how do you guys keep piant on without mudflaps
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,358
Likes: 250
how do you guys keep piant on without mudflaps
I see a lot of trucks on the road without them and can't figure out how they can keep the paint looking good.
I've always put mudflaps on my trucks to prevent(more like minimize)rock chips but after ripping a flap off my 2013 last week I'm second guessing putting them on my new truck when it arrives. Problem is I drive a lot of gravel and I'm afraid the paint will take a beating. I know the rock guard behind the rear tires and the front corner of the box will help quite a bit but there will be no protection in the area between the front tire and where the running board starts. I will be installing bushwhacker OE flares but they will only help around the wheel arches.
I have some Gator Back mudflaps already bought and the way the backing plate gets wedged in between the fender and flare it looks like even doing that will cause paint damage due to the two metal surfaces touching.
The longer I wait the more I change my mind about the plans I had for this truck. I'm already thinking hard about not using the XL grill I have and leaving the chrome stuff on.
I've always put mudflaps on my trucks to prevent(more like minimize)rock chips but after ripping a flap off my 2013 last week I'm second guessing putting them on my new truck when it arrives. Problem is I drive a lot of gravel and I'm afraid the paint will take a beating. I know the rock guard behind the rear tires and the front corner of the box will help quite a bit but there will be no protection in the area between the front tire and where the running board starts. I will be installing bushwhacker OE flares but they will only help around the wheel arches.
I have some Gator Back mudflaps already bought and the way the backing plate gets wedged in between the fender and flare it looks like even doing that will cause paint damage due to the two metal surfaces touching.
The longer I wait the more I change my mind about the plans I had for this truck. I'm already thinking hard about not using the XL grill I have and leaving the chrome stuff on.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3,422
Likes: 20
I have small oem style flares that stick out about 3/4” and gatorback mudflaps. I installed the flare first and then put on the mudflap. Worked just fine. I drive a lot of gravel and within the first two weeks I had 32 rock chips on my painted bumper and 1 on the hood. No chips were on the rockers but I think the combination of power deployable running boards and gatorbacks helped that. I had X-Pel paint protection put on the painted bumpers, rockers, mirror caps, above the windshield, tailgate and door sills. I drive a LOT of gravel and wouldn’t even consider not having mudflaps.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 1,297
Likes: 170
From: Hunterdon Cnty N.J.
I ordered the stock Ford flaps on my 250 plus I have Havoc Raptor style running boards that sit very high against the body. Im liking the Ford flaps but I have not driven them in snow yet. They are not flat on the tire side. I can imagine a lot of clogging getting trapped in the shape. Maybe mud too. But I run in gravel and no chips yet. Dont hear anything hitting. I might say the stock tires being Michelin A/Ts might help with how street oriented they are... but Ive read here that they like to pick up 3/8 and fling it...
I wouldnt have paid over $50,000.00 for an aluminum bodied truck without putting flaps on.
I wouldnt have paid over $50,000.00 for an aluminum bodied truck without putting flaps on.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,136
Likes: 264
From: Southwestern Pa.
I ordered the stock Ford flaps on my 250 plus I have Havoc Raptor style running boards that sit very high against the body. Im liking the Ford flaps but I have not driven them in snow yet. They are not flat on the tire side. I can imagine a lot of clogging getting trapped in the shape. Maybe mud too. But I run in gravel and no chips yet. Dont hear anything hitting. I might say the stock tires being Michelin A/Ts might help with how street oriented they are... but Ive read here that they like to pick up 3/8 and fling it...
I wouldnt have paid over $50,000.00 for an aluminum bodied truck without putting flaps on.
I wouldnt have paid over $50,000.00 for an aluminum bodied truck without putting flaps on.
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Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,358
Likes: 250
I have small oem style flares that stick out about 3/4” and gatorback mudflaps. I installed the flare first and then put on the mudflap. Worked just fine. I drive a lot of gravel and within the first two weeks I had 32 rock chips on my painted bumper and 1 on the hood. No chips were on the rockers but I think the combination of power deployable running boards and gatorbacks helped that. I had X-Pel paint protection put on the painted bumpers, rockers, mirror caps, above the windshield, tailgate and door sills. I drive a LOT of gravel and wouldn’t even consider not having mudflaps.
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 397
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From: SW Louisiana
Good paint protection film is Money well spent.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3,422
Likes: 20
I had to call them to make sure they would fit my 18 F350 SRW. They in turn gave me the wrong part number when I looked it up. I finally got the right part number and placed the order. Lol. Cheap but they do their job of protecting the fender lip. The fit is pretty good but it takes 2 sets of hands and some patience to get them mounted right. The black plastic matches the other black plastic oem parts.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,641
Likes: 507
From: Phelan CA
https://www.amazon.com/EAG-17-18-Fen.../dp/B0759JLQZ1
I had to call them to make sure they would fit my 18 F350 SRW. They in turn gave me the wrong part number when I looked it up. I finally got the right part number and placed the order. Lol. Cheap but they do their job of protecting the fender lip. The fit is pretty good but it takes 2 sets of hands and some patience to get them mounted right. The black plastic matches the other black plastic oem parts.
I had to call them to make sure they would fit my 18 F350 SRW. They in turn gave me the wrong part number when I looked it up. I finally got the right part number and placed the order. Lol. Cheap but they do their job of protecting the fender lip. The fit is pretty good but it takes 2 sets of hands and some patience to get them mounted right. The black plastic matches the other black plastic oem parts.