Mud flaps?

Let me preface this by saying I really dont do much off-roading, but Im thinking my rig would look better without the mud flaps, but Im concerned about the paint getting damaged from dirt/debris behind the tires.

Is it a good idea to take them off, and has anybody experienced any paint issues by doing so?

Thanks!

 

Mine are off on the front... sort of a prerequisite with tires near 33". No issues at all except for that little line left behind from where they rubbed the paint.

 

Just take the front off....

 

I have a 2014 off road and the front broke off while backing up on a 4" curb.

So I only run the back and plan to trim those.

No paint issues this far except light marks where they once were.

 

I'm one of the few (the proud) people who keep the mud flaps on. I've done some pretty insane things in the truck off road and I've only had the mudflap come off twice in 140k miles. I should also add that it is only ever an issue when backing up on ridiculous terrain. So moral of the story is....never back down. Never surrender!

And I'm running 34s in case anyone is wondering.

 

I took mine off the first day I bought it. It is preference though.. They are very easy to take off, worst case scenario you just put them right back on

 

Great looking truck, all the same!

 

Yep, I bought a pack of the plastic anchors/rivets that hold them in. That way if one of them ever comes out I just pop it back in with new anchors.

 

Rivets? Mine are held in Philips head screws.

 

Mine went to the trash can...

 

I believe there are 3 philips/hex head screws on the rears AND 2 or 3 plastic pop rivets. The screws tend to hang on and pull through the mud flap when it comes off. But the pop rivets just break off and need to be replaced.

 

They should make moving there illegal.

 

Totally understandable, they are probably mandatory here in Oregon but I dont know anyone who has been gig'd by the cops over it.... yet!

 

Fo sho

 

@iwashmycar what size are those? 34/10.5/17? Mine measure out to 33.25" actual.

 

34x10.5x17

probably helps with stock wheels. putting them on a 9" gives you like 32.25

 

I think most states have mud flaps laws but enforcement is spotty to nil. Except Moab, UT. They will.

I took my stock plastic ones off but I do care about keeping muck and road salt off somewhat (frame rot being what it is). So I made heavy ones from 1/4" rubber. They give over stuff but provide some mudflapiness.

 

I only run them on the back. The length definitely isn't legal, but at least the cop sees they are there

 

Interesting. yeah I didn't think about the wheel being a factor. And you should be measuring horizontally right? Otherwise the "squish" from the weight of the truck changes the diameter. If you measure across them horizontally you get a more accurate measurement that's not dependent on truck weight and tire pressure.

 

I believe most of the time the law says something to the effect that the flap must cover tread side-to-side and like 50% of the height. Something like that. Yours may meet it, hard to say.

One thing that I wonder is if you're not in compliance with some DOT law I wonder if it's better to not have them at all. IOW, let's say your tires extend beyond the edge of the flaps I bet unless he was looking for flaps specifically the cop would be less likely to notice that your flaps are not there at all instead of them being obviously undersized. Does that make sense?