eBay Fender flares

Thanks for the info! I was aware of that as well The front fender flares should line up almost perfectly with the factory holes in the fenders. The back will need several holes drilled. At least that is how the bushwackers line up. I plan on using longer bolts and actually bolting everything down, because you are right, only the bottom edges (which I will be cutting) have bolts.

 

I had to drill 4 holes for the fronts with my Bushwackers. The rear needed all new holes to bolt through the fender.

 

Good to know! Thanks for the info

 

Cool
I bought the bushwackers, and was disappointed in those side bolts. Looks great, but rattled bad on the freshly graded or rough trails. Well, everything rattles on that kind of stuff but the flares were the by far loudest. Now that I'm in the process of solid axle swap, my axle is a few inches wider, and I'm going with 37s so I'm thinking to try the bushwhacker thing again. I might buy these knockoffs since I'm gonna have to hack them up anyway. Once you cut up your truck as much as I have, drilling some holes in the fender is minor

 

I think it was @tetten's build that I was following, and he had links to black oxide stainless bolts and washer that were the correct length to mount through the fender, if you don't want to use chrome hardware. I went with the black bolts and like it so much more.

Bolts https://www.mcmaster.com/#97763a360/=164q97k
Washers https://www.mcmaster.com/#96765a145/=164q9pz

 

I got it from @Socalduckslayer build. The stainless bolts look like crap, but the black oxide coated look way better. I tried to find black stainless bolts but didn't have any luck until I came across his build, McMaster is a pretty damn handy site.

 

awesome.

how many bolts do I need to do this right?

 

Yeah, I ended up painting mine

 

Is the correct length for the bolts 1"? The link posted above show 1", I just want to make sure before I order any!

 

Just read through tetten's build. Looks like 1 1/2" was the length used for the bolts.

 

I think that was the old ones I was using, the ones on McMaster come in a limited length, those are the ones I used. 1" IIRC.

Before I had the 1" black oxide finish ones I had bolts with some extra length to attach a liner on the inside of the well to protect the intake. McMaster doesn't sell bolts with the desired specs longer than 1" in black oxide SS

 

These are the links to the black oxide finish washers and bolts

https://www.mcmaster.com/#97763a360/=164q97k
https://www.mcmaster.com/#96765a145/=164q9pz

 

Not hating on your decision in any way just curious. IMHO purchasing glass fenders would have been a better choice than dishing out almost $500 for replacement fender flares that honestly don't do any good for the truck mechanical wise. If I'm mistaken and your intent was just for the bolt pattern look, then carry on, I apologize. I just feel that if you are trying to make it look better and give you the option to run pretty wide tires without throwing rocks on the body causing paint scuff, something like 2" bulge fiber fenders would have been a better choice, specifically from MCNEIL Racing: https://www.mcneilracinginc.com/products/05-14-toyota-tacoma-2-bulge-off-road-fiberglass-fenders Just curious, thats all. Hopefully those Bushwackers work well for you.

 

Good to know! I would think that 1" would be cutting it pretty close. Did you still have plenty of thread to screw a nut onto the back?

 

Fiberglass costs way more in the end after fit and paint. Then you can't run a snorkel or a camper...and they look ugly.

 

They were long enough for me. Had enough thread for: Bolt - black washer - fender flare - washer - nut (used as a spacer, and keeps the bolt attached to the flare) - nylon washer - OE fender - washer - lock nut.

 

Not sure on the Op's reason, but for me, where I offroad at, its mostly trees and large rock. The duraflex plastic in Bushwackers tend to take a hit and bounce back better than fiberglass.

 

Hi, no offense taken. My main reason for getting the flares was looks. It's as simple as that. I also hope that they are a but wider than the stock flares to cover up a bit more of my 285/70/17 Duratracs, but if they don't i will not be too disapounted.

The reason I went with the actual $500 Bushwacker vs eBay fakes is from my experience with aftermarket BMW market. I once paid $249 for a normally $600 bumper and the for was terrible. Body shop had to do lots of work to get it to fit right and I am very particular with attention to detail.

I want perfection but on a budget. And often times I had to buck up and get the real deal in the end, spending more $ in the long run.

So for the Taco I want to do things well the 1st time out.

 

Yes, there's enough thread to make whatever you want work. I think I used 4 stainless washers, an extra nut for a spacer, and 2 Teflon washers to protect the body paint. And a nylock 1/2 nut to tighten everything up

 

Yep. Glass is fine for the desert guys, but I wouldn't run glass if you do a lot of wooded, rocky trails. No deserts here.