To dam or not to dam.

Isn’t EPA mpg tests conducted under near perfect conditions at like 45mph? I can’t imagine the air dam would do much at that speed, which would explain the lack of difference in MPG ratings on different Tacoma’s. My guess would be that you’d only see a real difference at interstate speeds. But that’s just a guess. I’m surprised no one has tested to see if there’s any measurable difference.

 

It doesn’t Do anything to warranty purposes It’s a pos piece of plastic that bolts on & comes off so easy the Dealer doesn’t care if it’s on or off FYi

 

Never had one but I say remove IMO looks better.

 

Studies done on the Colorado/Canyon showed that taking it off improved one MPG and dropped one MPG, but I can't remember which was which between city and highway.

 

I know, but this stupid chin bib makes it harder to remove/install the 2 front skid shield bolts. As long as toyota is still servicing the truck they can worry about it.

 

I believe the manufacturers do their own under certain parameters and submit the data to the EPA. They can then choose to accept it or toss it, which is why Ford is undergoing some revisions to their process for the Ranger and other vehicles.

 

Its ugly AF, looks a thousand times better without!

 

It’s a truck not a low sports car the Dam thing does nothing but look like crap fact

 

Keeps all the bugs and dirt from getting behind it. When i removed it to do rust proofing the area in back was spotless.

 

The only thing it keeps out is the Tacoma out of the Garage from being seen in It with the Dam thing on imo

 

This.

Also, it does reduce NVH and improve aerodynamics and fuel economy. AND the sport and OR have averaged fuel economy due to the way the EPA tests and rates them. There are dozens of threads with all this and more! There is also a fringe group that cuts them with Dremels or OEM paint matches them; freaks.

My underbody panels are thrashed from dropping my truck on rocks, but the air dam just springs back. I say keep it on unless nature removes it.

Edit: it looks rad with it on, too.

 

I keep going back and forth on this as well... for now, it's on. Doesn't really bother me on there so why take it off? Idk

 

Take it off It’s so easy not hard at all because it looks better without it & it does nothing but look cheap sticking straight down now if looked like a sports car type front spoiler maybe but there is models like the pro that don’t even have it so why run around with it on when it looks very Bad

 

One benefit was that it does help keep some of the spray out which helps with those who apply fluid film

 

^this is my current situation also. Bought my truck as a "late model used car", paid cash, and plan to stay very stock for the first year or so. Since dad, brother and cousins have winches on their trucks I'm GTG this hunting season. We'll see if it snags and drags on my first offroad trip. If so, we'll toss.

Glad to see an abundance of good info here. Fantastic thread

 

If you take it off (12) 10mm head screws Comes right off instead of breaking it off first trip off road hunting in it FYi

 

I was born in Kansas but grew up in Missouri. I have several cousins. Most of my family likes to fish but I just never really got interested. I do like to skip rocks on calm water...

 

Awesome. Good to know up front. Fwiw, what I typically do is park at a neighboring hunt camp before the dirt road gets really bad. Then just put my rifle and cooler in dad's truck for the last .5 mile into our place.

*edit* since the Taco will go places many full size Fords & Chevys can't, I could probably drive all the way up to my favorite tree stand after unbolting the dam nuisance

 

Mine is off and it will never return. I have the 4Xinnovations front bumper and front skid plate (with the transmission plate and rear bumper on order, I'm excited!) and I had to cut off the bottom part of the stock front bumper to install the new one.

I'm willing to give up whatever tiny fuel economy advantage showed up in the EPA test under perfect conditions (I appreciate that cars run so clean these days and I am 100% for protecting the environment, but I'm not sure that real-world conditions are always as good as the test parameters) to have a steel bumper and a skid plate that can actually take a hit (it's a nice change from the pie-tin stock plate).