Gravel roads, mudflap delete... Regrets?

So I drive a good bit of gravel roads where I live, sometimes doing 30-40 on them. I like the idea of having the mudflaps on the truck to protect from flinging rocks against the paint, chipping and eventually rust forming.

However, they get in the way sometimes. We had an ice storm yesterday and I was out clearing back roads with a chainsaw. Tried to drive around a tree blocking most of the road, dropped passenger front tire in a drainage ditch off a culvert in 2wd. Tried to back out, engaged 4wd and drove forward out of it. Looks like a screw, rivet, whatever hold the flaps on about popped out.

So I'm asking those who drive a lot of gravel who have removed their mud flaps... Any regrets in doing so? My '11 is in nice condition and I'd like to keep it that way. I also don't want the sides covered in mud from driving said roads when it's wet out.

What's your experience? Thanks!

 

I don't drive on a ton of unpaved roads, but I drive on enough of them to understand the value of mud flaps / splash guards. In fact, the ones on my 2014 TRD Sport were some of the best factory flaps I've ever experienced - because they're long enough to actually stop something. That said, some folks absolutely hate them - because they're so long.

If you want my personal opinion, the folks that hate them have a legitimate point on them being long, but they're willing to put up with paint chips when they take them off. So, you need to decide which you value more, protection from paint chips or off-road ability. Only you can decide which is more important to you. Me, I value my paint and actually added factory running boards to further protect from stone chips, but they'd never work in any serious off-road situation.

 

OEM mud flaps? There are aftermarket mud flaps that are thinner than OEM.

 

If you drive gravel roads lots id say keep em on, helps out lots with the wear and tear on the underside for sure.

 

Yep.

Put mine right back on after a few days of listening to gravel sling down the side of my truck.

Trim em. They’ll still be functional without being in the way.

 

In addition to paint protection it’s worth noting flaps are required equipment in select states and You can be ticketed for not having them.

Chances of actually being pulled over for no flaps is very slim. But everyone has an occasional bad day and they can certainly pile it on after being pulled over for something entirely different.

I bought an extra set from Tom for when the inevitable happens again. When that day comes it will be set #3 to go on.

 

I wish mud flaps were "cool" for all trucks and SUVs to have. The lifted brotrucks without flaps are basically flinging rocks and other debris constantly behind them on the highway. Tacomas having crack-prone windshields don't benefit from flying pebbles.

 

I use weather tech mud flaps front and back. Solid! Will not crack and they use your OEM connectors love them

 

I removed the fronts from my truck a month after buying it new in 2010 but have always kept the rears on. The stock fronts were stupid long and would scrape just going over speed bumps. I was always meaning to trim them and reinstall, but never got around to it. I do have a few chips, but nothing crazy.

 

I drive mainly gravel roads. 50-60mph. I have RokBlokz XLs on my Tacoma and the regular RokBlokz on my wife'ss 4Runner. More flexible than the OEM flaps.

The plastic flares on my Tacoma are a mess even with the flaps on. The paint on the rockers and the rear doors, on my wife's 4Runner are an absolute mess. I couldn't imagine what either would look like with no flaps or even the OEM flaps.

This all depends on the type of gravel though since it varies regionally. Yours looks like pretty well packed gravel where mine is loose limestone that is constantly loosened up further by graders.

Your tires will also have an effect. My ATs flings stones while my wife's Dunlops aren't as bad.

 

I've trimmed Tacoma front flaps in the past up shorter, but my 09 didn't have them on it when i got it, and my 90 "hilux" pickup has a set of universal Rally armor ones on the back.
im in a mud flap state and never been bothered about them yet.

 

What most folks don't know is that the front flaps prevent much more damage than the rear flaps. Want to know the trick I use to show people how to mount mud flaps and predict how effective they will be? Take a simple yardstick and lay it flat on the ground with the leading edge tucked under the rear of the front or rear tire. Now, slowly bring the rear of the yardstick up. This is what I call the "theoretical path of a stone." Makes sense, right? Now, move the flap you are planning on installing down until it hits the yardstick. Adjust the yardstick and the flap accordingly. You'll be absolutely amazed how low a front flap has to be to be really effective. (This is also why I use running boards.) In the rear - because there is so little fender behind the tire - it's a lot easier to fully protect things.

 

I trimmed my fronts about 4ish inches because they kept catching on stuff as they were ridged and very long. I have running boards that also help a lot from gravel rocks. Rears I left alone. With running boards, I have not noticed any additional damage from trimming the fronts.

 

You scrap you flaps going over speed bumps??

 

Mall curbs/speed bumps. 220/221.
Some of the speed bumps around here are ridiculous. Or if you're leaving a particular gas station that I always use, there's a dip with a French drain where their lot joins the main road. Scrape. Those front flaps were stupid long.

 

I kept knocking off the front flaps when I backed into my mom’s narrow driveway and ran over the curb. That was 2008 or there abouts, and have kept them off. The rears would also catch and I trimmed about two inches when I got aftermarket. I took them off about six months ago and have kept them off. I now like the bare look of it.

 

I appreciate everyone's input, thank you all for comments and experiences.

I've had the Tacoma for 2 years now and love it. The dealership I purchased from called, left a voicemail and texted me asking to buy my truck back and I told them no thank you, I don't even want to hear the offer.

I've put 20k miles on the Tacoma in the 2 years. I like the look of flapless, but appreciate the function of the flaps, (until I need to back up over an obstacle --- lol).

I think I saw a softer style flap (not on a Tacoma) in a YouTube video by 4WD 24-7, where they were pulled back by a rope or something, keeping them from getting sandwiched in between the terrain and tire when backing up in gnar sections. (Great 4 wheeling channel, btw. They go hard and aren't afraid of breaking things or getting water in their trucks. Traction boards and winches used regularly... Hahaha)

Again, thanks for the input. More experiences and advice is always welcome. I think I'm gonna have to find a happy medium here.

 

220/221....whatever it takes... Classic.

 

I average 1000-2000 miles/year on gravel roads and have done so since the 1970's. My 2007 Tacoma is the only vehicle I've ever owned that came with mudflaps and they broke off in 2010. I've not had mudflaps for 12 years on that truck. At least 95% of the other vehicles traveling on those gravel roads don't have mudflaps either. Never had a single issue. There is no chipped or damaged paint on my 231,000 mile Tacoma, nor the 127,000 mile F150.

Where you have issues is when the tires poke outside the fenders and mud flaps won't help that. If you are running tires wider than the fenders you need fender flares or extensions.

 

I just cut my front ones so that they were the same distance from the ground as my rear ones. So far so good.
My Tacoma is the first truck that had mud flaps. I never felt like l needed them on my others, though.