Does a lift make for dirtier truck overall?

[cbreze]

My 4R is my first SUV, always had P/U's before. I live in a snow area and expect dirt and road grime, but my previous pickups never got this dirty. A clean rear window is dirty again within minutes and of course the whole back hatch door. I guess my curious question is, " is this normal among all 4R's or is having a 3 inch lift the issue and throwing more dirty road slush around. I do run duratracs and their more aggressive tread may contribute to this, but wow, no clean truck for me till summer I guess. Part two of my question could be, since I have no running boards and use the oem flaps and guards, which seem to help little, would a slider or something else help prevent all the splash back?

EDIT: my Tacoma has the same height lift, but no duratracs and no similar issue

 

[Jtraskell]

cbreze, it's not the lift, tires or even flaps. It's the aero-dynamics of the truck. Do a search here and you will find at least a few threads discussing this. Bottom line, it's normal. You may be too young to remember, but in the 60's and 70's there were "station wagons". Many had rear "air deflectors" attached to the rear of the luggage racks. They deflected the air downward towards the rear windows in an attempt to keep "stuff" from flying up against the window, or if the rear window was rolled down, into the rear of the vehicle. They worked to an extent. This happens to most if not all modern day SUVs. Be safe and have Merry Christmas!

 

[mikey's2010SR5]

My truck is way dirtier with all the mods. Riding dirty all day, know what I mean

 

[cbreze]

Jtraskell, I definitely remember the station wagons from back in the day and yeah, the rear area seemed to be a dust collector. Just forgot about it till you mentioned it. I guess after all those years you'd think engineering would have modded that issue out of existence somehow. Like I said, I'm new to SUV's but I gotta say, this issue is kind of a downer. Guess I'll get used to it. It's only wet around here 8 months out of the year. So that's what that rear wiper is for!!

 

[1engineer]

90% of the back glass dirt comes from the debris kicked up by tires. Longer mud flaps will cure most of the problem yet I'd does not look good so very few use them. Wider tires and lift exacerbates the rear dirt issue. You had a truck and I bet your tailgate got really dirty too.

 

[Jtraskell]

1engineer, I agree that tires throw up the dirt, but I have had vehicles with the longer mud flaps and all they did was prevent mud and rocks from being flipped up into the vehicles behind me. They helped cutting back the mud/rocks on the lower sides of my vehicle, but they did not "noticeably" reduce dirt, dust etc from adhering to the back of the vehicle. The dust would just blow around the flaps, get caught up in the vortices's created behind the truck and then adhere to the rear. It's like a magnet! Be Safe and have a Merry Christmas!

 

[Jtraskell]

Jtraskell, I definitely remember the station wagons from back in the day and yeah, the rear area seemed to be a dust collector. Just forgot about it till you mentioned it. I guess after all those years you'd think engineering would have modded that issue out of existence somehow. Like I said, I'm new to SUV's but I gotta say, this issue is kind of a downer. Guess I'll get used to it. It's only wet around here 8 months out of the year. So that's what that rear wiper is for!!

Rear wiper? Oooo, wait for that joy with the 4runner! You thought you were disappointed before..........

Side note, I was raised in Oregon, what part of CO are you at? Bend, Sisters?

Be safe and have a Merry Christmas!

 

[cbreze]

Rear wiper? Oooo, wait for that joy with the 4runner! You thought you were disappointed before..........

Side note, I was raised in Oregon, what part of CO are you at? Bend, Sisters?

Be safe and have a Merry Christmas!

I'm in Bend. The wiper remark was a bit tongue in cheek. I've seen my share of dirty wiped, smeared rear windows. I must say tho, this dirty backside issue was one I missed seeing coming, even tho I saw enough SUV's with dirty backs and windows, I just thought they never washed them. Ha,ha using that wiper makes it look worse. So I'm guessing in our dry summers my trips to the trails will put a layer of dust on that window. Sheesh! Advantage, Tacoma score one.

 

[zgensler31]

It should be the same with your pickups and even cars. Except the tailgate or trunk lid would be filthy. Its just the aerodynamics of down force and such.

 

[cbreze]

It should be the same with your pickups and even cars. Except the tailgate or trunk lid would be filthy. Its just the aerodynamics of down force and such.

Your right, it is. Pickup window doesn't get the dirt tho but tailgate ,rear bumper yep.
I guess the annoying part is seeing your rear view decline as you drive even short distances. I'm now learning why all the rear help with parking(sonar)(camera), rear wiper . I guess that's toyota's solution. Maybe just get it limo tinted and forget about it. :thumb3:

 

[Jtraskell]

I'm in Bend. The wiper remark was a bit tongue in cheek. I've seen my share of dirty wiped, smeared rear windows. I must say tho, this dirty backside issue was one I missed seeing coming, even tho I saw enough SUV's with dirty backs and windows, I just thought they never washed them. Ha,ha using that wiper makes it look worse. So I'm guessing in our dry summers my trips to the trails will put a layer of dust on that window. Sheesh! Advantage, Tacoma score one.

No, I was sincere. Not because of the dirt, but rather the lame way our rear wipers work! They only wipe about 60-70% of the rear window. All the other vehicles I have owned with rear wipers at least traversed the whole window.....our's well, just a joy. :nerd:

 

[cbreze]

No, I was sincere. Not because of the dirt, but rather the lame way our rear wipers work! They only wipe about 60-70% of the rear window. All the other vehicles I have owned with rear wipers at least traversed the whole window.....our's well, just a joy. :nerd:

Yeah, I noticed the lame part the first time I used it. I haven't had anything but a pick up since 1987. In any case I do maintain everything I own very meticulously so I'm sure lots of wash jobs are in my future, but with all the wet snow weather here, not very practical.
Did you live in Bend? Or some other spot in CO? Your in Florida now? Get tired of the cold and wet stuff? I'm from the AZ desert and got tired of the heat and pollution. Retired and moved here a year ago from Scottsdale. Had been in AZ since 1955. Not what it once was, but what is? :wink2:

 

[Jtraskell]

Raised in the valley. Portland, Salem, McMinnville. Job took me to Florida about 15 years ago for about 5 years. Loved it. (Play a lot of golf), so when it came to retirement time, I decided to come back here. That was about 3 years ago. Still love it.

Been to Central Oregon many times, mostly during hunting season, but did some skiing, inner tubing and the like in my youth. Played of few of the various courses out there also. I enjoyed the area alot, but never got a chance to live there. Hope your enjoying your retirement as much as I am. And yes, I like WARM! Merry Christmas bud and be safe.

 

[KCcarguy]

My truck is way dirtier with all the mods. Riding dirty all day, know what I mean

Yeah. Mine too. She's a dirty, dirty girl.