simple newbie question

[TLontheDL]

This is my 1st truck -01 taco. is it illegal to drive with the tailgate down?

[defvayne]

I dont know but its illegal to drive one without a tailgate.

[pistolpete]

Its not illegal to drive with the tailgate down.

[TLontheDL]

while on the subject with whats legal and not legal, what is the max length you can have hanging out the truck on the sides? what about the length of things hanging off the bed (yes i know you're suppose to tag it with something red).

[ESB]

I dont know but its illegal to drive one without a tailgate.

WTF!!!!!!!!
Man you can drive without a damn bed let alone without a tailgate.
Alot of people who pull goosenecks dont run tailgates.

Im not sure about having things hanging out the sides. Out the back I think you could get away with whatever you could mange to keep in the bed. JUst be sure and tag it.
Ive hauled all sorts of crap in all sorts of weird ways and never had any problems.

edit.. What do you plan on having hanging out the sides anyway?

[Din]

also its better fuel milage to drive with the tailgate up.

[defvayne]

WTF!!!!!!!!
Man you can drive without a damn bed let alone without a tailgate.
Alot of people who pull goosenecks dont run tailgates.

Im not sure about having things hanging out the sides. Out the back I think you could get away with whatever you could mange to keep in the bed. JUst be sure and tag it.
Ive hauled all sorts of crap in all sorts of weird ways and never had any problems.

edit.. What do you plan on having hanging out the sides anyway?
Texas has a law that requires a tailgate of some type on all pickups regardless of whether you are carrying a load or not, although you would probably never receive a citation unless something fell out of your truck bed and caused a road hazzard. The Texas law does not require the tailgate to be closed! So you need some sort of tailgate even get the net gates. Thats why most trucks come with the xtend bars so you can ride with the gate open and carry oversized materials.

[defvayne]

while on the subject with whats legal and not legal, what is the max length you can have hanging out the truck on the sides? what about the length of things hanging off the bed (yes i know you're suppose to tag it with something red).
§ 621.206. MAXIMUM EXTENDED LENGTH OF LOAD. (a) A
vehicle or combination of vehicles may not carry a load that extends
more than three feet beyond its front or, except as permitted by
other law, more than four feet beyond its rear.


§ 725.021. CONTAINING LOOSE MATERIALS. (a) A vehicle
subject to this chapter shall be equipped and maintained as
required by this section to prevent loose material from escaping by
blowing or spilling.
(b) A vehicle bed carrying a load:
(1) may not have a hole, crack, or other opening
through which loose material can escape; and
(2) shall be enclosed:
(A) on both sides by side panels;
(B) on the front by a panel or the vehicle cab;
and
(C) on the rear by a tailgate or panel.
(c) The load shall be covered and the covering firmly
secured at the front and back, unless the load:
(1) is completely enclosed by the load-carrying
compartment; or
(2) does not blow or spill over the top of the
load-carrying compartment.
(d) The tailgate of the vehicle shall be securely closed to
prevent spillage during transportation.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

[.César.]

also its better fuel milage to drive with the tailgate up.

Yes....b/c it creates an airbubbel on the bed...which in turn acts as a buffer for the wind to "glide" over the bed area....
:thumb:

[koncept1]

I thought it was better to drive with the tailgate down???? does it really create an "air bubble" on the bed? Mangholdup got a torneau(sp) cover on his titan and said it saves a lot of gas....but IMO, u kind of lose the purpose of the bed when u cant put tall shit in there...

[retard]

It's better with the tail gate down...


I've tested it with my little mpg thing and by checking the mileage. I gained 4-5 MPG with the tail gate DOWN.

[Los]

I thought it was better to drive with the tailgate down???? does it really create an "air bubble" on the bed? Mangholdup got a torneau(sp) cover on his titan and said it saves a lot of gas....but IMO, u kind of lose the purpose of the bed when u cant put tall shit in there...
Well they make those like vinyl covers you can roll up when you got to put some tall stuff in there. I am planning on getting a vinyl one when I get my new truck this summer...

[Din]

It's better with the tail gate down...


I've tested it with my little mpg thing and by checking the mileage. I gained 4-5 MPG with the tail gate DOWN.

mythbusters did a test 2 of the same trucks , drove them for the same speed. tail gate up won.

http://fordtruckworld.tenmagazines.com/forums/topic.ten?id=121115&q=tailgate+up+or+down

http://www.droptail.com/fordmovie.htm

[TLontheDL]

mythbusters did a test 2 of the same trucks , drove them for the same speed. tail gate up won.

http://fordtruckworld.tenmagazines.com/forums/topic.ten?id=121115&q=tailgate+up+or+down

http://www.droptail.com/fordmovie.htm

i saw this episode on cable.

[azinwood]

interesting, always thought down was the better way.

[pistolpete]

Trucks are designed to get good mileage along with the tailgate up. Tailgate down doesn't create any difference.

[hatchcutie]

dont think so

[TLontheDL]

i use to think tailgate up causes drag but myth busters busted my myth.

[Cloud Nine]

with some sparks or what Sunny1: lol what about a car? will u save gas or no

[TLontheDL]

well anything that causes drag will waste gas.

[ESB]

I just read in a Truckin mag that down was better but by less then 1mpg.
Of course I dont think you will see a major change unless your doing a lot of highway miles.
Around town you wouldnt ever go fast enough for wind resistance to come into play.

And I dont get the tailgate thing. Why would a fleatside bed need a tailgate when its legal to have a flat bed with no sides or rear. :stare:

[retard]

meh mythbusters or not. I did it myself ;)

Down = better

lol

[NisAznMonk]

I thought it was better to drive with the tailgate down???? does it really create an "air bubble" on the bed? Mangholdup got a torneau(sp) cover on his titan and said it saves a lot of gas....but IMO, u kind of lose the purpose of the bed when u cant put tall shit in there...

I had a SnugTop on my truck when I first bought it. I thought it would help with aerodynamics and help me save money on gas. The slight benefit I got from improved aerodynamics was offset by how heavy that damn thing was. It also sucked that I couldn't use my truck as a truck anymore. I'm definately glad I got rid of that thing.

[Mike06]

I don't know about others but I drive 80% highway and I have seen a "slight" improvement after putting on my roll top cover. Not only that, but I can put stuff underneith it without having to worry about rain and remove it when I need to.

[Vincent]

It's better with the tail gate down...


I've tested it with my little mpg thing and by checking the mileage. I gained 4-5 MPG with the tail gate DOWN.

:roflmao: @ 5mpg.

[retard]

:roflmao: @ 5mpg.


roffle all you want. :)


like said above.. in town you won't notice crap..but to get to town for me is a good 25mile highway drive...

[UneeKDeceptions]

honestly its not worth running the risk of having someone rearend you better... if you want to save fuel get other mods, and if not get a cover for the bed...

[TeamShiftPoint]

the hitch and ball saved my mom's sienna van from alot of damage when she got rearended... the other car got f'd up alot more.

I usually keep the hitch on my truck.

those trucks that run in baytown, they either have no tailgates or have them down.

[Toastr]

Tailgate up yields better mpg in larger trucks, the initial air turbulence formed in the bed does indeed create an air bubble that deflects air while in motion, causing less drag. On smaller trucks I haven't found any info on either position stating which is better. Mythbuster's, Four-Wheeler, and I believe Motor Trend tested both positions and up got the best results. Regardless of truck sizing it comes down to the driver as always and their driving style.

Either way, a bed-cover will be the most fuel-efficient method, not to mention keeps your shit safe and secure :thumb: