+2 Fender Flare Development

Updated 10/25

Well here is your update kids, full fenders and bedsides are officially killed , dead and buried. All focus is on a set of cut out fender flares for the reasons listed below. Sounds like McNeil will have you guys covered on full bedsides soon to match their +2 fronts for those of you wanting to go that route. McNeil makes rad shit so glad there will be a solution for ya'.

Why am I doing flares instead of fenders and bedsides :

1. With a full fender or full bedside you have to pay to paint the full piece and paint work is getting stupid expensive particularly in states like CA Paint matching is tough too.

2. Shipping cost on fenders and bedsides flat out sucks.

3. Body panel quality - the average Joe would hate the wavy finish and imperfections of glass fenders and bedsides and if you want them to be OE smooth you have to pay a pro to body work and block the hell out of them which can double your paint job price.

4. A full fender is not needed for +2 w/ 35's coverage...this prob should have been #1 on the list huh So...why replace a whole fender or a whole bedside when all you need is a properly designed flare.

5. A cut out flare is a hell of a lot less expensive to purchase and to paint vs a whole fender or bedside and you could even just DIY bedliner them or Linex them etc.

5. Support and fit for camper shells, tool boxes, tonneau covers, bed racks, snorkels etc etc. Even if someone makes a full +2 bedside that a camper shell will fit over you will need to use something like KB Voodoo's bedrail caps to support the camper shell. The camper shell needs the more rigid platform and the bedsides will not like the weight in the long term.

6. All of the fit and finish issues with full fenders and bedsides, your average Joe would not be happy with all of the issues with headlight fit, taillight fit, door gap fit, hood gap fit etc that are common with full glass panels. I clearly understand that some people don't care about fit and finish and live by the mantra that the guy with the most trail pinstriping and body damage wins but the fact is that the other 99% do and want a product that looks as good as it functions and just want the best looking truck stuck in traffic twice a day...or while flexing curbs at the mall.

Progress - I'm on the 3rd mock up set, just deciding which shape and features I like best. Biggest decision is wether to have them tuck back in really tight at the bottom or go for more tire coverage at the bottom. In case anyone has not realized this yet your full inner fenders will have to be removed it is unavoidable when you are cutting your fender opening larger. In addition to the shape of the outer flare I am trying a couple of different things with the shape and cosmetics of the inner lip of the flare - all being done to clear a 35" tire with a +2 kit.

Production & Sales - This will be a product that I will own and sell myself, mfg'd by a local co for me. I will have a simple web page and use paypal for transactions. Name of product TBA " flares r us " ? JK A friend joked that I should name it absolutely nothing to do with trucks so when your wife sees it on your CC or bank statement it will look like you bought groceries...smart man

I have found a local company that produces full reproduction car and buggy bodies and the quality of their stuff is better than any off-road glass I have seen. Just as an FYI - the difficulty with glass and its fit/finish quality is that it heats up hot enough to burn you while it is curing. That heats causes warpage and shrinkage and when glass warps it can't be flexed or bolted back into shape on the truck like an ABS plastic flare can...so the production process has to be top notch. Some of you may remember another company that tried glass flares a few years ago called Safari flares...I don't think anyone actually ever got a set of them to fit because of that warpage problem and they had no actual mounting hardware they just sold raw flares and you had to figure out how to mount them yourself. So why not just make them out of ABS ? - the start up cost is stupid expensive, how stupid ? - you would have to sell a thousand sets to just break even.

I believe I mentioned this before too but not doing a pocket style flare with exposed bolts is much more difficult and more expensive as well. Long story - short version is it turns from a one step mold to a multi step process with hardware such as threaded inserts being hand drilled and hand inserted. I personally hate the bolt/pocket style look so I am determined to make these bolt on / screw on from the back of the fender using the OE fender flare clip holes with no visible hardware.

Timing - it's gonna be a while, just working on it in my spare time.

 

JK

 

I want pictures

 

Who's got the popcorn?

 

This is very intriguing to me.

 

Interesting...

 

We will not have photos until there has been enough interest expressed to begin the actual production process. Just the initial design and build of the first set and molds alone takes a team two full weeks of work so it is a significant monetary commitment in materials and labor for the manufacturer to begin.

 

Heck even mock up picks would help us make more informed decision.

 

Yup, I understand. Think of this like a crowd funded group buy project. When enough interest is shown the first set can be built at which point I will probably personally have to cover the design and mold expenses in hopes that the folks expressing interest will actually commit in the group buy.

 

So .... not even a design on a napkin? Huh ...

 

Noooo don't do it !!!! You're truck looks amazing with the stock fenders! I literally see it everyday haha

 

Chill out with that stuff please, the OP clearly stated that it is in the idea phase and that we are trying to gauge interest to move onto the next phase. I will personally be sticking my neck ( wallet ) out to cover the design and mold process to create the first set at which point of course photos will be shared.

 

Aren't you the OP?

 

Do you not have enough imagination to visualize +4 fenders and bedsides 2" narrower ?

 

You have my attention.

 

Then we want screenshots of 3D renderings

 

Good thought.