Mud flaps? Keep or go?

[Hayden_]

I was thinking about taking off my mud flaps cause I don't really need them right now or ever! Anyways I wanted to see what they looked like off before I went through with it but can't any pics ! So if anyone's has pics or nitrous toons on how to take them off it'd be appreciated! Worst case I'll just take them off and post some pics up!

 

[HokieRunner]

You can remove them but you'll be left with a gap between the bumper panel and wheel well edge. Take it off and you'll see what I mean. I took mine off and trimmed them so it covered the gap but didn't hang below the bumper. IMO it's the best solution. Check out my build for a pic of how they look trimmed.

 

[kevinpt]

you can remove the front but i would trim the rear if anything. i took off my front flaps when i installed my 255/70/18's and like the look.

 

[Hayden_]

Have either of you been off-road? Will this tear up my paint? I'm worried that without the protection from the flaps it will fling mud and rocks right on the paint and scratch and peel

 

[HokieRunner]

Haha. Yes...whole reason for trimming them was to keep them from hanging up on stuff. And yes...you'll lose any protection they afforded your rear lower quarter. Mine now has its fair share of nicks and scratches but you gotta pay to play!

 

[guardsred944s]

"What did you do to your T4R today?"

Answer your post of course!

I've had these off for a while. The reason is that with 265/70/17 AND Superflex in the rear, the mud flaps were not doing much anyways. I wish I had a picture with mud but basically, the coverage once you lift is hysterically small. I snipped and replaced yesterday. The pictures are from during the replacement (I know there are two bolts missing in the picture).





Aviation snips, $14 FTW.

 

[guardsred944s]

If you are concerned about your paint, 3M makes cheap clear vinyl sheets that you can stick to affected spots, they fade/dirty over time but can be removed with a heat gun. Porsche has been doing this on their cars for awhile in lieu of mud flaps.

 

[Hayden_]

If you are concerned about your paint, 3M makes cheap clear vinyl sheets that you can stick to affected spots, they fade/dirty over time but can be removed with a heat gun. Porsche has been doing this on their cars for awhile in lieu of mud flaps.

Do you have any far away shots? Like side shots of your rig?

 

[Jer5091]

Any aftermarket flaps that people put on their 4runners? I have an 03 SR5 i'm looking to put some nice flaps on but don't like the stock look. Trimming the flaps also looks good too.

 

[jsmith21]

I took mine off, I think it looks better that way. My back bumper already has some imperfections so I'm not worried about a few rock chips, but I also haven't noticed any new ones either. Makes it look a little bit higher off the ground IMO.

 

[kappelxir]

I'm worried that without the protection from the flaps it will fling mud and rocks right on the paint and scratch and peel

 

[jsmith21]

I'm worried that without the protection from the flaps it will fling mud and rocks right on the paint and scratch and peel

From my experience, the running boards on the side protect the side from rock chips pretty decently, but the back bumper would be very prone to rock chips. But like I said my back bumper is already not perfect so I'm not too worried about it. But I haven't noticed any difference since taking them off honestly, I try not to drive through super rocky areas at speeds that would fling rocks into my paint anyways.