Why Do People Take The Doors Off Their Jeeps...

[Njord Noatun]

...and tailgates off their pickup trucks?

Seems nonsensible to me, but there must be good reasons - please enlighten me!

:scratch2:

 

[mjennens]

I've been told in increases gas mileage. :scratch2:

 

[Dan ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

Removal of truck tailgates reduces wind resistance and increases gas mileage, or so they say.
Not sure about doors on Jeeps. Maybe they want to fall out.

 

[fotno]

I can gain about 1/2 mpg by leaving the tailgate on my truck down. I hear that if the tailgate is taken completely off the weight savings adds another little bump in gas savings, but I've never tried it.

I think the take the doors off Jeeps because they can.

 

[tentoze]

I seem to recall Mythbusters doing a segment on the tailgate up/down thing and finding no evidence to support increased mileage from dropping the tailgate. As for the Jeep door removal, who knows- maybe to make it easier to hop out of to push it when it leaves you stranded on the side of the road?

 

[BK201]

The tailgate is designed to compress a "bubble" of air in the truck bed, which pushes air over it and reduces drag. It should be left up, not down, for better mileage. This probably only works on the highway though, at low speed your probably better off with it down.

 

[electronjohn]

Take off the tailgate? Old wive's tale debunked. Wind tunnel studies have shown that tailgate ON is a better option than OFF. What happens is airflow in the box causes a circulating mass of higher-pressure air...air over the top of the cab is deflected somewhat by that higher-pressure air. A visual example is to look in the mirror while driving with a few leaves & other debris in the box...you'll see the effect. The study showed only a minimal difference in fuel economy...like 1/8 to 1/4 MPG, but, I guess it all adds up. ANY sort of bed cover improves aerodynamics over a "bare bed"...even one of the vinylized fabric covers helps.

LOL...I see a couple others were busy posting while I was madly typing away!

 

[jami w.]

I seem to recall Mythbusters doing a segment on the tailgate up/down thing and finding no evidence to support increased mileage from dropping the tailgate. As for the Jeep door removal, who knows- maybe to make it easier to hop out of to push it when it leaves you stranded on the side of the road?

about the gas savings? your very correct i saw the same show, with tailgate up / an one down. no differance at all.
now bout the doors off on a jeep? well when you go wheeling, afterwards theres
2 less parts of the truck to wash lol. really its kinda like the question why have the ac on with the top down? now thats one i dont get

 

[Sandy G]

Naw, you boys is all wrong- you take the tailgate off yr pickemup so's the empties & other assorted trash will fly out & then YOU don't gotta fool w/cleanin' it up yerself...You gotta know these things when you're a Redneck, see ?!?

 

[opt80]

I thought it was because jeep drivers couldn't operate the door handles

 

[Njord Noatun]

Seems nonsensible to me, but there must be good reasons!

Addendum: Of course, in conditions like this it doesn't really matter if doors are on or off:

​

 

[Dan ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

I thought it was because jeep drivers couldn't operate the door handles

:lmao: :lmao: :lmao: That certainly holds true in these parts.

 

[marantzfan]

The same reason some people sport a mullet, combover or listen to Britney Spears. Poor taste..

 

[Sandy G]

I thought it was because jeep drivers couldn't operate the door handles

...Or in the case of the '88 Cherokee I had, they were so feckin' flimsy, they stayed broke a lot. That car was the biggest NOTHIN' I think I ever had. Fundamentally out of line, it would have the rt front tire's belts showing in 12K miles. The computer had a mysterious ailment that made the engine run rough for no apparent reason-then would magically straighten up & fly right. The driver's seat was apparently made for a person who weighed no more than 75 lbs. And the inside door latches were made from pot-metal & old bobby-pins..At least the power windows worked so you could reach out & open the door when the inside latch mechanism went "Shazbat" for the umpteenth time...

 

[Mark W.]

Real Jeep's don't got no silly assed doors any way.

My 1948 Willys CJ-2A ain't got no doors I don't need no stinking doors.




Course they haven't made any real jeeps since chrysler bought Jeep from AMC and even AMC was slipping pretty bad towards the end. Can you say EAGLE?

Luckily Willys Jeeps or direct copies are still made in 2-3 places around the world.

 

[Snade]

Why do they take the doors off ?

Redneck air conditioning ?

 

[RayW]

Redneck air conditioning ?

The man knows! I had a CJ-7 back in college. I would take the top and doors off in April and not put them back on until September. Rain? Stay above 35mph and you don't get wet. I loved that thing.

Ray

 

[SA-708]

As far as truck tailgates, there has been a rash of tailgate thefts in the area. A few months back the local news had security camera footage of one being removed and taken.

 

[usedto]

People who buy pickups and leave the tailgate down trying to get better mileage are usually the same ones who hire a gardener so they can go to the gym.

 

[jimfet]

So the cops can see the beer in your lap.