anybody know what these are?

i will attach a picture to this, but i noticed when washing my truck that there are these vinyl things, similar to the bed decals, on my rear fenders and on the rear doors. what is the purpose of these things? the only thing i could think of is that they are something to keep you from scratching your truck when you're getting in? like maybe in a tight parking spot. i only noticed because they have some dirt under them and it drives me crazy because it shows up pretty bad on this white truck. i'm sure they're probably on every tacoma, but just didn't know their purpose and was curious. the reason i ask is because i want to take them off if they don't have any significant use. i'd rather take them off and be able to keep that spot clean than have dirt under the edges of a useless piece of vinyl. i guess if i do take them off that i could pretty much go by sockmonkey's instructions to remove decals. anybody know what they are? ever even noticed them? or taken them off?

 

They protect from rocks and crap coming up and dinging/scratching your paint.

 

They help protect from rock chips and such...leave them on there

 

just added protection for the paint from rocks and such being slung up. also protects the edge near the door where paint may be damaged when the door is open

 

i just hate that the crap underneath it shows up so bad when the taco is clean! i'd leave them if i could at least get that stuff out from underneath it. like peel the thing back, clean it, and re-stick it, but it would probably never hold the same again and eventually fall off.

 

you could just remove it, clean, then replace with this...
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t... Listing Ads&cm_pla=Primary&_requestid=144614
I've used it on my truck and it's held up great.

 

now there's a good answer! thanks man

 

thanks guys