Airflow tailgates

[Montana_1197]

What's your opinion? Anything really gained other than convenience?

[Charlie]

I have one and the convenience is great. I use the factory installed pin connector under the bumper and use a 4" bungee cord to secure the cord to the tail gate. As far as improving performance, really can't prove anything as I installed it the day after I bought the truck, but it only stands to reason if you let air pass through the gate there would be less restistance to pushing the truck down the highway.

[Montana Sky]

I found I get approx. 1.5mpg better with the custom flow tail gate on during the summers. I ran one summer w/o and this is my second summer with. That number of course is not towing the coach, it is empty at highway speeds. I love the convenience that they provide as well.

[sreigle]

My personal opinion is the only real advantage is convenience. Every single test I've read about whether to put the stock tailgate down or leave it up has shown better mpg with the gate up since having it down changes the airflow dynamics (I'm just paraphrasing here, I have no engineering knowledge in this area). That makes me think the airflow tailgates might reduce mileage a bit, too, although I have nothing to base that opinion on. But I really like the convenience.

[Bill and Ann]

All I can add to the above is this. We had a stock tailgate until we lost a few things out of the box while pulling. The turbulence back there when towing must be unbelievable with the stock gate. We lost a piece of 2 x 10 x 2 ft. somewhere. I know someone posted that they lost a cooler. I just change mine to the stock when we are home.

[Bill Hill]

We have the airflow tailgate, but just for the convenience of not having to raise and lower it. I read just recently in one of the truck mags about this. The wind dynamics in the box are such that you'll always find the trash in the bed pushed up to behind the cab. Which way is the wind blowing? The raised tailgate also creates a downward force on the rear of the truck which when it is empty gives better traction.

[Virgil]

We have always used the flow through tailgate while pulling the different 5th wheels we have had. It seems there is less air pressure in the pu box when pulling the 5'r. We have actually had lawn chairs hovering in the back window of the truck until I stopped and tied them down. From that I would guess that nearly all the air is sent over the top and around the sides of the nose of the 5r similar to an airplane wing which creates lift in articles in the box. If thats the case, a regular tailgate shouldn't make much difference while towing. I think the air flow tailgate probably does best when running solo.