Splash Guards

God I feel like a turd genner writing this but has anyone tried ARK splash guards? AFAIK the three companies I see making aftermarket guards are Rad Rubber Designs, ARK and Geartech Customs. I have seen some having issues with their newish guards splitting. I have seen @eon_blue mention it, as well as @CrippledOldMan.

What companies seem to have lasted the longest? After years of running nothing I kinda want to try to help keep some shit out of the bay again.

Of course I know I can DIY, but also kinda over DIY'ing everything I do.

 

I’m currently considering replacing my old splash guards. Not sure which ones are good. If you did go the diy route, what material would you use?

 

what pisses me off about the Rad Rubber design is,
1. they're expensive
2. I've done no off roading at all since I installed them

So to say I'm disappointed with them tearing is an under statement. I'll just keep an eye on them and see how long they last.

 

I installed the Geartech customs splash guards in September 2019, they started cracking last year, so were probably good for 2-3 years. If/when I get around to replacing them I'll probably trace the splash guards onto new material. I think I read on here about someone using a conveyor belt as the material, although they were fairly pricey when I looked on ebay.

 

hmmm, I have some questions old treadmill belts laying around somewhere

 

Never thought about using a treadmill belt.. I bet that would be much easier to find.

 

yeah mine started cracking and splitting around then too. My OEM ones lasted longer than that but my truck was also garaged most of its life until I got it. But yeah I expected they'd last longer.

 

Not sure, but this guy made a template for them so that's cool.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/pdf-template-for-splash-guard-fender-liner-thingies.654551/

 

The garaged element may play into it (?). I also ordered a set from geartech back in 2019 and so far no cracking or any other issues. Still fit like a glove.

I confess I haven't been treating them on a regular basis but cnote did mention in his thread that they should be treated 4-6x/year or after heavy use. The product he referenced advertises 'UV inhibitors to prevent fading and cracking'. When I have sprayed them, I've pulled them from the truck and used some 303 protectant on them.

 

rad rubber has been good for a 5 months…
So they tear relatively quickly?

 

Did you contact the seller? Interested to see how customer service is with these companies.

So you have geartech and not rad rubber?

It's crazy to need to protect something that is supposed to protect the motor. I am sure OEM toyota didn't need this type of protection to last the 10-15 years before they finally tore?


Ao I guess no one on here at least in this thread has tried ARK yet?

 

I just searched his thread because you now have my OCD wondering if I'm going to have to replace them anytime soon - out of 15 pages no mention of the product cracking. @Blackdawg adopted them early in 2017, how did/have your splash guards from cnote/geartech held up Monte? @UtahTacoma02 also was an early adopter.

When I replaced mine, my OEM passenger side was still decent, driver side was in 2 pieces and cracked to hell and back. I'm ok if these fail sooner than the OEM but so far they're going on 5 years and both OK.

 

My Geartech rubber splash guards are in good shape after a few years. I haven't specifically treated them with anything... But I haven't removed them since the install either.

 

I used the rubber liners for toolboxes. It's been on for 1.5 years and haven't torn yet.

 

mine are okay I think. But I also am smashing mine behind my resi mounts for my ADS shocks which help I think hold the heavy weight of them. One of them I think is cracked pretty bad. I'll have to inspect it tomorrow.


Also I have no idea which brand mine are thought it was just a dude on here selling them. Was a long time ago.

 

I’ve got Rad Rubber ones on now for just over a year and they’re just like brand new. Hell, my kid still plays with the squishy ball they sent with them haha!

 

Last time I made my own splash guards for my ol' F350, I found a local industrial supply store that sells conveyor belt material. Got a sheet of 3 ply industrial conveyor belt and cut my own out how I wanted them. Heavy duty but flexible, polyester reinforced and chemical and abrasion resistant. Here's a link to a site you can buy custom length pieces from.
https://www.rubbercal.com/industrial-rubber/heavy-black-conveyor-belt.html

 

Mine are still in a box minty, haha! I forgot I had these. I plan on putting them on this spring when I do an overhaul of the bushings and suspension.

 

RAD rubber don't last a year. They did replace the first set no charge which was cool, but the second set barely made it a year. My original set made it 14 years (original owner), so I did OEM again. They’re perfect 3-years in.

 

how much were the OEM ones?
Do you have a part#?