I think this would be pointless, the truck is already really heavy, plus with a big heavy vehicle we can't only make fuel economy better to some point. Good driving habits will go a much longer way.
so if its weight savings why are up and down not the same and removed not betteR?Mythbusters proved that tailgate removed was the same as tailgate up. They think the weight savings helped. What did surprise them was that gator net had the best results.
Tailgate down: 5.2 gallons/hr @ 55mph.
Tailgate up: 5.0 gallons/hr @ 55mph.
Hardcover over pickup bed: 5.0 gallons/hr @ 55mph.
Tailgate mesh: 5% more efficient
Tailgate removed: about the same as tailgate up and hardcover
Mesh was most efficient by 5%
fair enough, going off those numbers had me a bit confused.The up vs down was all in the air flow over the truck. With the gate up, it creates a pocket of air that helps direct the air flow up and over. When the gate is down, that air pocket's not there and gets sucked into the bed creating drag.
Then you'd think w/ it off it creates the same back flow of air--but this is where they think the weight was the difference.
But we're talking a difference of 5.0 vs 5.2--I guess if you drive a lot of miles it would start to add up.