Quote:
Originally Posted by zacksewer
Most of the time, I noticed more and more people in pickup trucks driving around with the tailgate down. Without an easy way to measure it, does this stay just a theory?
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Actually, this is one of the few things that was done right on Mythbusters (since there were no explosions involved). Tailgate up is, without doubt, better than tailgate down. With the tailgate up, a vortex forms over the bed that sort of acts like a kammback (though not as effective, being normal-pressure air currents). That current does not form with the gate down; driving like that makes your wake bigger and more turbulent.
Yes, it's counterintuitive.