling anything in the back. Thats the best solution unless local laws prohibit such an act.

Posted: Sep 19 2005 at 10:09pm | IP Logged

TO: Z-Hauler

Well I certainly cant argue with science. Nevertheless, I cant deny what I experienced myself, ergo I restate: My homebuilt cover did not make a measurable improvement to my fuel mileage. As far as science is concerned, over the years, I have discovered that it can be utilized to prove/disprove just about anything. In some cases researchers do not have all the facts, other cases have more to do with who is paying for the science. Case in point, I found the following article on tailgates up vs. down, interesting:    http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/auto_technology/1 266911.html?page=5&c=y

Excerpt below:

  TAILGATE UP OR DOWN?
Except for trucks with a full 8-ft. bed, the Cd (coefficient of drag) is lower with the tailgate up.

Posted: Sep 20 2005 at 11:26am | IP Logged

To : ThePuffman...again :-)

The differences will only show with highway speeds. Normal driving in a metropolitan/Urban areas with low speeds will have no change. Do you drive the highway often? Maybe thats why you didnt get a MPG difference with your cover. *shrug*