Mudflaps are installed on vehicle fenders as added accessories to protect pedestrians and fellow drivers against road debris and mud being thrown into the air by rolling tires. Installing vehicle fenders is vital because it offers optimum protection to passengers as well as your vehicle. But if you drive trucks or SUVs, the fenders may not perform their function effectively. In this situation, you might need to install fender flares. But here’s a question that may pop up in your mind. Do you need to install both mudflaps and fender flares if they do almost the same function?
When You Might Need to Install Fender Flares
Fender flares act as an extension of your truck or SUV, installed on the wheel well and aesthetically contoured to match the exact body line of your vehicle. You can buy fender flares in a variety of attractive colors, styles, and finishes. They are essential vehicle accessories legally required in specific driving scenarios, especially if you’re driving a vehicle with oversized tires.
You might need to install fender flares if you drive in areas with inclement weather or rough terrain. These vehicle accessories have the same function as mudflaps, but fender flares are more suitable for large vehicles because of the superb protection they can offer to your fenders. Since a fender flare has broader coverage, your vehicle will become safer and less prone to hurt other people with road debris and mud.
Protecting your Vehicle
Similar to mudflaps, the primary purpose of installing fender flares is to protect your vehicle from kicking up road debris and accidentally hitting pedestrians and passengers on the road. If you don’t install fender flares, your vehicle will likely develop heavy scratches and paint damage in no time. You wouldn’t want to kick up loose rocks and crack the windshield of another car behind you.
Fender flares are also among the road safety requirements mandated by law in your area to protect the public and fellow drivers from road debris and heat. If there’s no fender flare installed in your vehicle, you can commit a traffic violation, resulting in hefty penalties. Your car won’t just get paint scratches and cracks by not installing fender flares, but loose rocks and mud can also cause a significant road disaster, especially if there are too many vehicles present on the highway.
Hide Fender Damage
Aside from adding appeal to your vehicle, fender flares effectively prevent potential fender damage such as liquid spills and direct hits from loose rocks. These essential accessories hide rust and body damage around the wheel well. You’re able to avoid hitting other vehicles and crossing pedestrians with small stones as fender flares provide the proper coverage.
Aesthetic Feature
For aesthetic purposes, you can customize the look of your favorite truck or SUV with fender flares. Fender flare designers can offer you a variety of styles to fit your vehicle. You must determine which set of fender flares you prefer to install based on size, thickness, color, and surface finish. Fender flares can be categorized as follows:
- OE Style
If you want to hide a small area of fender damage and rust, you may install OE-style fenders. This fender flare has standard factory holes on it, but you can customize your OE style fenders according to the wheel size you have.
- Street style
Street style fenders feature a low-profile but stylish appearance offering protection around the fenders and wheel well. These fender variations are available in a wide variety of colors, patterns, and sizes, so you don’t have to worry about matching the fenders with your vehicle.
- Bolt Style
The bolt-style fender is popularly known as pocket-style fender flare, providing your truck an extremely rugged appearance. Truck drivers admire the tough look of this fender design as it suits well on uphill or mountainous driving. Bolt-style fenders don’t require drilling to install them, unlike most OE and street-style fender flares.
- Extended Style
If you want a tough appearance for your precious truck, but it may require lasting reliability on the road, you should install extended-style fender glares. This style is often seen on heavy-duty trucks driven in extreme road conditions and inclement weather locations.
Installing Mudflaps with Fender Flares Possible?
Combining mudflaps and fender flares is generally acceptable, but you need to verify the local road safety guidelines in your area if this style is allowed. Fender flares are available in various designs and sizes, so you need to check with your supplier if it is possible to install these two accessories on your vehicle. You can combine these two materials because they are designed to be rigid against all types of driving conditions.
Fender flare installation only requires a simple DIY sill, and you can usually get an easy-to-follow installation guide from the manufacturer. Most fender flares have no drilling or cutting involved. You only need to line up the flares with the corresponding holes and secure them with the supplied bolts, nuts, and washers.
Installing fender flares will improve the look of your truck while safeguarding the exterior paints and parts of your vehicle. Not only that, but you can also avoid possible apprehension with traffic enforcers for not installing flares on your fenders.
