I'm looking to run without the tailgate. I've been looking at the nylon nets which require drilling holes, and pain in the butt buckles and straps to be played with each time you need to lower it. I'm not altogether against drilling holes if its for a good product that will last and not be a pain.

My motives here are less drag on the highway (I've got an over the rail tool box behind the cab so my bed cover is no longer an option, didnt like it anyway), and I saw a white dually with a net that looked great (IMO), it made those rear tires stand out just that much more!

Anybody know of a good product to use in place of the factory part?

 

check out the 5er tailgates, vented.

 

The tailgate nets actually cause more aerodynamic drag than running with the tailgate in the closed position.

http://amos.indiana.edu/library/scripts/tailgate.html

 

Well, I don't know where it is, but I found a link that had a comparison of different setups and what was best. They compared tailgate up, tailgate down, removed gate/net gate, tonneaur cover, full topper and a topper the slanted from back of cab down to the tailgate.
Worse to best (if I recall correctly on a few of them):
tailgate down and removed/net were tied for last
full topper
tailgate up
tonneau
and slanted topper was the best

 

BDude555
Just a sugg. but If it is a soft cover you could cut it. I chopped mine to fit with the over the rail box, could'nt be happier with it. Still got the box and the dry bed!

 

WOW! Some great info., and I've got to say I had sort of suspected the net flopping around back there wasnt giving any real benefit (still like the looks though).
I had the chance today to take the truck on the highway with no tailgate at all... After a 120 mile trip the computer read .2mpg LOWER than it did WITH the tailgate, that small amount could be atributed to anything, but what you guys are saying sure seems to have proven out!
I like the steel vented 5er tailgates, that much cash buys a lot of number 2 DF though!
Good suggestion on trimming back the bed cover, I quit using mine because it was kind of a pain IMO having things slide all the way to the front of the bed after every trip... Which brings up how nice it would be to drop the rear of my truck about 3 inchs so it sat level! A whole other story though.
THANKS for all the input!

 

What I did to help the problem of stuff sliding to the front was cut a 2X6 & drop it in the slots at the back that are for that purpose. As far as dropping the back, I did mine by changing the position of the spacers. Move 'em from under the perches to the top. No parts at all required if you can get the spring bolts out. There are several threads on the subject.

Here is a link showing in detail how to do it.

http://www.klenger.net/dodge/lowerin...d/slide01.html

Not rocket science, but you do have to be careful. It drops the rear about two inches.