Mudflaps: good enough for sprayed rocks? Bust on big rocks?

[e9999]

OK, I'm getting intrigued by the notion of getting rid of my running boards. Saw the OEM mudflaps but these look awfully small. Do they provide enough protection for the body against small rocks sprayed by the front wheels?

OTOH, do the mudflaps get easily destroyed when going over bigger rocks?

thx

Eric

 

[NorCalDoug]

OK, I'm getting intrigued by the notion of getting rid of my running boards. Saw the OEM mudflaps but these look awfully small. Do they provide enough protection for the body against small rocks sprayed by the front wheels?

Yes.

OTOH, do the mudflaps get easily destroyed when going over bigger rocks?
thx
Eric

Yes.

Are you replacing the running boards with sliders or just going without?

You could always remove the mudflaps when doing any serious wheeling. At the average off-road-going-over-big-rocks-4-wheeling-speed, there's really no big danger of spraying small rocks into the body, so you don't really need the mudflaps then.

 

[e9999]

no sliders yet in the plans. I'd go without boards if they don't provide much protection against big rocks. I'm doing mostly trail rides on rocky/gravelly/dirt desert roads. Only occasional big rocks, not looking for them, still all stock rig.

Are they just a few seconds to remove?

These OEM mudflaps, they are designed to be used without running boards, correct? I mean no weird cutouts in them for the boards, right, all one solid piece behind wheel?

thx
E

 

[Riley]

Get the OEM mudflaps that are designed for use without the running boards. I can't imagine how you would think they are too small.... they really provide a lot of coverage.

The OEM mudflaps that are designed for the running boards are another story. The front ones probably wouldn't do anything (without the running board installed). I like mine as they keep the rocks from chipping the paint (when operating on gravel roads).

Of course Dan's the man on this. It was the first thing I bought from the man.

 

[e9999]

Get the OEM mudflaps that are designed for use without the running boards. I can't imagine how you would think they are too small.... they really provide a lot of coverage.

The OEM mudflaps that are designed for the running boards are another story. The front ones probably wouldn't do anything (without the running board installed). I like mine as they keep the rocks from chipping the paint (when operating on gravel roads).

Of course Dan's the man on this. It was the first thing I bought from the man.

is there a photo of these things somewhere?

thx

E

 

[Riley]

I'll go take a pic if I can get out the garage without the wife wondering what I'm up to.

ok here's a pic

 

[e9999]

thanks for the photo.
That's odd, they are not like the ones I saw before.

Are there indeed OEM mudflaps for running boards? I have running boards but there is no flap at all, the board goes to the fender flare with some sort of connector (it's a '97)

E

and, yes, yours look like they would protect fine

 

[Riley]

Well I don't know if you would call those mudflaps (the black things that tie into the running boards).

here's what I did. pulled the running boards, pull the front "mudflaps/connectors" and put in trash, phone Dan and get the correct flaps that are designed for use without the running boards (as per pic).

Place the running boards and the roofrack in the front yard in a weird modern art arrangement.

 

[MikeB]

Maybe I am the only one who has this problem, but the fronts of my rear flares are nicely dented and sandblasted from gravel even though I have the proper front mudflaps. Very little seems to hit the body itself though. My flares are really so beat that they would need to be filled with bondo and painted before they would look decent. I have some clear tape that I'm thinking of putting over the impact zone if I ever get them refinished:

http://www.griotsgarage.com/search.jsp?searchtext=77890

I only have stock Michelin 275/70s and OME 851/862. I don't know why the guys with tall lifts and mud tires never mention rock chips being a problem, unless maybe they consider the flares to be "non-cosmetic" areas.

Mike

 

[e9999]

Maybe I am the only one who has this problem, but the fronts of my rear flares are nicely dented and sandblasted from gravel even though I have the proper front mudflaps. Very little seems to hit the body itself though. My flares are really so beat that they would need to be filled with bondo and painted before they would look decent. I have some clear tape that I'm thinking of putting over the impact zone if I ever get them refinished:

http://www.griotsgarage.com/search.jsp?searchtext=77890

I only have stock Michelin 275/70s and OME 851/862. I don't know why the guys with tall lifts and mud tires never mention rock chips being a problem, unless maybe they consider the flares to be "non-cosmetic" areas.

Mike

well, that's exactly what I'm concerned about. Anybody else with similar damage ?

 

[cruiserdan]

Only everybody with miles on them. It is inevitable.

 

[e9999]

Only everybody with miles on them. It is inevitable.

well then the running boards did a good job cuz my flares look great after 75K

E

 

[Riley]

>> well then the running boards did a good job cuz my flares look great after 75K <<

True but they suck, mall machine gear.

 

[Docmallory]

My flares are really so beat that they would need to be filled with bondo and painted before they would look decent. I have some clear tape that I'm thinking of putting over the impact zone if I ever get them refinished:

This thread prompted me to go out and install my leftover 3M Scotchcal film over the leading edge my rear flares and my headlights. I had used this stuff with great success on a Tacoma I used to have. It really works. (Dunno about the stuff you linked to at Griot's) I have recently removed my running boards and put on the mud flaps, so my flares will hopefully stay in A1 shape.

IdahoDoug may be able to offer some more insight here, as in a previous post he mentions that he owns a place that sells and installs the film.

 

[chiz45]

e99999, i just removed my factory running boards, and installed Hanna's sliders this afternoon. When i saw this thread, i went to take some pics, but my darn camera battery died, so i'll have to describe it rather than show it.

Anyhow, after i installed the sliders, the front mud guard end caps looked out of place. I've removed those as well, and am considering dremeling off the lower section for a cleaner look. Unfortunately, there's very little rain/mud/water here in the desert, but i'll keep an eye on the flare damage for ya

 

[gnomadic]

I removed my side step and have no regrets other than my exhaust looks a little vulnerable now

 

[fishjunkie]

As long as we're talking flaps, any pictures of fronts when no flares exist? I recently removed flares and have new paint so am thinking I should put flaps back on and take off when off road. Experience here welcomed. Thanks.

 

[dstewart3ss]

.

 

[Haspin FJ]

no sliders yet in the plans. I'd go without boards if they don't provide much protection against big rocks. I'm doing mostly trail rides on rocky/gravelly/dirt desert roads. Only occasional big rocks, not looking for them, still all stock rig.

Are they just a few seconds to remove?

These OEM mudflaps, they are designed to be used without running boards, correct? I mean no weird cutouts in them for the boards, right, all one solid piece behind wheel?

thx
E

They are held on by 3 10mm headed screws and take less then a minute each to remove. I run mine to the wheeling location and remove them before I hit the trail if it's going to be fairly extreme just in case.