Removed Lower Air Dam

[tobias]

Oh wow, I highly doubt there is any (if that) significant change in vehicle mpg and/or airflow. I took mine off first day I brought the truck home for a little higher look up front/it just looks cheap in general. Aerodynamically speaking, I doubt it does anything (good or bad) for your truck, but it does look cleaner without it! Looks good!

 

 

Since we're talking MPG for body adds/ deducts... How about StevenAR15's tonneau cover over his bed? Add MPG or no?

 

 

The effects of a tonneau cover are negligible at best. You'll hear guys swear they got 30% better MPG's with one but they are simply lying just messed up the math somehow.

 

Truth is, mod your truck so you are happy with the appearance because aside from getting a tune or installing a sail, nothing you do will really help MPG's.

[VMax2007]

Oh wow, I highly doubt there is any (if that) significant change in vehicle mpg and/or airflow. I took mine off first day I brought the truck home for a little higher look up front/it just looks cheap in general. Aerodynamically speaking, I doubt it does anything (good or bad) for your truck, but it does look cleaner without it! Looks good!

 

 

Since we're talking MPG for body adds/ deducts... How about StevenAR15's tonneau cover over his bed? Add MPG or no?

 

 

The effects of a tonneau cover are negligible at best. You'll hear guys swear they got 30% better MPG's with one but they are simply lying just messed up the math somehow.

 

Truth is, mod your truck so you are happy with the appearance because aside from getting a tune or installing a sail, nothing you do will really help MPG's.

 

 

Fixed.

[tobias]

Oh wow, I highly doubt there is any (if that) significant change in vehicle mpg and/or airflow. I took mine off first day I brought the truck home for a little higher look up front/it just looks cheap in general. Aerodynamically speaking, I doubt it does anything (good or bad) for your truck, but it does look cleaner without it! Looks good!

 

 

Since we're talking MPG for body adds/ deducts... How about StevenAR15's tonneau cover over his bed? Add MPG or no?

 

 

The effects of a tonneau cover are negligible at best. You'll hear guys swear they got 30% better MPG's with one but they are simply lying just messed up the math somehow.

 

Truth is, mod your truck so you are happy with the appearance because aside from getting a tune or installing a sail, nothing you do will really help MPG's.

 

 

Fixed.

 

 

I guess I should have included "and driving sanely"

[VMax2007]

Oh wow, I highly doubt there is any (if that) significant change in vehicle mpg and/or airflow. I took mine off first day I brought the truck home for a little higher look up front/it just looks cheap in general. Aerodynamically speaking, I doubt it does anything (good or bad) for your truck, but it does look cleaner without it! Looks good!

 

 

Since we're talking MPG for body adds/ deducts... How about StevenAR15's tonneau cover over his bed? Add MPG or no?

 

 

The effects of a tonneau cover are negligible at best. You'll hear guys swear they got 30% better MPG's with one but they are simply lying just messed up the math somehow.

 

Truth is, mod your truck so you are happy with the appearance because aside from getting a tune or installing a sail, nothing you do will really help MPG's.

 

 

Fixed.

 

 

I guess I should have included "and driving sanely"

 

 

Even then it's minimal. I would never recommend getting a tune solely for the purpose of mileage. It would take a LONG time to pay for itself.

[tobias]

Oh wow, I highly doubt there is any (if that) significant change in vehicle mpg and/or airflow. I took mine off first day I brought the truck home for a little higher look up front/it just looks cheap in general. Aerodynamically speaking, I doubt it does anything (good or bad) for your truck, but it does look cleaner without it! Looks good!

 

 

Since we're talking MPG for body adds/ deducts... How about StevenAR15's tonneau cover over his bed? Add MPG or no?

 

 

The effects of a tonneau cover are negligible at best. You'll hear guys swear they got 30% better MPG's with one but they are simply lying just messed up the math somehow.

 

Truth is, mod your truck so you are happy with the appearance because aside from getting a tune or installing a sail, nothing you do will really help MPG's.

 

 

Fixed.

 

 

I guess I should have included "and driving sanely"

 

 

Even then it's minimal. I would never recommend getting a tune solely for the purpose of mileage. It would take a LONG time to pay for itself.

 

 

Or 3

[VMax2007]

Oh wow, I highly doubt there is any (if that) significant change in vehicle mpg and/or airflow. I took mine off first day I brought the truck home for a little higher look up front/it just looks cheap in general. Aerodynamically speaking, I doubt it does anything (good or bad) for your truck, but it does look cleaner without it! Looks good!

 

 

Since we're talking MPG for body adds/ deducts... How about StevenAR15's tonneau cover over his bed? Add MPG or no?

 

 

The effects of a tonneau cover are negligible at best. You'll hear guys swear they got 30% better MPG's with one but they are simply lying just messed up the math somehow.

 

Truth is, mod your truck so you are happy with the appearance because aside from getting a tune or installing a sail, nothing you do will really help MPG's.

 

 

Fixed.

 

 

I guess I should have included "and driving sanely"

 

 

Even then it's minimal. I would never recommend getting a tune solely for the purpose of mileage. It would take a LONG time to pay for itself.

 

 

Or 3

 

 

 

TWO!

 

But yeah, since mileage was NOT the reason I got tuned. I don't ever expect to get "repaid".

[fbachman]

but they are simply lying just messed up the math somehow.

 

[FadedSierra]

I can see a Toneau cover helping maybe a little more than the lower air dam since it seems logical that the bed would cup quite a bit more air than that small plastic piece deflects. In reality, the lower air dam creates no tangible difference in numbers due to the fact that it is made from and mostly attached by plastic. In order for the idea of it to work, the wind speeds would have to be too great for the materials it's currently made from to withstand.

[ColoradoSkiCountry]

Mine broke off this past Saturday driving through 2 foot snow drifts. It is a stupid cheap plastic piece of crap that serves no purpose other then to make the truck look "cool" Well now that mine is off, I swear the front end of my Sierra looks like it is smiling.. Does not seem to have any agressive styling up front Sucks! Then again, the front end of the Yukon's without the license plate looks as though the thing has it's eyes wide open with a big grin from the look of the lower bumper.. almost as though it is reacting to something getting shoved up her tailpipe...

[LawmanSS]

Mine broke off this past Saturday driving through 2 foot snow drifts. It is a stupid cheap plastic piece of crap that serves no purpose other then to make the truck look "cool" Well now that mine is off, I swear the front end of my Sierra looks like it is smiling.. Does not seem to have any agressive styling up front Sucks! Then again, the front end of the Yukon's without the license plate looks as though the thing has it's eyes wide open with a big grin from the look of the lower bumper.. almost as though it is reacting to something getting shoved up her tailpipe...

 

[Matt_]

I can see a Toneau cover helping maybe a little more than the lower air dam since it seems logical that the bed would cup quite a bit more air than that small plastic piece deflects. In reality, the lower air dam creates no tangible difference in numbers due to the fact that it is made from and mostly attached by plastic. In order for the idea of it to work, the wind speeds would have to be too great for the materials it's currently made from to withstand.

 

That's interesting... i've never heard that one before

 

Fact is, its plenty strong for what it's designed to do. It's designed to deflect airflow around and under the truck thereby reducing drag. This WILL make a difference when doing the EPA testing, however for normal daily driving the effects on fuel savings are likely negligible (unless you spend 99% of your time on the highway and keep the speed between 55-60mph and never punch the gas).

 

Aerodynamics isn't always the easiest thing to understand... you'd be amazed at how much more drag can be created by suspension components as opposed to a flat piece of plastic in front of them.

[GARB55]

I can see a Toneau cover helping maybe a little more than the lower air dam since it seems logical that the bed would cup quite a bit more air than that small plastic piece deflects. In reality, the lower air dam creates no tangible difference in numbers due to the fact that it is made from and mostly attached by plastic. In order for the idea of it to work, the wind speeds would have to be too great for the materials it's currently made from to withstand.

 

That's interesting... i've never heard that one before

 

Fact is, its plenty strong for what it's designed to do. It's designed to deflect airflow around and under the truck thereby reducing drag. This WILL make a difference when doing the EPA testing, however for normal daily driving the effects on fuel savings are likely negligible (unless you spend 99% of your time on the highway and keep the speed between 55-60mph and never punch the gas).

 

Aerodynamics isn't always the easiest thing to understand... you'd be amazed at how much more drag can be created by suspension components as opposed to a flat piece of plastic in front of them.

 

 

+1 My Z28 has a plastic one and it serves it purpose well.

[Zembonez]

I can see a Toneau cover helping maybe a little more than the lower air dam since it seems logical that the bed would cup quite a bit more air than that small plastic piece deflects. In reality, the lower air dam creates no tangible difference in numbers due to the fact that it is made from and mostly attached by plastic. In order for the idea of it to work, the wind speeds would have to be too great for the materials it's currently made from to withstand.

When I had a cover on mine, the mileage was not any different. Like everybody else, I hoped it would help a little. Almost nothing measurable resulted. Can't say on the air dam but it is there for a very good reason. It directs air around instead of under the truck as others have mentioned.

[travalan21]

They both serve the purpose to help with drag. Adding covers, wings, and other body modifications all serve some sort of purpose. Like adding scoops for wheel wells, or ram air scoops. They create something, but usually at high speeds will you really notice anything. Stock car/trucks are setup with aerodynamics so they can cut through the air with minimal drag and thus becoming a little faster. Will it help a truck that has a governed speed of 95 or so, not really. Will removing it help...probably not...but for a 4x4 it will help with clearance. Will a cover help with drag...slightly if at all? Watch myth busters and see if that helps you decide if a cover does anything for a daily driver. Besides looking good and keeping stuff hidden or out of the weather. They are not race trucks. However it all helps make it a little more aerodynamic.