Removing Mudflaps [Not another "which looks better?" thread]

I'm wanting feedback from People who have completely removed their front mudflaps, preferably those who live in areas where there's a high amount of sand / loose gravel near and on roads. Wondering if you find the front mudflaps actually protect the body of the truck from rock / debris, or if I can feel safe removing them. If it helps I have avid step bars on my double cab. Thanks.

 

It is illegal not to have them where I live. Personally, I hate being behind someone that doesn't have them, I always change lanes. It is the responsible thing to keep them on. Just my opinion.

 

Sorry, thought I specified front.

BTW. Not illegal here, I live in Canada, a truly free country.

 

i took them off and haven't had any problems so far

 

DO IT!!! i did it the third day i had my truck and not a chip yet. i live in las vegas (desert) and there is a lot of loose crap on the roads on my way to and from work, and i also do a little driving in the dirt semi-regularly. i cant stand the way the stock flaps look. every time i see a truck with them on i just want to get out at a red light and do the guy a favor and rip them off lol.

if you have any doubts just keep the flaps and hardware and reinstall if you dont like it.

 

I took my fronts off and haven't seen any damage to the body. I would recommend taking them off sooner rather than later as I waited a year and a half and the flap did dig into the fender flare a bit - i noticed it after removing them, but it's not that big of a deal.

 

all we want,just as long as they don't catch us

 

i took mine off. I have a few rock chips on the rear bumper but nothing crazy.... i also like to go pretty fast on gravel and dirt roads so that could be a reason... as for the fronts i havent noticed any rock chips thus far...

 

oh Alberta, Canada's little Texas

 

i've removed mine and not noticed a single problem. i live on a gravel/dirt road too. only thing i noticed is that i get a little more dirty up the sides when it's rainy. i will also add that if you decide to take them off, take them off asap, because they will dig into the paint of your fenders over time and leave marks where they rubbed the paint off. i wish i had taken mine off sooner now. i think that it looks better off and that a little extra road sludge won't really matter, because when it rains, your truck is going to get dirty regardless.

 

I wouldn't be as worried about rocks as much as the salt/dirty slush rooster tails that will be coating your doors and windows .

 

I will take someones front mudflaps if they have them lying around i really do need them where i live they salt roads like i do my chicken soup.

 

I took my front ones off a few weeks after buying the truck. Looks way better now IMO. I left the rears on though for a couple of reasons. 1. I think it looks better with the rears on it. 2. They have the "4x4" imprinted on them. I just thought it looked weird from the rear without them.

I have not seen any problems along my sides yet, but I do have running boards, so I still have some protection.

 

I've had mine off for about a year, and through 1 complete winter. I have no chips at all, but then again I have N-Fab steps so that might be part of the reason as well...

 

haha "Canada.... the WANNABE USA"

 

Took my fronts off this summer when I got my new wheels/tires since my tires rubbed them. Haven't noticed anything yet, aside from how easily the sides get dirty now with mud and what not from the spray that comes up now.

 

Left my rears one. Looks better I think. No issues so far from any chipping wothout front ones, and I live in a high salt area, but do not drive much, less the 10k in 15 months

 

I took all 4 off a couple of years ago after breaking one of the rears backing into a boulder. I've got the Westin Nerf Bars which blocks a lot of the rocks...I do hear a lot of rocks hitting them (loud, ringing TINGGGG). But I've only had maybe 3 small chips in the paint on the doors down low. Far less then what I've had on the hood. The hood is the worst. So to me, it's no big deal.

And it's not illegal to remove them here in CA. Besides, most domestic manufacturers don't have mudflaps on their trucks/SUVs (the SUVs have just as much tire showing if you look around). Toyota is one of the few that installs mudflaps. I wonder if those other States are requiring the dealerships to install mudflaps to be compliant with their "mudflap" laws? I seriously doubt it. Here in CA, we only require mudflaps if the tire tread extends 2" or more outside the fender.

 

I ran them for the "cool" factor and then i decided to put them back on because call me crazy I kind of like the way they looked . I can't say much about chipping but they sure help my truck stay cleaner