Mythbusters got it wrong!
07-14-2012, 12:18 AM
#31
Race Red '12 XLT SCrew EB
This is one of those issues where no matter how it is tested somebody will cry foul. They use two identical trucks, they should have used one. They tested on city streets, they should have used a closed course. Had they used one truck, driving conditions may have changed should have used two. Had they used closed course they should have tested on streets for real world analysis.
03-18-2014, 02:43 AM
#33
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Mythbusters claim on their site that driving a pickup (looks like a F250 or 350 in the pic) with the tailgate up results in better mpg than with it down/open.
This myth is not busted. What kind of scientific methodology dictates that you use two different trucks with two different drivers, and one with the tailgate up and the other down. Way too many variables. Just the fact that you're driving two different trucks, much less the fact that you have two different drivers!
I have a new Ford F150 that I drove for two weeks (crew cab, 4x4, 6 speed auto, 3.5L) with the tailgate up while waiting for my bed extender to come in. I got 17.5mpg with the tailgate up (hwy and city, 104 mile roundtrip daily commute). Once I installed the bed extender and started leaving the tailgate down with the bed extender folded out I consistently get 18.5mpg. I would be happy to have the mythbusters challenge my test results as they are easily repeatable. One truck, one driver, tailgate open, and then tailgate closed, over a combination hwy and city course.
And while we're on it, I have been getting even better mileage improvements doing the same thing with my 2002 Ford Sport Trac (2wd) since it was new. The difference between tailgate up and tailgate down is 2mpg (it also has a bed extender).
S.
This myth is not busted. What kind of scientific methodology dictates that you use two different trucks with two different drivers, and one with the tailgate up and the other down. Way too many variables. Just the fact that you're driving two different trucks, much less the fact that you have two different drivers!
I have a new Ford F150 that I drove for two weeks (crew cab, 4x4, 6 speed auto, 3.5L) with the tailgate up while waiting for my bed extender to come in. I got 17.5mpg with the tailgate up (hwy and city, 104 mile roundtrip daily commute). Once I installed the bed extender and started leaving the tailgate down with the bed extender folded out I consistently get 18.5mpg. I would be happy to have the mythbusters challenge my test results as they are easily repeatable. One truck, one driver, tailgate open, and then tailgate closed, over a combination hwy and city course.
And while we're on it, I have been getting even better mileage improvements doing the same thing with my 2002 Ford Sport Trac (2wd) since it was new. The difference between tailgate up and tailgate down is 2mpg (it also has a bed extender).
S.
