Bad experience with Bushwacker fender flares

[AHofner]

Anybody got a PN and place to purchase the clear 2 sided 3M tape? I remember it being previously posted, but could not find it.
Thanks

 

[Mr.Goat]

Well I just couldn't resist to wade into this one.

I had "Bushwacker" flares on my 2003. In a nut shell they were an absolute waste of time and money, and caused far more damage to the truck than they ever prevented.

Mine came with a soft plastic edge molding that was supposed help prevent paint damage. It didn't. !

So for Bushwacker to say they were not aware of a paint damage is an out right lie. Why did they supply the soft plastic molding? It wasn't for looks. !

Since the flare is not sealed tight to the body over time crud, sand and road dirt gets in behind and settles in great quanties at the bottom of the flare on each end. This caused total paint removal and rust in these areas.



All four of my flares had been removed on several occassions by brush tearing them off. The plastic damaged and broke very easily I found. I fixed them up, cleaned them up and reinstalled them each time. It finally got to the point I had to have the rust/paint damage to the truck repaired. And the flares themselves at this point were just garbage. The recycling folks will not even take them so there now in the dump.



I had Linex applied to the whole lower portion of the truck and the areas the flares had covered. The chap spent alot of time and effort preparing/repairing the body surfaces and the Linex looks good and does an excellent job of protecting the truck. So now it looks like I have flares but actually there painted on with Linex.

Some of the best money I ever spent on the truck is having it Linexed.



Bushwhacker flares, are not worth the box the come in. I would not recommend them to anybody for any reason.

 

[ZBrooks]

Well I just couldn't resist to wade into this one.

I had Linex applied to the whole lower portion of the truck and the areas the flares had covered. The chap spent alot of time and effort preparing/repairing the body surfaces and the Linex looks good and does an excellent job of protecting the truck. So now it looks like I have flares but actually there painted on with Linex.

Some of the best money I ever spent on the truck is having it Linexed.

This is the route I want to go, esp. after learning that Bushwacker is extremely proud of their flares at $100/flare. Did you get the linex in black or can they add color to match the truck?

 

[zippinbye]

No flares on my truck yet, but probably soon. As somebody who has been contemplating it for some time, I must honestly say that it never crossed my mind that a fender flare should somehow protect the body surface it covers up. Aside from asthetics, my objective would be to protect the remaining exposed body areas from road rash caused by wider tires. Why would you expect to remove the flares and find a pristine layer underneath? I ponder of the degree of difficulty to return to stock from most alterations to my truck, but I guess I thought I would always have flares once they were installed or I'd prepared for paint work if there was cause to remove them. It's sort of like wondering why your brakes don't last as long when stopping 35" tires compared to stock tires, in my mind. Perhaps flare makers should have big bold warnings, just like the mattress I sleep on ... but don't we have enough lawyers doing those silly jos already? This one belongs in the unrealistic expectation file.

 

[Flyfishing]

Well Rich , let me make it simple for you. Half the year i'm in Alaska or the Yukon Territories doing photography, fishing and some shooting. I need the wider tires AND the flares AND mudflaps. When I get home to the Florida Keys I don't need those items and I take them off and put the stock wheels and tires back on. The wide tires, flares and mudflaps reduce your fuel mileage, that's why I want to remove them. I also want to get my value out of the stock tires.

Maybe if the matress you sleep on stuck a spring up your backside some night you would think a bit differently about your matress lable and the total quality of said matress. Go ahead and put flares on your truck and let them wear though the paint, you might not get rust where they wore through the paint in your environment but there are plenty of other places in the country that you will. I don't understand your reasoning when you say; "Aside from asthetics, my objective would be to protect the remaining exposed body areas from road rash caused by wider tires. Why would you expect to remove the flares and find a pristine layer underneath?" To me, This is the kind of thinking that occures too often in our dumbed down populace. What you are in effect saying is; The hell with it! nobody will ever see the damage or when they do the warranty will have run out and/or If I can't see it I don't care. But I would not think that anyone that proudly proclaims ownership of a Sea Ray Sundancer would be interested in esthetics or what lays beneath the gelcoat. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder as they say and I don't expect everyone to expect top quality products from manufactures.



Richard

 

[zippinbye]

Didn't mean to offend you Richard. I do care about quality and what lies beneath. I was just trying to relate that I had never dreamed the body surface under a fender flare would ever look like new again. Prior to seeing your post, I had put Bushwacker down my list of choices due to rumoured quality and customer service concerns, not to mention price. And now I more clearly understand your somewhat unique desire to do a seasonal change-out of your flares. Forgive me if I missed it in this thread, but what have you found that that does not damage your paint? I'm interested.



- Rich

 

[Belgrath04]

The 3M tape has been suggested several times in this thread.

Has anyone used it with sucess?

Would have to apply it to the truck (not the flare) as the tape would move with the flare and still damage the paint.



What are your opinions on running a bead or two of RTV or some other silicone based material on the truck and installing the flare while still "wet" ??

My thinking is that it could reduce movement of the flare while also providing a "bumper" between the truck and fender sufficiently thin enough to not interfere with the fit of the flare.

 

[Flyfishing]

Please accept my apologies for coming off a bit too strong in my previous reply. Regarding the finish under the flares. I would expect that the finish would be better protected over the years by not being exposed to UV rays from sunlight and just the normal abrasion from grit and washing. I decided to try to salvage what I had and tried the following solution. I washed the fenders with soap and water and after that dried, wiped the area where the flares touched the paint with 91% alcohol to remove any wax or silicone residue. I then mounted the flares and snugged up all of the fittings except I did not use the clips that slide over the flare/fender that is under the center portion of the flare. I used a couple of small c-clamps instead. Then I used masking tape and taped off, using a continous piece of tape, the area where the flare meet the fender. I did the same with the trim bead on the flare. You will have a very narrow slot to inject in my case, black silicone seal. Before running silicone bead loosen the screws and clamps a bit so the flare is not quite touching the fender. after you run the bead between fender and flare push the flare snug to the fender and tighten all the fasteners ( I drilled holes for 8-32 bolts to replace the clamps) then radiusing the end of a small wood coffee stirrer and using this tool as a trowel, removed the excess silicone. After removing the tape I was left with a clean very small line of silicone.

How does it work? I have no idea but I'll be putting over 25,000 miles on it this summer so I'm sure I'll find out.



Regards, Richard

 

[boomchadda]

I got BUSHWACKED too!

Yea same thing happen to me... . Now I need to paint my truck! Im ******!#@$%!

 

[AMixon]

Bushwacked...

Hey Richard,



I feel your pain AND I thank you for posting this tread. Anyone can be perfect with someone else's admitted mistakes or faults, but I for one was thinking about the flares for my 4. 5 DRW vehicle and now they have been crossed off the list. With the world in the current state of chaos I need my truck to last now more than ever and if I can stop the body from rusting by NOT adding an aftermarket part, then that is exactly what I will do. I would not have thought about the paint damage and eventual rust through since there are not any holes drilled in the sheet metal, that is a benefit of that product right? What do I know, I'm in Baghdad, Iraq where they keep waking me up with rocket and mortar attacks yet I stay... not a smart man, am I?



Thanks again for the info, this is why I read these forums!



Anthony Mixon

 

[Flyfishing]

Anthony, Let me thank you for what your doing for our country. I have been very lucky to not have been in harms way like you. Hope you and all your buddies make it home OK.

Hopefully someone will rectify this problem. Both over there and the flares.



Good Luck



richard. . USN Ret'd

 

[JBonpua]

Anybody got a PN and place to purchase the clear 2 sided 3M tape? I remember it being previously posted, but could not find it.

Thanks

Here it is from Geno's 3M SCOTCHCAL - 2" WIDE (SOLD BY THE FOOT)-Dodge Cummins Diesel Truck Accessories – Geno’s Garage I did mine yesterday and came out okay. There was some damage to the clear coat but I'll never see it anyway. Now that the 3M tape is on there should be no more furthere damage. :-laf

 

[Paddy McMahon]

... ... ... down to the almost bare metal where the fenders were contacted by the flares on my truck too! I did the install primarily for the "look" but I was dissapointed that they really didn't offer much mud/spay protection for the side of the truck. For those of you really considering the flares for splash/grime protection from what oversize tires throw try the mud flaps first. I honestly noticed only a minimal amount of difference from the OEM mudflaps to the flares when running big tires. In fact I ended up adding the mud flaps to the bottom of the flares to keep the side of my truck even reasonably clean during the spring melt off because the sortcomings of the flares.

 

[Ducman82]

i just took my stock mopar fender flares off, same thing. "rings" on all three frenders. i took it to the body shop and had them cut and buff, but alas... ... . no fix'y. i will have to repaint to fix it. but, waxed you hardly notice them unless you are looking for the marks. makes me mad... ... ... .

 

[DonCurley]

I previously had an '07 Power Wagon with the factory flares and liked the looks of them, so when I traded up to a 3500, I ordered a set (which turns out to be Bushwacker Street Flares, which they OEM to Dodge for the Power Wagon). I installed these and found the fit to be quite good. I don't intend to take them off, however, while I might be disappointed to find the paint damage underneath them if I did, I can't say I would be all that surprised when one considers fine sand and dirt working down and in between the edges and the painted surfaces over time (especially when off-road).



Perhaps Bushwacker should point this issue out for prospective buyers, but my guess is, they probably decided not to as it would likely cut into their sales with what some might interpret as a potentially negative marketing issue. And it is not my intention to insult anyone or to come off as an apologist for Bushwacker ... just trying to be realistic and practical.

 

[Matt400]

I must honestly say that it never crossed my mind that a fender flare should somehow protect the body surface it covers up. Aside from asthetics, my objective would be to protect the remaining exposed body areas from road rash caused by wider tires. Why would you expect to remove the flares and find a pristine layer underneath? I ponder of the degree of difficulty to return to stock from most alterations to my truck, but I guess I thought I would always have flares once they were installed or I'd prepared for paint work if there was cause to remove them.

I have to agree on this one.

On my 03 I had the Mopar moulded flaps and they damaged the paint that they fit up against. On my 05 I did ATS flares with the double backed tape and later decided to change flare styles and guess what. . paint damage from the tape when removed. I now have the power wagon flares, don't plan to take them off and expect damage if I ever did but I'm not looking back there.



Now- if I lived in an area where salt & rust was a big issue i would go with no flares and flaps that didn't touch the paint.