79lance

So i got my 2.5" lift on the '11, but the front still looked low compared to my '05 with the same kit. then i caught on to the lower air deflector that hangs so close to the ground. it makes it look like the front isnt really lifted much. so i got pretty tempted to just take it off, but i wondered if this will hurt anything??? i dont do much crazy off road, just highway with a few miles of gravel road a week. thoughts??

RRSport

Subbed. I'm interested too. Think it takes away the look. It's there for aerodynamics so an MPG drop is possible. I know people have done it so I'm just gonna sit and watch...

79lance

I first seen somebody do this to install a aftermarket skidplate, but then again, theyr replacing it in a way with that skidplate, we would jus be dooing away with it completely. supposably the ecoboost has a cooler down there that has to be protected, but having the 5.0, maybe its ok.

RRSport

That little lip is not protecting anything. Strictly aerodynamics.

79lance

i read it protects from rock chips, but hey, i have a bunch of vehicles that dont have guards for a little gravel flying around, they aint hurtin any lol

KevFord1993

It's called a Valance. It is just functionality, alot of people take them off for clearance reasons.

Or even people who put plows on end up taking them off. I'm not a fan of em. It'll leave the little holes of where it was prior in your bumper though.

ReactiveD

mine has been removed. I drive on the interstate everyday and didn't affect gas. It is just 2 bolts very easy to remove.

Chris's FX4

There was a video with Ford engineers talking about how they put it there to calm the air going under the truck that was posted on here some where. Anyway, I removed mine when I installed my RCI Full Front Skid Plate. Had thought about removing it anyway for winter.

I could see how it could maybe help keep a large object from bouncing up under there if you took it off, but its probably unlikely that would happen to begin with.

I'd say I lost maybe .5mpg on my section of hwy trip where I'm going 75mph, but there are other variables that could have caused that also, so its hard to say if it really hurt my mpg or not. I did notice I could "feel" the air under the floor through my feet a little more than before. Again, just very slightly. Still nothing compared how I could feel it on my 2002. I know this because when I came home for break with the deflector still on I had a 25mph head wind and couldn't feel the air under the floor, but I could feel ever so slightly heading back with the deflector removed with no head wind. If I dropped below 65mph I didn't notice it.

You can see the bolt coming out of the frame where the deflector mounts on the passenger side, and then open space behind it that shows how open the lower part of the engine is.




With the RCI plate installed and no air deflector.







With the deflector still.

79lance

I actually really like that plate you got there. how much do they want for one and where is the best place to order? i think i'll just do that!

Chris's FX4

Thanks. I got it from RCI Metal Works (Josh), he's a vendor on here. It's the full front skid plate and I got the aluminum option. He had a sale recently so I got it for $312 including shipping.

http://www.rcimetalworks.com/09-13-F-150_c6.htm

Better pic of it.