What does it do? - I'm thinking of taking off the black strip that sits under the front bumper but before I do I wanted to find out if it ...

I'm thinking of taking off the black strip that sits under the front bumper but before I do I wanted to find out if it does anything for the airodynamics of the truck. Does it have a special purpose? Would taking it off hurt anything? And if this has been asked before please send me to the right place.

I did try to search for it but I'm not sure if I'm calling it the right thing.

Is that the black piece that is under the chrome part of your bumper? All the plastic black part were your license plate is?
I've seen those removed for Snow Plows.

Starting in 2005, A lot of Engineering went into that part to help control air flow under the vehicle while driving at higher speeds. They did this for fuel mileage. I am sure it also plays a part in proper cooling of the engine under extreme conditions.

I had a 88 RX-7. It had a plastic shield that ran from the front air dam to just in front of the A-frame. When we rebuilt the motor we didn't put it back on. Well the radiator and the oil cooler are at a foward angle, so with out the shield in place air would hit the oil cooler and be deflected back to the road instead of through the radiator and engine compartment. It made a difference of about 20 deg in engine temp. I know we are talking about two different cars but with as much engineering that goes into todays cars I would think twice about pulling something like that off my truck. Just my .02

I had a 1987 Dodge Daytona Turbo Z and that car would actually overheat in city traffic without the lower air dam. That car was what is called a "botton feeder". In other words, most air flow TOO the radiator was directed by the air dam. Oops! Old history. Sorry. I am old.

I think these are all very valid points. And I think these lower air damns (lower valances) were put there by the engineers for a good reason. But I think your vehicle should be able to live without it.
Case in point. Traffic jams in the heat of the summer, and trucks with snow plows.
These valences provide that little extra added air flow, and at the same time ad to the aesthetics of the trucks appearance but if your cooling system has been maintained regularly, your truck should be able to live with out it with minimal temperature or performance change.

i say rip it off.i ripped mine off a long time ago..makes it look meaner and gives it a taller stance...if it overheats just grab a bottle of water like the guy in the Viagra commercial lol

i took mine off my 96 it made it look better nothing happened. i say rip it off to if u dont like it or notice something put it back on

I hit an animal andknocked mine loose on 2007. Took it off and nothing seem to be different. I believe I was reading in new truck manual were if going off road for you to take it off and then put it back on.

I wondered about whether that part was going to drag in deep snow. I am not one for taking stuff off of my truck, but if it is going to get hung up in snow anyway, I might consider it.