budget minded fender flares-will this work?

[Ron Helmuth]

I can not justify spending in excess of $300 for some fender flares. I would like to make some of my own and Herculine them for durability and rugged looks.

Purpose-to keep road debris and moisture off the sides of my vehicle. Looks are secondary but I don't want a ghetto imitation of Bushwackers either.

Here is a link to what I am considering:

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/...Id-100000166131/Pr-p_CATENTRY_ID:100000166131

Please don't be flaming me for using JCWhitney-better to offer me suggestions on where to find similar materials or better pricing....

My initial gut feeling was to purchase a roll of the standard or steel reinforced fender extensions and match to existing holes on the underside of the wheel wells.

However, to mimic the "on body" look of a Bushwacker (for example) then the surface mount ones look to be the ticket.

My Toy friends are saying surface mount is no big deal just use the 3m sticky spray glue or double sided tape. I have always been a skeptic of such mounting methods. Out here in Colorado these types of glues just kind of dry up over the years.

I welcome your opinons, and suggestions. I want more coverage than an SR5 plastic flare which is 3/4" and 3" seems like a dune buggy flare to me.....

 

[2000se]

seems like they got good reviews..

I would try to mount them using bolts or something other than 3M though.

 

[Ron Helmuth]

Yes I agree-and I don't really want to be drilling into the side of the fender. I think the fender lip mount is the one for me.

 

[beallen21]

i have a hard time imagining these are gonna look very good, put up some pics when you get them on if they look alright I might try it

 

[p nut]

Ron, no offense, but those JCW's look pretty tacky. Perhaps they might happen to look good, but from those pics, that seems unlikely. But if you did go with them, I'd highly suggest some bolts and nuts on top of the 3M tape.

And are you looking for the full fender flares like the 01-02 Sport Editions or the ones from 99-00 Highlander's?

Also, I don't know if this will work or not, but I'm wondering if ones from a Tacoma will fit a 4Runner. Seems like the wheel wells from my Tacoma are awfully similar to my old 4Runner. That could broaden your options. Just a thought.

EDIT: Nevermind about the Tacoma fenders. The fronts *MIGHT* fit, but the rears will be totally off. I'd wait for somebody parting out their rig or try car-parts.com, craigslist, etc.

 

[Ron Helmuth]

none taken

Pnut-No offense taken- I realize I get what I am willing to pay for.

Yes, I did consider the Tacoma fronts fender flares. I still may try to make a pair of those work for the fronts.

I am looking for coverage of around 1 & 1/2 inches-like a Limited flare but in all black, and no overlap to the bumper (no bumper flare).

Have tried, just have not been able to find them at a wrecking yard.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[p nut]

Yeah, it'll be tough to find. I see that there are pieces here and there on car-part.com Bushwacker's are $400+! Yikes. Might just have to be patient and piece together your own set. Paint color won't matter if you're going to Herculine them anyway.

Also, if you're looking for flares that don't overlap to the bumper, then I think you're limited to 99-00 Highlander flares (They were just an option for SR5's, too). All of the other Limited and Sport Editions compensate for the bumper flare.

Sport

Limited

Then here's a Highlander (RonMaiden's pic--hope he doesn't mind me using it?)

 

[Ron Helmuth]

the pictures are most helpful

yes I see what you mean-but the factory offerings are pretty much out of the realm of possibility for me. Considering I do not want to pay for Bushwackers -I can not come close to a set from Yota. I have not seen any of these any wrecking yards or they want $250 for them all beat up and busted.

The pictures are most helpful to have something to reference. Thanks for posting them up.

I am trying to avoid the entire rear door treatment as a flare surface, that whole look is sort of goofy to my eyes. I really do not need the rear flares to exist forward of the mid point of the rear tires-just from there back to the mudflap. Perhaps they can taper off slightly as they approach the rear door openings. I have trouble visualizing it myself, that's why I have to talk it out with you dudes.

In the front I am running the Taco ARB bumper so I am hopeful I can make a pair of Tacoma flares work there, but I need to get one and play with a heat gun a bit... I can find Tacos all day long at the wrecking yards with good front flares.