fender flares

[PHuckleberry]

I have swapped some BFG a/t's (33") onto my truck,but they stick out of the fender well about 2" does anybody have experience with fender flares for our trucks? thanks for the help!

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My truck 01. 5 2500 4x4 SB,quadcab,auto,3. 54LSD,tow/camper pkg,HD241,bronze; Dad's truck,96,3500,ext cab,4x4,5speed,4. 10LSD,white

 

[JIM S.]

Hey pete. . greetings from down south! no experence here... but if it were me I would find someone that had flares and see how they look, some trucks look ok with them and others just look terrible! personally I dont like 99% of trucks I see whith them. but hey if we all liked the same thing we would have nothing to talk about!! #ad
Jim

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1995, 2500, 4x4, 3. 54, auto,130,000 miles, custom fuel plate, boost and EGT gauges, 215 HP injectors, RE-0880, custom 4" from down pipe.

 

[illflem]

I have the Warn 4x flares, they're tough,easy to install and look good too.
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[This message has been edited by illflem (edited 05-15-2001). ]

 

[John]

I have the Mopar fender flares. The fit is excellent and they come painted to match your Ram. I was really impressed with the overall quality of the fit and finish. The down side... $$$.

If you are running 12. 50 wide 33" or 35" tires (16. 5s), the Warn 4x flares or the Bushwacker (non street version) provide the ultimate in protection.

Personally, I like the flares that have the 3M adhesive on the outer (i. e. , upper) periphery of the flare, effectively bonding the flare to the body. I have installed enough Bushwacker flares on previous 4X4s that I've owned (the only game in town back then) to know that the outer edge creeps along the paint during thermal changes, leaving behind scrape marks. Some have used a beading to reduce to some extent or eliminate this condition.

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John Treibel
'98. 5 2500 QC 4x4 Sport, Glasstite Vision II, 285 BFG A/Ts on M/T Challengers, Warn 4X Boards, Mopar fender flares & tow hooks, NW Custom s/s-rubber mud flaps and accs. , Mag-Hytec diff. cover & DD trans. pan, Edelbrock IAS shocks, Reese Titan V hitch, Jordan Research Ultima 2020 trailer brake controller, SPA gauges (3), Dynamat, '00 Sport grille and headlights/PIAA Super White bulbs, "special" Brite-Box, PIAA Dual Sport 900 aux. lights, BD exh. brake, Amsoil Dual Remote Bypass w. trick billet block adapter and Aeroquip Teflon-s/s hoses, Optima Yellow Tops, DD3s and DD TTPM, Aeroquip AQP s/s fuel hoses, tricked out Cummins valve cover, tricked out Banks High-Ram and 14 cm2 (wastegated) turbine housing, ATS 3-piece exh. man. , Banks 4" dia. s/s exh. sys. , DTT 93% TC, DTT custom tuned VB, BD modified trans. front pump (enhanced by DTT), Air Bulldog induction hood (with NACA ducts), plus MANY other trick modifications

COMING ATTRACTIONS: break out those sun glasses! Plus, BLACKOUT gets a "BIG GULP"

NRA Life (Patron) member

[This message has been edited by John (edited 05-15-2001). ]

 

[Archive]

The Mopar flares are made buy Xenon, I ran those on my '95 Dodge CTD. They fit great, they are very flexible. On my '01 I have installed EGR flares. These fit great also. They are sent out as a no drill flare and they also send you a drill bit and screws. I drilled and installed mine. The reason I went with these is they cover about 3/8" more. I needed the coverage.

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2001 RAM H. O. 6Sp 2500 SLT 4x4 QC, 4WDisc, 4. 10 LS, Fog Lights, Silence Ring Gone, Autometer Pro Comp 60# Boost & Pyro, Banks High Ram (Red), Cummins Red V. C. , K&N RE-0880, Skyjacker 2. 5 lift Class 2, 7218 Dual steering stabilizers, DT Pro Fab Trackbar(sweet), EGR Flares (nice fit), Centerline Comet III 16x9. 5 with Goodyear MT/R 315/75R16, Smittybuilt SS nurf bars, ExTang BlackMax tonno, Jardine Exhaust W/5" SS tip, " DON'T LET FEAR STOP YOU"

 

[DUBSTER]

Pete
I sent you an e mail with pictures of my truck, due to the lack of skills on the computer I did not post them here. I was going to paint them to match but talked to one of the best body shops in the area and was told that due to the plastic flexing the paint would not stay on very long.
I ordered bushwacker flares and did not like the look of them.
I went with the Xennon and then have double sided tape and are easy to install.
See Ya
Chris


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2001. 5 2500 Intense Blue Sport 285-16 BFGs mounted on 8x16 Baja
6 speed 4:10 limited slip heavy duty everything, Cab lights, Xenon flares, Linexed Nerf bars, Linexed OTR bed, Brush/grill guard,
tow hooks,no heated seats or leather.

 

[BigBadDodge]

I like the Bushwackers left black, nice finish, easy install with aluminum rivets, I have had them on the truck 4 years now look like they did when I put them on.

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1997 Dodge Ram 2500 HD / Club Cab, Cummins Turbo Diesel (silencer ring removed), 4. 5" Skyjacker class II Double Flex suspension lift, 36x14. 5"x16. 5" Ground Hawg radial tires on 16. 5x9. 75 Weld Super Singles, dual steering stabilizer, 4. 10 gears, 33-tooth Speedo gear, Psycotty Air Induction, Mag-Hytec rear, Amsoiled bumper to bumper, JRE 4" Turbo back exhaust, Rhino liner, Extang Black Max, Grizzly double bent nerf bars, Bushwhacker exstenda fender flares, Kanduco Sweet Tooth grill insert, Confer super skid axle truss, DT Trac-bar, Moog tie rod system, Fabritech stage II traction bars, Energy sway bar bushings and end links,CATZ hyper-white (stock location)GTS headlight black outs, Lund Eclipse side window. Truck Pic's

 

[Andy Perreault]

Originally posted by DUBSTER:
... I was going to paint them to match but talked to one of the best body shops in the area and was told that due to the plastic flexing the paint would not stay on very long.
I ordered bushwacker flares and did not like the look of them.
I went with the Xenon and then have double sided tape and are easy to install.

Chris, I also have Xenon flares on my truck, and I had a body shop paint them to match my truck. There are painting directions in the installation instructions. I brought the flares to a body shop along with the instructions and showed them to the painter. I have now had those fender flares on my truck for almost four years now, and they still look great! No peeling paint. I did have the double sided mounting tape lose its grip after a few years, and I took off the flares, cleaned them up, and re-installed them with new tape. They're holding up just fine.
Andy

 

[Gordon Maney]

I am also considering the installation of flares on a new truck I have not yet received. My 99 Ram suffered a lot of rock chips with only the 245/75 tires, and now some 235/85's. Anything really large would shred the paint, I am sure. I have to drive a mile of gravel to get to the highway, so it is worse than you townies have.

The local Ziebart guy says that flares are bad news with regard to rust, that any they take off, including OEM, conceal rust that has started. He sells flares and says he would not put them on his truck.

Any comments on that issue? This is salt country... l.

 

[Cooker]

Welcome to the TDR Gordon.

I have to agree with the Ziebart guy about the flares hiding any rust that may have already started. Here in MI the salt is plentiful and consequently so is rust. The way I see it is the flares hide the rust longer before a costly repair. Pay now or pay later. In this situation I like the pay later idea in regards to the rust issue. My father just installed flares on his Chevy to hide the the rust (from the inside out) on the bed-sides. He figures if he can get by another few years before putting bedsides on they were worth the money (hopefully he will buy a Cummins soon).

-Ryan

 

[illflem]

Gordon, six of one half dozen of another. Without the flares rock chips give a place for the rust to start. Best bet is install flares right from the start.

 

[BRobertson]

I just removed the stainless fender liners(like the ones Genos sells) from my truck after one year and 14000 miles. A small amount of rust was already starting around some rivet holes even though I coated the holes and surrounding area with urethane caulking. This is a VERY dry area of the country!! I cleaned everything up and then sprayed along the edges with Armorthane to match the rocker panels. No more liners or flares for me !!!

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2001 QC4x4 eth dee slt+ 3. 54 blk agate leather Warn transformer mount Hella 4000s, Hella 530 backups, Optima redtops Toro liner, jacobs ebrake, wired front and rear for Warn 9000 winch, backup lights inset into rear bumper,bumper powder coated silver vein, bedliner on 6" of rocker,custom aluminum console with Garmin Colormap GPS and EGT built in,Horton fan,MagHytec diff cover

 

[John]

Originally posted by H. O. RAM:
The Mopar flares are made buy Xenon

Actually, that is not true. The Mopar fender flares use the ORIGINAL Xenon flare design (as purchased from Xenon) although, they are NOT produced by Xenon.

 

[Cooker]

John,
Just curious do you know who makes them? Mopar?

 

[jmeehan]

Originally posted by beartrack:
I cleaned everything up and then sprayed along the edges with Armorthane to match the rocker panels. No more liners or flares for me !!!

What's Armorthane? The rock chips on my new truck are driving me crazy. I have mud flaps butthey only work up to a certain point. I like the look of flares but worry about the rust. So I'm looking for a good durable coating. Thanks.

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ex Ford tech, now driving '01. 5 2500 4X4 QC LB ETH/DEE SLT 3. 54, Patriot Blue

 

[John]

Originally posted by Cooker:
John,
Just curious do you know who makes them? Mopar?

Cooker, Mopar has a vendor in Georgia producing them. Mine were drop shipped directly from there as I was in a hurry (they were also back ordered at the time). A call to Xenon confirmed they do not produce the flares for Mopar although, I was previously under the assumption that they were.

I might add that the quality of the paint and application was absolutely first rate (and mine are black!). #ad

 

[Walker]

Andy,
I was just going to ask the same question. I'm looking to get flares next, and wanted to spray my rocker panels first. But, wasn't sure if I should go all the way across or stop before where the flare would cover for easier (more flush & secure) installation. Good idea about going all around the flare (covered) area though. I'll be waitin' for ideas.
I forget who it was, but a member just had is trucks rocker panels sprayed with grey liner (to match his two-tone paint). It was a green over grey 2500. He might have some ideas.


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2001 2500 SLT QC 4x4 ETC 5spd LWB 3. 54 Black/Agate leather. DD2's w/boost module, DD4" exhaust, ISSpro boost/pyro gauges. Custom full bumper/brush guard and headache rack, Seal-Tite tool box, B&W turnover ball.

[This message has been edited by Walker (edited 05-18-2001). ]

 

[Archive]

Walker, I think it was Steve StLaurents truck. I seen another truck at BD that had a body shop spray his rockers with a similar anti chip, painted to match.

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2001 RAM H. O. 6Sp 2500 SLT 4x4 QC, 4WDisc, 4. 10 LS, Fog Lights, Silence Ring Gone, Autometer Pro Comp 60# Boost & Pyro, Banks High Ram (Red), Cummins Red V. C. , K&N RE-0880, Skyjacker 2. 5 lift Class 2, 7218 Dual steering stabilizers, DT Pro Fab Trackbar(sweet), EGR Flares (nice fit), Centerline Comet III 16x9. 5 with Goodyear MT/R 315/75R16, Smittybuilt SS nurf bars, ExTang BlackMax tonno, Jardine Exhaust W/5" SS tip, " DON'T LET FEAR STOP YOU"

 

[John]

Dave from (Western) Oregon was the first Rammer I heard of on the TDR BB to have the rocker area Line-Xed and subsequently top coated with paint. I saw it at last years Timberline Dodge rally in Portland (ok, ok, Tigard). That process looked really nice and is practically bulletproof! #ad
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I'm going to have the same process applied to an upgrade project for my Ram soon... hopefully it will turn out as #ad


Andy, I would seriously doubt the 3M tape would stick very well to the urethane material unless it was properly prepped (i. e. , leveled and cleaned with the appropriate cleaner). I know of a trick marine adhesive that would bond the two together for all eternity though.....

 

[illflem]

Andy, sounds like a great idea. Think I'd stop the urethane below where the 3-M attaches though. I'm sure there are adhesives that would work, but they might work too good. I had to replace one of my flares when a big rock hit it at 70 mph when the temp was below zero, I was glad the flare came off easily.