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What is this small front mudflap for?

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by nfowler, Apr 30, 2012.

  1. Apr 30, 2012 at 12:21 PM
    #1
    nfowler

    nfowler [OP] Member

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    2012 DCSB V6 SR5 Tow. My truck has small mudflaps in front of the front tires, about 6" wide and 4"-5" long. They are offset inboard and overlap the tire about half. Not sure what, if anything, they are supposed to do. Anyone know what is their function?

    Thanks,

    N. Fowler
     
  2. Apr 30, 2012 at 12:23 PM
    #2
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    They are used to break up any air tubulance in the air stream before the tires hit it, thus improving MPG on the highway...............'course...I kinda pulled that out of my ass, but it sounds good.
     
  3. Apr 30, 2012 at 12:24 PM
    #3
    OZ-T

    OZ-T You are going backwards

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    They are for when you are in reverse , duh
     
  4. Apr 30, 2012 at 12:25 PM
    #4
    DeeKay21

    DeeKay21 Lieutenant Dan.

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    LOL!! I cut mine off for larger tires so I'm screwed on gas mileage from what your saying Chris.:poking:
     
  5. Apr 30, 2012 at 12:25 PM
    #5
    4Wheelin4Banger

    4Wheelin4Banger Supercharged Toyman

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    That was my idea. We have them on our car.
     
  6. Apr 30, 2012 at 12:37 PM
    #6
    drsus

    drsus Well-Known Member

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    nothing, its just to finish the front end look. when you take those off and you look a the truck straight on and specially from 2/4 front, you can see a lot of exposed from suspension hardware, so they threw that piece in. "visual queues" as they call it.
     
  7. Apr 30, 2012 at 1:09 PM
    #7
    4Wheelin4Banger

    4Wheelin4Banger Supercharged Toyman

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    The only time you see them on the car is if your laying on the ground about to get run over.
    [​IMG]
    And the one I have them on my '11 Taco 4x4 are 4" wide & 2 1/2" tall don't hide any suspension hardware.
    [​IMG]
     
  8. Apr 30, 2012 at 1:21 PM
    #8
    OZ-T

    OZ-T You are going backwards

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    It keeps mud from filling the bumper
     
  9. Apr 30, 2012 at 2:32 PM
    #9
    drsus

    drsus Well-Known Member

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    well, not to many people are looking at your truck from THAT angle ;)

    and on cars they do serve aero purposes because cars are low to the ground and benefit form ground effects....a Tacoma? well, if Toyota was concerned about aero efficiency on the tacoma to the extent of putting these little flaps on, they would've done themselves a bigger service by not selling you a tailgate with it right?

    im not saying these flaps do an amazing job at hiding stuff, but they do help eliminate the excess gap from the upward angle on the bumper than exposes so much of the undercarriage/suspension.....when looking at it not laying done on the ground that is. Im only going by the fact that when i removed them, i immediately realized how much more crap i could see now when looking at the front end, so i re installed them.....The aero argument is probably valid, i just don't see how this huge brik wall of a truck benefits from these flaps.
     
  10. Apr 30, 2012 at 5:49 PM
    #10
    Catbone

    Catbone Well-Known Member

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    To keep your hand from slipping off.
     
  11. Apr 30, 2012 at 5:53 PM
    #11
    jtgroce

    jtgroce Got R Did

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    they're like little front spoilers for your tires......... you know to help keep your tires on the ground duh :eek:
     
  12. Apr 30, 2012 at 6:13 PM
    #12
    over60

    over60 Over70 & still a "Grumpy Old Guy"

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    They keep the "splash" of deep water puddles from going forward and all over your windshield.... with the wide tires we run, there is a bit of hydroplaning going on and some of the water wants to go forward and up and over your hood.... You've had that happen, right.....take these off and try that puddle again.... bet you get water AND some mud too.....
     
  13. Apr 30, 2012 at 6:19 PM
    #13
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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  14. Apr 30, 2012 at 7:23 PM
    #14
    MountainEarth

    MountainEarth Well-Known Member

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  15. Apr 30, 2012 at 7:27 PM
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    babytruck

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  16. Apr 30, 2012 at 7:30 PM
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    JayDirt

    JayDirt I owe it all to little chocolate donuts

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    I would start a poll with some of the answers so far...I'm claiming small mud. Toyota spent millions of $$$ engineering these trucks, so there has to be a valid answer somewhere.
     
  17. Apr 30, 2012 at 8:02 PM
    #17
    Night

    Night Well-Known Member

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  18. Apr 30, 2012 at 9:46 PM
    #18
    akhermit

    akhermit Well-Known Member

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    I was just looking at those flaps today, wondering what they were.
     
  19. Apr 30, 2012 at 9:49 PM
    #19
    Ugly Betty

    Ugly Betty Well-Known Member

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  20. Apr 30, 2012 at 9:52 PM
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    IDtrucks

    IDtrucks Unhinged and Fluid

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