Do I really need Mudflaps?

Do I really need mud flaps to protect against paint chips if I'm rarely off road, or is this issue over-hyped? Running +20mm SCS wheels with 285/70/17s resulting in a fair amount of poke. Really don't like the look of mudflaps but will get them if my paint is going to get destroyed without them.

 

they will definitely help but its your truck
https://rokblokz.com/?gad_source=1&...ZhCSTNGQSuNCEgmeqN-Pu4HSdSTWfZoxoClm0QAvD_BwE

 

I highly suggest them...your bedside will thank you

 

Get them. Seems many have had issues with rock chips on the 4th gen. Other drivers on the road will appreciate them.

 

I second the suggestion for RolBlokz

 

Hello,
I added OEM mudflaps shortly after getting my 2017 because any suggestion of moisture in the road would splatter the sides with mud. In my younger days I would have considered them geeky, but I do appreciate them now
-Tod

 

I've been driving 4X4 trucks since 1976. My 07 Tacoma is the only truck that ever had them, and they broke off after 3 years and I never replaced them. Never had any issues with damaged paint in several million miles of driving. Probably 1000 miles/year on dirt/gravel roads or off road.

Probably less than 5% of the other drivers here have them. Never had any damage from rocks coming from other pickups or SUV's. I did get a windshield chip when dried mud fell off a dump truck in front of me. And he had mud flaps.

 

We've gotten a huge rock chip from a newer bro-dozer Bronco. Watched the stupid thing leave the tire and watched it fly into the windshield. Woulda been caught if he had flaps.

 

As was mentioned by @Squirt, in addition to protecting your paint you may want to consider getting them as a courtesy to other drivers—— whenever someone without mud flaps is ahead of me, I try to avoid being directly behind them to avoid damage.

 

Mud flaps are a personal preference. I like them and my side steps.

 

If you don’t like ‘em, don’t get ‘em. Didn’t have them on my lifted ‘17 or my PowerWagon. The paint chips were the same on the flanks as the front of both those trucks.

As for other people, everyone assumes that a RAM 2500 is driven by some A$$hat who can’t find a fox to give about anyone else on the road, and honestly sending a rooster tail of slush at whoever is tailgating you is great fun.

 

I went with:

https://rekgen.com/products/gen-4-tacoma-mud-flaps