Ford air tunnel testing: tailgate myth and tonneau cover (aerodynamics / MPG)

[jewc75]

Im a visual guy so this video helped me. I hope it helps others.

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[crgator]

I'm glad he answered the question about the tonneau cover at the end of the video.

 

[jewc75]

I'm glad he answered the question about the tonneau cover at the end of the video.

Same, i just ordered the ultra undercover flex.

 

[Mikeetch]

Mythbusters answered the tailgate question years ago.

I believe the tonneau mpg improvement is negligible, at least from the articles I've read.

 

[jewc75]

A lot of independent testing has been done and the number that seems consistent is 7, 7% improvement in mpg over no cover. That's a 2 mpg gain on my Maverick not to mention the other benefits.

 

[wax87]

I wonder what it looks like if you have the Mav tail gate down at the intermediate level.

 

[jewc75]

I wonder what it looks like if you have the Mav tail gate down at the intermediate level.

Ive been reading a lot and it appears the air needs a flat surface to hit to cut down on drag. Dodge did test to and having the tailgate closed was the best option for decreasing drag.

 

[eighty4south]

So tailgate spoilers actually have some function other than aesthetics? I wonder how the cab spoiler changes things.

 

[K5Blazer]

I wonder how the cab spoiler changes things.

Thats the question isn’t it?

Everybody here that’s put a cab spoiler on their truck developed collective amnesia when asked about before and after MPG. Very strange that nobody reports an increase in fuel efficiency….

Looking cool is the main thing evidently.

Long discussion about spoilers and my personal report about adding a rear spoiler to my truck:

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...d-tailgate-spoilers-how-do-you-like-it.33673/

 

[Rivers90]

I did not have my Maverick with out a tonneau on the bed for very long but it did make a small improvement in MPG adding the cover, so this matches what they say in the video.

 

[Nw_adventure]

Tailgate spoiler had zero affect on mileage in my case- FYI

 

[rlhdweman]

I did not have my Maverick with out a tonneau on the bed for very long but it did make a small improvement in MPG adding the cover, so this matches what they say in the video.

How small? I wonder how the results of this test would be with a pickup with an 8 foot box single cab.

 

[wax87]

Ive been reading a lot and it appears the air needs a flat surface to hit to cut down on drag. Dodge did test to and having the tailgate closed was the best option for decreasing drag.

but Dodge's do not have an intermediate drop on their gates, right?

 

[colinl]

You almost never see anyone driving around with tailgate down or a tailgate net these days. Plus if there's no load on it, the tailgate will bounce and I doubt that's good for it but I don't know if you're risking any dents or just the annoyance of hearing it banging open.

I definitely see 1-2 mpg improvement at 70 and 2-3 mpg at 85 with a tonneau cover.

 

[jewc75]

but Dodge's do not have an intermediate drop on their gates, right?

No idea.

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