What to make of the fact that when towing a fifth wheel travel trailer, with the tailgate installed, anything in the truck bed that is light enough to be picked up by a person can be picked up by the air flow in the bed? Most fifth wheel owners find this out the hard way on their first trip.
This must be a bad thing aero-wise?
Some people pull fivers with no tailgate, and some with a vented tailgate. I haven't tried either. If I do, and the hurricane disappears, does this mean anything from an aero point of view?
What if the hitch could just emerge from a bed cover, would the bed cover reduce drag? For instance, imagine a modified gooseneck hitch arrangement, in place of a fifth wheel hitch, where the ball is at the top of a bed cover. If it could be mechanically sound, do you think it would reduce drag?