3rd generation mud flaps

Hey guys and gals. I was just reading a couple of post on removing mud flaps or just trimming. I noticed on the 3rd gen all the pics show no mud flaps, do you think once they hit the dealers they will have them?

It just made me curious if Toyota is not seeing the need for them anymore. So many trucks on the road don't have them.

Sorry if this is a stupid post to some, but hey, that is what forums are for right?

 

I'm wondering the same thing. I really don't want to remove mine because I know how useful they are at keeping salt and rock chunks off my car (MI driver). I really hate the low clearance though and I feel like trimming them just reduces their effectiveness. I'm considering just doing a clear-bra material along the rockers and just taking them off. It's not the best in rock protection but it's far better than nothing.

 

If they do, I hope they are actually functional, and flexible mudflaps like the ones on my first gen. The stiff plastic ones they use on second gens are a joke and bust off in no time at all. Sometimes causing damage to the fender flares themselves.

 

Ha ha ha that is correct

 

IIRC they covered the front part of the rocker panel as well as the rear quarter with a plastic stone guard. Could be wrong though, I'll go look through the pics.
Best picture I found so far.

 

That is interesting. I wonder if that is something we could do easily to our 2nd gens after removing the flaps? I never noticed the different color under the back of the truck before, that is interesting. Thanks for the pic.

 

Yup. They'll come with it, and a secret "mud flap fee" will be added to the sale.

 

Glad I live in Texas, no need for salt protection.

 

I'm pretty sure the legal need for rear mud flaps is for vehicles behind the truck (preventing debris from being launched from tires to hood/windshield ), it has nothing to do with protecting the paint or the undercarriage, bottom panels of the truck.

 

Noticed that too. Looks better without them... Simple as that. I'm sure they will be on the production trucks.

 

It varies by state. We aren't required to have any flaps, as well as some of our bordering states. I DD'd the Jeep in my sig for years with 42's and 48's with no semblance of flaps, or any trouble from the law.

 

They're nice to have down here because when we do (finally) get rain, it can come down "enthusiastically." Mud flaps assist in preventing trucks from throwing 10' rooster tails.

 

They stated no need for mud flaps on the new models. They were not getting much use on the 2nd gen and only broke when you drove to work and went over speed bumps.
The new trucks are not made to be used off road in mud so they did away with them so as not to need to replace so many driving as a daily driver hitting speed bumps.

Cost cutting and trimming fat to get better MPG.

 

I'm definitely not a fan of the cheap/hard plastic ones on my '14, but they really do protect the truck, and even keep it clean in all sorts of weather...

 

Yeah, it's very hard to justify getting rid of them in areas that use salt and dirt in the winter. They really do save the paint.

 

Broke off one of my front ones wheelin'. Took the other one off.

The rear ones are still on.

 

http://www.rallyarmor.com/product_i...p-330?osCsid=49b8d64e438b714ecaf035b1ca863bb3

I think this will be my answer to breaking the stock ones... I'm not a fan at all of hard plastic because I've broken so many before. I know it's a matter of time before the taco suffers the same fate.

They're expensive but honestly they hold up due to their thickness and they're extremely flexible so they won't snap when you get them in a scenario where they're hit perpendicular to their position.

 

Son is going to school in Washington State. His buddy got pulled over (gen 1, with Calif. plates), for not having flaps....

Son has these on his 2013, and that is what I am going to do as well. They are flexible enough, that they bend rather than break. Going with the short ones. I do wish they had a 4X4 logo, however.

http://www.rokblokz.com/toyota-tacoma-regular-05-14.html

 

Unfortunately true. After getting my new 32" tires put on, I had taken off the flaps. I definitely like the way it makes the truck look, but with our shitty road conditions in MN I would constantly have giant salt sprays up the side of the (black) truck. I would also occasionally hear a loud 'thunk' on the side.

I bought those front and rear Husky flaps from Amazon. They look a lot nicer than stock and offer about 80% of the protection too. A good compromise I guess.