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John Worden
Dodge Dakota
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12/17/2005
17:53:27
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 Subject: RE: MPG difference with the tailgate down?
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I did this on a cross country trip in my Dak(Maine to Utah and back) and noticed absolutely no difference. Hell, these trucks are so well designed that small items in the bed, not tied down, tend to stay put. I have seen plenty of old fords and chevys around here that were run without tailgates for years and the bed sides are sagging inwards-I don't know if this is the result of no tailgate, but I suspect it may be.
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IowaSQ
Dodge Dakota
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12/17/2005
19:44:14
| RE: MPG difference with the tailgate down?
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"what about flat beds without a gate are they illegal? I dont think so big guy.. "
it's not the fact that it is flat that it is the problem, it's that you effectively don't have a bumper anymore. flat beds still have a giant bumper directly bellow(or close) to the edge of the 'bed' to keep things from going under it in the event of an accident.
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4wheelhigh
Dodge Dakota
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12/17/2005
20:29:14
| RE: MPG difference with the tailgate down?
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I have a 93 dakota with the 3.9 and I get about 3 more MPG with the gate down, and when that gate is up and I can fell the extra drag pushing down on the rearend. The only thing I have in the bed is a low profile toolbox thats is mounted with a 6" gap between the front of the box and and the bed to allow space for my cb antenna mount, so i think somehow this gap channels the air diffrently giveing me better mileage with the gate down. I ran 3 tanks of gas with the gate up and another 3 with it down and got the numbers, they where 17.2 mpg tailgate up and 20 down.
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Fed
GenII
12/17/2005
20:44:34
|  RE: MPG difference with the tailgate down?
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speaking of miles per gallon, i got an average of 14 mpg strictly city driving and i had a lead foot here and there throughout the tank...
my best yet, it's got to do with the 4:10s...they really help in the city
'93 Dakota CC 3.9 auto
(4:10 gears, limited slip, exhaust, intake, lowered)
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RPRacing
Dodge Dakota
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12/18/2005
02:52:51
| RE: MPG difference with the tailgate down?
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"I have seen plenty of old fords and chevys around here that were run without tailgates for years and the bed sides are sagging inwards-I don't know if this is the result of no tailgate, but I suspect it may be."
Pretty much right on the mark John. The tailgate is part of teh beds structure. I've seen many old trucks with the bed sides loose like you have also. Hell I've seen late 90's trucks also with that issue, makes not withstanding. Look at the area where the bed meets the floor. That weld area is notorious for being weak. Also in a minor parking lot collision (ie 5 mph from the rear), having the tailgate down is gonna cause ALOT more damage to your truck than just touching bumpers. Not only will the tailgated be f-ed up, its gonna twist the pivots in the sides, possibly bend the floor area and bed sides.
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xmr2
Dodge Dakota
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12/19/2005
17:41:53
| RE: MPG difference with the tailgate down?
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On tv mythbuster did tests that proved that the f-150's that they used for the tests got worse mileage with the tailgates down than they did with them closed. They tested both trucks both ways and the one with the tail gate down got worse mileage.
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Aj
Dodge Dakota
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12/20/2005
19:53:51
| RE: MPG difference with the tailgate down?
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I've heard about that mythbusters show too, but I make constant 3 hour drive's. i've tested the theory, much better with the tailgate down.
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runner
Dodge Dakota
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12/21/2005
08:33:52
| RE: MPG difference with the tailgate down?
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mythbusters had short bed trucks they tested, i bet long bed trucks would be different because there is a longer distance from the cab to the tailgate so i bet those would get better mpg with it down.
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