Do you need Mud Flaps?

[Pit Bull]

I just bought a 3500 4x4 with no mud flaps, it has 35,000 miles on it and the paint behind the wheels is fine no rock chips. I will not be driving on gravel roads and plan on staying with the same type tire the Michelin LTX/MS that it has had since new. My question, are mud flaps really needed or was the previous owner of my truck just lucky not to chip it up?

Thanks

Dennis

 

[Shovelhead]

My 3500 has no chips either... ... . However after one trip where wifey was following me in her truck, she told me to get the mudflaps to keep the pebbles from flying up into HER windshield.

 

[illflem]

Think it's the law in most states that a dually has mudflaps. If you've ever picked up a fist size rock between the dually tires at low speed then launched it at 70 mph you can see why.

 

[radixr]

Mud Flaps.

I am astonished that any truck with 35,000 miles and no mud flaps has no chips in the paint behind the wheels. I have a 4X4 and the stock flaps were virtually useless. I made extensions for the stock flaps out of black plastic to preserve the paint. Even with that, I still get a few chips.

 

[Pit Bull]

Re: Mud Flaps.

Originally posted by radixr

I am astonished that any truck with 35,000 miles and no mud flaps has no chips in the paint behind the wheels. I have a 4X4 and the stock flaps were virtually useless. I made extensions for the stock flaps out of black plastic to preserve the paint. Even with that, I still get a few chips.

Think it has anything to do with the fact that it sits so high in the back? Rocks would have to be thrown almost straight up to hit the truck. Since the truck is new to me I can only go by what I see. The flaps the dealer installs are good looking and if he does not charge to much I will get a set for the rear. How much should a good set cost installed?

 

[georgej]

D C charges about $40 for the heavy rubber ones. Get "em, your trailer will be happy.

 

[DBuchheit]

I've got Cummins / Ram mudflaps that I purchased from Cummins. They are made of a stiffer material than the DC units. After a year you can tell that they've taken some really good hits from stones thrown from the tires. If not for them, I'm sure I'd have some wicked stone chips.

 

[GSchlegel]

Dennis,

I debated about installing mudflaps on my 3500. It was neat looking in the mirrors when driving on snow covered highways, I was throwing at least 20ft. tall rooster tails!!! I did install the Dodge mudflaps and have been very happy with them, although I do miss watching cars staying a looonnnggg way behind me when it snows.

Gene

 

[CRamsey]

Mudflaps

I recently installed "Kaydenco" mudflaps. The horse trailer and the 5th wheel love them. .

 

[Lsfarm]

Mudflaps and paint chips

I also can't imagine 35K on a truck without any paint chips.



I would buy some mudflaps, since only one short trip down a dirt road, or a sanded road in the winter WILL result in paint chips. I drive dirt roads a lot, and my rocker panels are peppered with what looks like thousands of paint chips. So bad that I'm going to get a Perma-Tech color matched spray on job done on the rocker panels. I saw this done on Steve StLaurent's truck and it looks great!



Once you spend a couple of hours trying to repair a couple of paint chips you will get flaps!!



Good Luck!! Greg L

 

[Pit Bull]

Thanks everyone for the insights. I added the Mud Flaps to my truck yesterday, got heavy duty rubber with the heavy chrome metal strip at the bottom. They bolted to the bed frame and to the fender supports. Held on by three bolts, very sturdy and looks great. I feel better having them on, I would not want to damage another vehicle by throwing rocks from the duelies.