Active Air Dam in action - deploying at 45 mph

[Madman]

Thanks for posting this interesting video. My first thought is, why get a truck with all that clearance and then have a deployable air dam that can get caught on suddenly appearing obstacles, falling snow from the folks in front, etc.? Sound dangerous to me....

I understand that this was added to help Ford meet its CAFE standards for fuel efficiency. You will recall that Ford has killed all of its sedans and compacts, so they have been under pressure to improve the fuel economy of these best-selling trucks.

I am curious to know if anyone can tell me if this feature can be turned-off, in the real world? (I am among the many who are still waiting and waiting.) Thank you!

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[Jus Cruisin]

Although this is new for Ford, it's been used on Ram 1500's since 2019. Non-issue

 

[SuvE]

Although this is new for Ford, it's been used on Ram 1500's since 2019. Non-issue

I don't call getting the deployable air dam getting ripped off straddling an otherwise harmless obstacle a non issue.

 

[Jus Cruisin]

I don't call getting the deployable air dam getting ripped off straddling an otherwise harmless obstacle a non issue.

My point is there is no big uproar over on the Ram forums over air dams getting damaged/ripped off because of the air dams being deployed.

 

[MnTom]

My point is there is no big uproar over on the Ram forums over air dams getting damaged/ripped off because of the air dams being deployed.

Yup; I expect that the ground clearance with a deployed dam is still more than what I have on my 2013 Fusion which drives Minnesota winters with no damage.
It would be nice to have the measurement, my Truck is still in shipment.

 

[eff150]

Sooo has anyone figured out how to remove this thing yet so that we can add the front skid plate from the tremor? Or other aftermarket options?

 

[Deleted member 1802]

I'm thinking of a 2 -2 1/2 inch front leveling kit, that might reduce the fear of ripping it off.

 

[horvatas]

I attempted to remove the air dam on my 2021 without knowing there was an active dam in addition to the visible one. The active air dam itself is relatively easy to remove - 3 nuts (7mm IIRC) on either side. I wasn't able to figure out an easy way to remove the parts that raise/lower it.

The static air dam presented more of a challenge. I was able to get off 2 nuts on either side plus a few plastic clips from the middle but there's even more keeping it on and I struggled to figure out the specifics. I've been meaning to find a similar diagram to the one earlier in the thread to see if that will shed any light.

I get why some people are fine with leaving it on, but I plan on taking mine on some pretty rough forest service roads and I don't see it lasting too long.

 

[imgone10]

Okay this is a picture of the air dam down at About 55 miles an hour. There is still good ground clearance. I had my son mount a Go-Pro on his trailer hitch and I drove behind him.

 

[Bryan Simon]

Okay guys, I got a bit scientific with this how far does it go thing.

I have an XLT 4x4 5.0
Got a tape and measured the active dam.
5-1/2”.
So, it’s not gonna drop more than that.

Whatever clearance you have with the dam up—subtract 5-1/2” and there is your approximate clearance.

I get about 4” to 4-1/2”.

Gotta say, the fixed dam on my 79 Chev is a bit lower and I’ve never had an issue with a stray object in the road, and this truck is lowered to the point a front tire failure is gonna damage some pavement.

 

[SFD9]

Is there a p/n available for a lower active dam? Something that say, gets down to NASCAR levels above 70mph but won’t get ripped off by a parking curb? Asking for a friend.

 

[don.mullins]

Okay guys, I got a bit scientific with this how far does it go thing.

I have an XLT 4x4 5.0
Got a tape and measured the active dam.
5-1/2”.
So, it’s not gonna drop more than that.

Whatever clearance you have with the dam up—subtract 5-1/2” and there is your approximate clearance.

I get about 4” to 4-1/2”.

Gotta say, the fixed dam on my 79 Chev is a bit lower and I’ve never had an issue with a stray object in the road, and this truck is lowered to the point a front tire failure is gonna damage some pavement.

It sounds like you are assuming the full 5 1.2” of the active dam comes down. If there is a overlap, that will lower the amount exposed below the fixed one.

I suppose we could get real world numbers from a dyno run... ?

 

[Bryan Simon]

Not really ASSUMING a 5-1/2” drop, but giving it that much as that is about as far as it will travel before creating an opening that could defeat the purpose.
May very well be closer to 4-1/2”.

At any rate, they are beneficial, particularly if tooling about in a square truck with a 454 and no overdrive. Every little bit helped that thing.
Lowering and adding the dam increased mileage about 2.5 at cruise.
12 to 14 is a pretty good jump.

 

[don.mullins]

Not really ASSUMING a 5-1/2” drop, but giving it that much as that is about as far as it will travel before creating an opening that could defeat the purpose.
May very well be closer to 4-1/2”.

At any rate, they are beneficial, particularly if tooling about in a square truck with a 454 and no overdrive. Every little bit helped that thing.
Lowering and adding the dam increased mileage about 2.5 at cruise.
12 to 14 is a pretty good jump.

I wasn’t meaning to jab, I just didn’t want you to think you would clear something and found out the hard way you didn’t...

 

[Wilsons66605]

So how much ground clearance is left once the air dam deploys?

I have 10.5 “ before deployment.
-3” gives ya about 7.5”

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