Warning! Install mud flaps before you go anywhere

[fj40dave]

I've had my '01 2500 4x4 for 60K miles now - second set of tires are BFG 285 A/T's...

I put factory mud flaps on her before she left the dealership.

Touched up the lower panels twice with the factory black touch-up paint.

Kinda reminds me of a bumper sticker I've read somewhere:

I'd rather paint my Dodge than drive a ______ (whatever else there is)





Happy Easter EVERYONE!

 

[Larv]

I put factory flaps on mine as well as the wheel well liners. Prior to the liners a gravel road sounded like I was in a tin bldg in a hail storm! The liners made a real difference in lowering the noise level. Flaps should help immensely with the rock chips.



Owned a '95 Chevy once and the tires were set out wide due to the custom wheels. The fenders always had mud on 'em! Larv

 

[RobbieH]

Please don't compare your $20,000 car or your Mercedes to your truck.



I also have a $20,000 car. You know where the money went? The expense of the truck sure the heck didn't go in the paint, nor would I want it to.



A $20,000 car has a MUCH CHEAPER body, a MUCH CHEAPER interior, and A VASTLY CHEAPER ENGINE!



The Mercedes' money goes into quality, and is not a $20,000 car. Can't really compare, they spend the money on fit, finish, NVH and the truck is for WORK.



FWIW, my truck has 17,600 miles and no paint chips... but then if it did I wouldn't care. I bought it hail damaged because it's for work not for posing.

 

[Yo Hoot]

My 2001 GMC didn't have any wheel well liners in the back. This 2004 Dodge has more protection in the wheel wells that the GMC did. Especially the rear.



The GMC also got hood chips on the way home from Pittsburgh the day I picked it up.



I'm having a difficult time finding some normal mudflaps for my truck. Not interested in the expensive really nice ones. But maybe $100 total for all four. The flatter styles not the custom fit jobs.



Suggestions?



Also what is this rocker panel cover you guys are talking about? Those things you stick on the door sill?

 

[klenger]

Here's what I got. I paid $35 per pair.



http://www.klenger.net/dodge/pictures/accessory-splash-guards.gif

 

[RedDieselDawg]

I got molded Dodge flaps for $34/pr at the dealer, along with the rear wheel liners on week 2. I now have 5k miles no chips so far, but they will come, they always do. If my truck were made by Benz, which in some respects in kinda is already, lol, it would cost twice as much and only be a little nicer, IMO. That Porsche supple leather alone would cost $10k for my QC. I saw something about our (American) paint jobs. If I remember correctly, the EU paint could use solvents and processes, but mainly chemicals we cannot use in the US. So US auto paint is limited compared to what the EU boys can produce. Aftermarket is another thing, but nice(meaning a real pro job, better than stock) paint job even over a brand new truck is gonna add 5k to the price, or more. 5k is nice, 10k is show, at least some that I have seen. I wouldn't ramble, but this post screamed for some perspective, hahaha.



Buy some rubber, and practice safe motoring

 

[lil red cummins]

i finally got my rear flaps installed this past saturday after 2900 miles. sure enough, there are a couple of good chips on the passenger side.



you are right, i should have installed mine sooner. oh well, thats why they make the touch up bottles.



i must say the cut down cummins flaps from their web store sure look good. sorry i haven't been able to snap a pic yet.



jim

 

[SSage]

Well, our 03 is gaining on the 98 in the rock chip department. The paint does seem to be less durable. I travel on dirt roads, so the truck received Mopar mud flaps( paid about $76. 00 I think) before it left the pavement. Our driveway is all chert and its rough, the trailers take a beating from the rocks coming off the dual rears. The flaps do deflect the rocks from the body very well, I have zero chips on the lower panels. The only places I'm getting paint damage is in the grill and hood area from dump trucks and wood chip haulers that I get behind sometimes. The flaps do a good job.



I picked up a good size rock a week ago, left a dent in the hood and chipped the wind shield. That gray primer shows a good bit with the paper thin black paint



The 03 Ram does have a very nice "looking" paint finish. Zero orange peel and no trash. It was very smooth when new, the best paint as far as appearance that I've seen on an American truck. My white 98 had some rough spots on the hood edges. no biggie. Much better than my 98 SLS Caddy. That car had very poor paint. Chipped easy.

 

[ttreibel]

Man I hate to see what you guys do when you get your first dent... ... . OOOOooh NoOoo



Hey I love the pinstripes in my Patriot Blue Truck

 

[OHale]

I started out with the Husky flaps on my truck but wasn't pleased with the overall protection. The best protection was just behind the wheel wells. Also, although sold as Mopar the flaps didn't fit that well and rubbed the paint.



If you want your rocker panel protected from wheel well to wheel well mudflaps aren't enough.



I put DeeZee running boards on and they have protected the rocker panels perfectly. In addition, snow and ice don't build up into a huge stalactite on the side of the truck. I have had frozen slush build up under the running boards until it almost touched the ground. A salty, nasty mess that never touched my painted truck body. One kick with my boot and it was gone.



I also hit a patch of fresh asphalt one time and when I stopped the truck I was expecting a mess. Not one fragment got on my truck.



I was planning to order flaps for my on-order truck but decided to actually learn something from my previoius experience this time. I'm just trying to figure out what brand of board at this point.

 

[HOCummins04]

Several years ago my brother had his Dodge dealer install Mopar molded flaps on his 99 - I think sometime in 2000. Anyway, to make a long story short the molded flaps were not fixed solid enough and they moved back and forth - rubbing the paint off behind the flaps. Ended up having to have bottom of his truck repainted and pulled the flaps off.



I am trying to decide what to do for flaps. I know I need some as I travel on some gravel roads. I have looked at Mopar @ dealer and Husky molded flaps. Both appear similar in design to me.



For those that have the Mopar molded flaps that have been installed for a while - any issues with the paint underneath the molded trailing edge? How secure are they (in term of movement)?

 

[wlowe]

HOCummins04



I had the molded flaps on the front wheel wells for almost a year before I read a post on the TDR that indicated that these could wear the paint off. I pulled them off and found no wear, probably because I installed them very tight and sealed them with silicone. Replaced them with a set of Pro-Flaps to match the ones I have on the rear, no more worries.



Bill

 

[Kirwin]

Mud flaps for running boards

I installed the Mopar diamond plate running boards on my 03 as soon as I could get them after picking up my truck. After a couple of trips I noticed that I still had buildup around the lower edge of the door where it meets the body. I decided to install the older 3/16" thick flat plastic mud flaps from Mopar to extend the rather small set of front mud flaps that come with the running boards. I had previously done a similar thing to my 97 with good results. This stopped the wrap around effect from the running board mud flap and you don't have to worry about the sand and silt from scratching the paint every time you open and shut the door. The paint has been getting thinner! Every time I buy a new truck it seems that they have found a way to make the paint less durable. Now if I could just figure out how to keep the tar off the dually extensions I would never have to wash it again!!! LOL Kenny

 

[kstehnacs]

paint chips

I love my 02. Its a great truck and i'm glad i bought it but the paint does suck. Every time i wash it i find new chips.

 

[HOCummins04]

Originally posted by wlowe

Replaced them with a set of Pro-Flaps to match the ones I have on the rear, no more worries.

Are there any issues with Pro Flaps as far as brackets bending if you back into a parking space with a parking curb? I know that is an issue with NWCustoms, or so I have been told. I have to back in park every day at work against parking curbs.



Also, where did you get yours, and what is a good price?

 

[wlowe]

HOCummins04



I bought my Pro-flaps at a local 4 Wheeler shop but I found this web site that carries them also. I paid about ten dollars a pair less than this website but that was three years ago.



http://www.4wheelparts.com/product2.asp?imseqn=1523&occlass=PROFLAP&cat=EA



In regards to backing into curbs, there is a bracket on these flaps but it only supports the inside corner of the flap. the rest of the flap is supported by screws in the body metal. These are stiff flaps but they do have some bend in them, probably enough to avoid major damage if hit. It is suggested that the bottom of these flaps be mounted a minimum of 7 inches above the ground but there is not a specific height requirement. I installed my front and rear flaps at 11 inches which should be plenty high enough to avoid most curbs. I haven't hit any yet.



Good Luck

Bill