tailgate down?

[vmons]

Will I get mocked if I drive around with my tailgate down.

I just filled up my 3/4 ton today - almost 50 buck!!!

I need some mileage help.

[Jeremy-WI]

That's what is cost me to fill up my K1500 today, you could just remove the tailgate. What kind of mileage are you getting, 12-14mpg?

[vmons]

I'm getting low 11's.

In your opinion, how much improvement will the removal of my tailgate give me?

[Jeremy-WI]

If you have mostly city miles, it won't gain you squat. On the highway it could gain you a couple at most. What kind of truck is it 5.7L auto, does it have 8 lug axles?

[vmons]

I do about 3/4 city driving.

It's the 6L Vortec with 8-lug axle.

I'm thinking about adding some mods to improve mileage. What mods would you recommend/prioritize first?

[Jeremy-WI]

Have no experience with the 6.0 other than their rep for sucking gas. My uncle was looking at the HD trucks and after talking to people with the 6.0 he went and bought the Duramax

[BIGT2317]

i had a 1/2 ton 4x4 tahoe and bought a programmer for it and that increased gas mileage from 11 to 13mpg if you don't hot rod too much i also reprogrammed a 2000 ford excursion 4x4 Diesel last week and it was getting 15mpg AND NOW IT'S GETTING 22.4MPG!!

[z28 boy]

I got a 95 sierra ext. cab with 74,000 miles. its a 350 not vortec and it can make 400 miles and still have 1/4 tank left with tailgate up. KN helps alot.

[z28 boy]

I heard u get pulled over for it but i do it around town and haven't been stoped. knock on wood.

[Slowprocess]

I take mine off at the track. They say every 100 lbs is worth a .1 in the quarter, so I take off everything I can when I'm at the track, and nobody ever gives it a second look when I'm headed to the track with no tailgate or passenger headlight.

[LoneWolf3]

Well, I'll throw my 2 cents in.......I have a 4.8 2004 Silverado 2 wd, automatic.....was getting around 17 mpg....went to my friendly muffler man...put on a flowmaster 70 series, and a K&N filter, week before I also added a Torza tonneau top as well, now I'm right at around 20 mpg now, that's driving up slight hills, stop start, 45 to 65 mph....duals coming out back sound nice, have good roar taking off and while driving, no drone in the cab to ruin your day....that's my outcome.

How do you insert the big pics in the body of this...???

[cssleo]

Originally Posted by vmons

Will I get mocked if I drive around with my tailgate down.

I just filled up my 3/4 ton today - almost 50 buck!!!

I need some mileage help.

I found that lowering the tailgate hurt mileage. I just assumed airflow was improved over the bed if the tailgate was up. Like the dimples on a golf ball.

[chevytrucks92]

LoneWolf3, I have the 70 series Flowmasters on my truck too (1992 K1500, 350, auto, .342 gear) and they improved my truck 1 full mpg. The week before I had the flowmasters I got 17.6, and the week after the flowmasters I got 18.6. Now I know it won't always get 1 mpg (2nd week with flowmasters I got 18.1, and then just last week I got 19.1) but they definetly improve the fuel mileage, and I can tell a difference in power. Also, great low rumble sound and virtually no cab noise at highway speeds, and only minor when the truck shifts out of O/D.

[LoneWolf3]

Yep I like the FM 70's, the torza top helps as well, I'm right at 19 to 20 now, that's with the top, filter and muffler, as far as all these hypertech and super chips, I'm messing with the computer on my '04, it does not bogg down, does not backfire, it rumbles when you let up or downshift the automatic to 3rd, as it should, I stil believe has had some changes that comp for mods.