Removable / Retractable Air Dam for Highway Trips

I know I'll probably catch a lot of heat from something like this since many of you remove your air dam, rather than add them. If you have thought about this, I'd appreciate your train of thought.

A few big manufacturers have been adding active aero to the vehicles; front lips that drop down, grilles and vents that open and close, diffusers and wings that open/lower similar to DRS on F1 cars. This is a really big step in technology to improve efficiency unrelated to the motor, that use rather low tech, techniques.

With the increase in gas prices and just trying to be more fuel efficient in general, I'm looking to purchase or DIY a removable or retractable air dam.

When I go on trips, the dirt is often times hundreds of miles away from home. I want to improve my efficiency on the highway with an air dam, and wouldn't mind the extra time it'd take to add/remove it before/after the trail. Pushing a button like many Porsche 992's, or Alfa Romeo Guilia's would be amazing, but I wouldn't mind a basic bolt on-off version.

This could save hundreds on a single trip and I wouldn't mind the hassle adding it whenever i plan on driving cross country.

Have any of you guys considered this or know of any options?

Thanks for your thought.

 

Pretty good idea

 

The air dam is a less than 1mpg increase, are you willing to spend $1500 to get that?

 

Not new technology. My 1992 3000GT VR4 had it... also had a spoiler that would adjust pitch. It automatically deployed at a certain speed (60 mph, if I remember correctly). Or you could switch it on manually.



Edit: my original offroader...



And my first one...

 

That was the grail of sports cars when I was a kid. V6 Twin Turbo. AWD. Manual.

Manual to me, was a luxury. V6 vs i4, luxury. Turbo, luxury. AWD pick up, luxury. Twin Turbo, vs single turbo, ooowee.

Air dam however, I did not know about. Very cool to learn something new about that car. Would've been awesome to own one back in the day.

 

The new tundras have it, and its robust. It has to with stand a large amount of force.

Some Toyotas have radiator block off vents for warm up and highway speeds.

The problem is you may create drag rather than eliminating it. Unless its 100% stable.

I can take the damn off in 1 minute with my 1/4" impact driver. But I see your point.

 

It was definitely my dream car as a young kid. When I could finally drive, it was actually affordable ($6k). It was my second and third car.

That car was packed with technology.

• AWD
• AWS
• Active aero
• Active exhaust (baffles would open in the exhaust)
• 7 way adjustable seats

It was a truly fun car to own. But I was young, it was a long in the tooth... for financial reasons, we parted ways.

 

For a while, they were a dream car for me... although in Canada we only got it's less than identical stillborn twin the Dodge Stealth. (I know it wasn't stillborn... but compared to the Mitsubishi it was a lesser car) I loved all the tech they crammed into the 3000GT VT4 more... the only issue was the price and the weight... that was a heavy car. I settled into simpler and lighter cars... early to mid '80's Mustangs and had a good decade of fun with those instead.

 

Oh, for sure. She was a fat pig. Even with 300 hp (a lot for the time), it still wasn't immensely impressive in a straight line. It really sold itself on its traction, cornering, and planted feel.

 

A simple solution might be to use the factory air dam and build a mount system or retrofit the mount system to use Dzus fasteners. Quarter turn, a simple tool which will fit in your pocket or center console. On or off in minute. Toss it in the bed for the trail, put it back for the drive home. Not quite as sexy as an active version, but far less expensive which lets you evaluate the usefulness on the cheap.
If you are not familiar with Dzus type fasteners, they were originally used to hold access or service panels on aircraft and were later adopted for the same purposes on race cars.
Show up at the trailhead and pop your air dam with a Dzus tool and the trail bros are going to think you’re Ivan Stewart. Yeah, totally Ivan Stewart. Just play it cool and they will throw you up on the ‘gram for some trail cred.