No Front Valance

[dartman48]

My truck didn't have a front valance on when I bought it years ago. Instead, it had a bracketed steel device under the bumper. It looked like an "under ride bumper" or a mounting for something. Anyway, I found no use for it after 2 years, so I cut it off.
Anyone know what it was for?

[Logan]

OMG you didn't

[dartman48]

Yea, I did. And, I didn't go deaf or blind, or get warts either. But I am losing my hair.

[matt_05stroker]

The steel bracket you removed is called a Blocker Beam,The reason it is there is for proper air bag deployment,in case of a wreck.

[Raul@Stealth Automotive]

yup i agree..... lol... not a good thing to take off.... i would put it back one if you can... if not i think i have a stock extra one that was from my truck... they installed a diff one with my lift....

[bigcountrysg]

Hang on yall, I think he is talking about the beam that is bolted on. I had one on my 2002 it was bolted on where the snowplow mount goes. It hangs below the bumper where the valance is usually at. If you would have looked you would have seen the bolts that you can remove to remove this beam.

[dartman48]

Oh I did look. I looked at that ugly thing for years. You're right, I could have unbolted it. However, there was more to unbolting it than there was to taking my torch to it. Part of the mounting system is still there because I'd have to undo a bunch of crap to free the bracket.
Anyway, if it was for proper air bag deployment, that's cool. Cuz' I didn't know I had air bags on the outside of my truck. Is that so if I'm gunna hit a dog, the bag comes out and saves the dog from harm?

[DKR]

That lower beam was required on the heavy duty trucks cause of our ride/bumper height.

Not sure if affects airbag deployment (but it probably does), its main reason was cause of little cars if we hit them the front bumpers are too high to "meet" up with theirs and our trucks would actually ride up over theirs causing major damage and higher risk of injury in say a side impact on them.

Just my , but I would of left it on and just got a new valance. But, that's me.

[matt_05stroker]

Look in your owners manual and it will tell you about the blocker beam. (if you don't have a manual you can download one from Ford Motor Company: Cars, Trucks, SUVs, Hybrids, Parts - Ford,under owner services,customer suport,manuals and warranties)it's at the end of the "driving" section.

[USAFdieselman]

Blah, I took mine off when I installed my lift. My front valance was fubar'd anyway. I feel that if some jackoff is stupid enough to pull out/lock up their brakes in front of me...then they deserve what happens to their little hot wheels car.