Should I put the mud flaps back on my truck?

[Southbound]

It started off as a simple rust repair job on my roof. Then when I saw the extent of the rust damage I ended up cutting off a big chunk of the roof. I figured since I was already fixing some rust and was going to have to paint the roof anyway I might as well fix all the rust and paint the whole truck. Now the front fenders and doors are off, the headliner is down, the dash is out, and I've removed basically all of the trim. I don't know why projects always seem to escalate like this. Anyway, I took off the mudflaps and kind of like the look of the truck without them. A few of the holes where they bolt in are rusted out and I'm thinking of just leaving the mud guards off. Any opinions on doing that? Am I just asking for more rust damage to the fenders and rear quarter panels without them?

This forum makes me feel much better about being so obsessed with my truck.

 

[Mike S]

The mud flaps protect the truck, and people on the road behind you. Especially if you use AT or MT tires, the mud flaps are a very good idea.

M

 

[Fatkidrb]

depends if you want he flaps on or if the law does, in oregon you have to have them if your bumper is at a certain highth, i think its 21" or something

 

[zcruiser]

No, you should send me your right front mud flap.

 

[hodag]

Mud flaps are for Susies. Leave them off.

Hodag

 

[GLTHFJ60]

I'm with mike on this one. Put them back on.

 

[FJsixty2]

if you're doing a (good) repaint, and want to keep it looking good, i'd put them back on. why chip up a new paint job unnecessarily? just my .02

 

[Southbound]

Good points. I didn't think about stuff flying on to other cars and I do intend on doing a good paint job and would like to protect it. However Hodag does have a point regarding mudflaps being for sissies. Looks like about half of the Cruisers on the registry have them and half don't.

 

[cbmontgo]

Rock chips expose steel, and eventually lead to rust (especially in states like Colorado). Mud flaps reduce chips in those vital areas that rust on LCs. I'd keep 'em on, but make sure you pressure wash behind them now and then to keep grit from building up and causing more rust.

They do look kinda ghey sometimes, but most LCs have them, so it's all relative.

 

[stuck in GA]

Personal opinion I don't like them. And they eventually get ripped off when I wheel anyway.

 

[Benji]

I like the look of the mud flaps. With greater than 35" tires they probably start to look funny.

 

[VTCruiser]

personally, I'd get rid of them. They are a HUGE rust promoter. When spendng a lot of money on body work, i'd rather have some chips in the paint than to collect dirt, moisture and salt in the quarters and create more rust. Plus effective use of a spray-on chip guard will prevent chipping paint.

 

[freethrow]

How much you want for them.

 

[Southbound]

I'm still deciding if I want to keep them or not. They're functional and protect against rust, and yet they can also contribute to rust and might be a bit gay. I'll probably keep them on just as God (or at least Toyota) intended...

 

[macneill]

I'd keep them on for protection.

I had to remove the front ones off the 100 for the sliders to fit.

It would take extensive cutting to get them to fit around the sliders and what's left would be little to no protection anyway.

 

[euclid]

Put them back on. Wheel it, they'll get craped up and that will decide it for you... then you'll take them off. That's how it went with me.

 

[Mike S]

Sliders will fit on a 60 series with mudflaps w/o stress.

 

[zcruiser]

Pssst. Ignore these morons telling you to put them back on.... Sell me your right front....