What's the deal with the 4x4 rear mud flaps?

should be "4x3 best case" anyhow

 

Totally agree, I thought I had something rubbing or broken in the suspension the first time I drove over a tiny speed bump in the Home Depot parking lot and heard that horrible scraping of the front flaps.

 

The 2015 is totally 2nd gen. Your post however is totally 3rd gen. If you don't get the reference spend some time reading the 3rd gen forum.

 

When I bought my new 82 Toyota SR5 4WD I removed the mudflaps the next day after leaving the dealership . on my 02 Tacoma Pre Runner I removed the mud flaps as well

Mud flaps on a truck remind me of European vehicles !!

 

I wouldn't worry too much. I've always had lifted vehicles and no one has ever measured my mudflaps when I ran them. They're not too concerned about tires sticking out passed the fenders either unless it's ridiculously far or you're a complete dick to them.

 

Aside from breaking off, they did nothing.

 

Yeah I'm not overly worried about it. There's enough bigass beater trucks around here with huge lifts billowing black smoke that they don't even notice mine, except to think "Man, I wish my truck was that cool"

 

bro grab some white vinyl and complete that equation

 

Since you list your location as "Desert region of Socal" I'm not sure your removal of mud flaps carries the same weight.

I know some people don't think they do much but I have a completely unqualified belief based on observation of scores and eventually buying 3 older Toyota trucks over 2.25 decades that the trucks that have them removed long term seem to have more rust here in Colorado, which is already only a medium range rust and winter salt use state.

In my head I think it's maybe due to less direct spray on the underside, perhaps a reduction of road debris peppering the frame and sheet metal (thus fewer rock chips). I dunno. It's not a fully researched nor statistically flushed theory mind you.

 

or:

(c) A mud flap is not required if:

(i) the motor vehicle is designed and constructed so that the requirements are accomplished by means of fenders, or body construction.

See plenty of OEM trucks out there WITHOUT mud flaps.

 

I don't know what the rules are for OEM but I suspect that how the vehicle is delivered would be accepted as the norm. In that case if the truck didn't come with mud flaps then you wouldn't need them at all. If you modify your truck then Utah requires mud flaps that meet the 50% height and 100% width no matter what was the OEM configuration. Modification is any change to the suspension, frame, body or a deviation from the stock size tire. Changing the tread type is fine as long as the sidewall dimensions match the door jam sticker. I had lift and 33x10.50 tires (my door jam on the '91 said 225/75R15) so I didn't have an argument. Without flaps the lift I had exposed almost 100% of the tires even though they didn't stick out from the fenders. Just relating my experience and what I found out with a $50 donation to the city.

 

The terms 4X4, 6X6, 4X2 etc., have been in common use since at least WW-2 to describe how many wheels and how many get power. I don't see why the terms should be an issue. It is actually much more correct than the terms for lumber. A 4X4 piece of lumber is rough cut to 4"X4" at the sawmill. But after drying and running though a planer to smooth out the wood the actual size is 3 1/2" X 3 1/2".

Mud flaps however are a waste of time. Even where required by law it is just a stupid government regulation. The factory flaps on mine broke off after 3 years. I haven't replaced them. Been driving trucks and SUV's since the 1970's, this is the 1st truck that ever had them. Never had any issues with the trucks that didn't have them and haven't missed these since they broke.

 

When I got my truck there was one flap at the front driver's side and one at the rear passenger side, only.

Apparently the previous owner wasn't too observant. The remaining flaps were promptly removed.

Why do people post threads like these? Do they really expect people to chime in and validate their opinion on stuff like this? I mean...

 

I love it.

 

Wish mine said 4x2

 

Mud flaps are pretty useless except for seriously reducing paint damage, helping to prevent broken windshields on following vehicles, and avoiding the occasional ticket in some states.

 

I trimmed my mudflaps a little but still kept them on the truck. After 132,000 miles I have no chips or scratches on my paint but the mudflaps are pretty beat up. That said, for those of you who think they don't serve a purpose I have to disagree.

 

What's the deal with airplane food!?