Community Forums

Kro1957 · 05-29-2013, 02:22 PM

How many folks use a Louverd Tailgate for your 5r?

This is our 3rd 5r and I am yet to put one on but thinking about it.

I know the advantage is the ease of hooking and unhooking but other than that what is gained???________

Up to now I have resisted because we have a fold up cover that locks and I have wanted to keep the back end secure and dry when not hauling.

If you have one that would do that I would be interested in getting one.

Skip426 · 05-29-2013, 03:42 PM

Used the lovered tailgate when hauling, as you said easier for hook up and disconnect. Another, was the gate was about a 100lbs lighter than stock.

road dogs · 05-29-2013, 06:10 PM

I use a metal one on my truck whether I am towing or not. It actually gives me about .5-.75 extra mpg on the highway, allows me to see things like kids and smart cars thru the louvers when I am backing up, weighs a lot less than the factory tg and, of course, easier to hookup. I don't keep anything of value in my truck bed unless it's chained down....

TXiceman · 05-29-2013, 06:11 PM

I don't want to give up the back up camera that is mounted in the solid tailgate.

450Donn · 05-29-2013, 06:14 PM

Lack of security is the big one for me. Plus i just cant see or justify spending hundreds of dollars for something i already hand and works good

mamestra · 05-29-2013, 08:38 PM

I like my louvered tailgate, never have to worry if I lowered or raised my tailgate when hooking up or unhooking. I'm not sure if it increases fuel economy but regardless, I do like the convenience.

njs42 · 05-29-2013, 10:01 PM

Myth busters show took on the tailgate down and better gas mileage myth. Turns out they got better mileage with the stock tailgate up.

Don't beat me up, write them.

I imagine with a 5er on it makes no difference.

Kewl · 05-29-2013, 11:08 PM

I have a fifth wheel tailgate and love not having to worry about not putting it up and down hooking up my trailer. I also get better gas mileage when not towing my trailer, but where you have a bedcover you won't see any difference. I've also seen some that can put attachments into the center cutout allowing you to have a fully locked tailgate just like stock, but those are spendy.

Another person commented on myth busters claiming that gas mileage was better with tailgate up. That works for that specific model of truck (I believe that they had a Ford Explorer SportTrac) that has a miniature bed. Those trucks probably benefit with the physics that they describe, but my long bed truck has completely different physics. My tailgate acts like a huge air dam. Any better fuel economy is worth it.

Cumminsfan · 05-30-2013, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kewl

I have a fifth wheel tailgate and love not having to worry about not putting it up and down hooking up my trailer. I also get better gas mileage when not towing my trailer, but where you have a bedcover you won't see any difference. I've also seen some that can put attachments into the center cutout allowing you to have a fully locked tailgate just like stock, but those are spendy.

Another person commented on myth busters claiming that gas mileage was better with tailgate up. That works for that specific model of truck (I believe that they had a Ford Explorer SportTrac) that has a miniature bed. Those trucks probably benefit with the physics that they describe, but my long bed truck has completely different physics. My tailgate acts like a huge air dam. Any better fuel economy is worth it.

I was thinking the same thing. How can a truck with a reg cab, extra cab or crew cab with different size boxes be the same.

As to the OP's question I don't have one but on our last trip did remove the tailgate and really liked not having to worry about it. Just not sure if it's worth the money. I like just taking the tailgate off.

caissiel · 05-30-2013, 12:27 AM

I have never used stock Tail gates on my trucks. Make my own heavier dory then original using flat expanded metal.
It is much more usefully then the stock one.
The reason an open tg is harder on fuel is the vaccum created behind the cab. But with 5er the vacuum don't exist and air flows around the top and bottom freely.
Realty noticed the power difference when used on my 1/4 Ranger towing our 24ft 5th.

hjsdds · 05-30-2013, 12:18 PM

Had 4 pickups pulled with original gate and with modified louvered gate, didn't see much difference in mileage with either gate, lousy either way. Had a custom bed cover with snaps all around, it would snap on regular gate and louvered gate.
Put the louvered gate on after I did the "classic", lower the gate down to hitch up, leave it down, drive off. That first corner is a bitch as the gate slices through the front compartment doors.
Look at guys pulling with pickups, if you see a dent in the top of the gate, you can say, "aha, drove off with the gate down, didn't you". Louvered gates have a notch for the passage of the king pin with the gate up.

hjs

FiverBob · 05-30-2013, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kewl

My tailgate acts like a huge air dam. Any better fuel economy is worth it.

I was of the same opinion until reading the full report (not on Myth busters) from tests on several different trucks in wind tunnel tests. These were not pigmy trucks but full size, long bed as used to haul large loads. The best mileage is gained by having a cover over the bed starting at the roof and sloping to the tail gate. (Hmmm, maybe that is why they race trucks with that setup.) The second best was using a normal bed cover. The next best setup was using a standard tailgate. If the tailgate is down, there is more vacuum developed behind the cab reducing the mileage. When it is up, it is the closest thing to the bed cover creating a pocket of air in the bed mimicing the bed cover. Hence, best mileage was found using a solid tailgate in the up position as compared to leaving the tailgate down or using the vented tailgate. None of this applies when towing due to the many different configurations of front caps, heights, distance to the bed, etc. Hence, no conclusions were reached on any further tests towing.

Bob

Route 66 · 05-30-2013, 06:10 PM

GMC tests also prove tailgate up is best.

Franka548 · 05-30-2013, 06:27 PM

Now, what everyone is forgetting, is the change in airflow due to the front of the 5er being over the centerline of the rear axle. You will find that the tailgate acts as an airdam, the louvered tailgate does make a difference in mileage while towing, it relieves the high pressure pocket that is caused at the back of the bed with the solid tailgate. I have gained over 1/2 mpg with the louvered over standard on 2 different trucks and 2 different 5ers. Removing the tailgate altogether yeilded less than 3/4 mpg over the standard. These numbers were hand calculated over multiple 4 to 500 mile trips.
Frank