az4x4runner

Anybody who has no running boards and no front mud flaps, have you noticed any paint damage or anything from going offroad? I am thinking about taking my runningboards off tomorrow but I'm not sure if my tires will throw stuff at the doors to much. Thanks for any input..
-Bryan

midiwall

Hey! I resemble that situation!

I haven't had an issue at all, but I haven't left pavement since pulling the running boards (about 5 weeks ago). The normal around town and highway driving hasn't done any damage at all.

I _want_ to get mud flaps on it, but it's lower on The List than other things.

HiLux_1990

Hi all... long-time lurker, just signed up the other day

Bryan: you don't mention how far your tyres stick out or if you have flares or not?

But...
when I got my 1990 pickup the previous owner had decided he liked the 'no mudflaps' look.
Combined with 32x10.5 tyres and no flares this has resulted in some serious sandblasting!

It's mainly due to how far the tyres stick out from the body (no flares), but I'm sure some wide mudflaps would help as well.
Driving through roadworks and newly sealed roads has also resulted in some annoying licorice splatter too :cry:

If those are both in check though, my guess is running boards would be unneccessary, but provide additional protection.

Dave.

RgrChu

I ran no running boards and no mudflaps for a little bit.......I went thru some gravel lots and the amount of rocks hitting the doors convinced me that I needed my bushwackers and some flaps....I still don't have front mudflaps and the occasional rock against the door still nearly kills me everytime.

Cebby

Geez, Roger. You are quite the early riser!!

I've been running with Bushwackers and no flaps for about 5 years now. I do hear gravel hitting my doors, but haven't noticed excessive chipping. I've learned not to "stand on it" when on washout is I can help it. I'm probably going to make some Jaos type at some point this summer. On road, when I pick up a stone in my tread and it flies out I hear it ding my door. It sounds like a tin can:cry:

Corey

iTrader: (1)

Bryan, you will get some rocks peltering that area if you take it off road.

I used (see my website in mods area) factory flaps from the '89 to '95 trucks that are available from the dealer.
They are a direct fit and the holes are already there.

However they are around $45 each, unless you perhaps go through one of the discount online Toy dealers as seen in our Vendor Links section.

That will help you out quite a bit to protect it.
The stock running boards with their end caps do a great job of protecting that area down there for sure.

L33T35T 4Runner

here ya go

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...&category=6766

note: that's not me selling them. i just found them on ebay

TDiddy

Pep Boys sells universal fit mudflaps for around $8 a set, they work fine for me!

Welcome to the forum HiLux_1990!

upndair

One thing I learned, is to not get to worried about things like stone chips if you plan to go wheelin. Trust me, I was one of the guys that would do a heavy wax job before a trip, buff after a trip, I even went to the point of installing expensive color matched metallic protective panels.

I found myself getting so worked up over a scratch that I wouldn't go on half the trails or runs...

Also, if you check your paint, you should have a pebbled finish on the bottom portion of your doors to protect from rock chips. That paint finish does the job pretty well.

Last, and not least, State laws typically require that your mud flaps cover the entire width of the tire down to the middle of the tire.

growinseed

http://www.yotayard.com has factrory mud flaps for ten bucks each. I lost a flap after a blow out on the highway, and ended up with sand /mud in between the front panel and door which is a pain to clean out. Get some kind of guard unless you really like the whole side of your rig covered in mud, road grime, etc.

Nathan

upndair

But I do like it covered in mud!

az4x4runner

Thanks for the replys, I think I will just leave them on until I can get some flaps. The tires are 31x10.5, and I don't have any flares.

Troudt

I got two sets of $20 flaps from jc whitney and cut them to shape. I looked at getting factory but that cost way too much and these look much nicer.

Flygtenstein

My sides got buggered up and I live in the rustbelt, so it was a big concern getting the quarters rotted out. I keep these on when I am on the road, but they are easily removable off-road. I have ripped off both rears, so now they come of when wheeling.

az4x4runner

Flygtenstein: What size tires to do you have on there? How much lift? I really like how your runner looks (Saw other pic on the Lifted 2nd gens post).

CTB

Ya, I got small paint chips from rocks being kicked up and that sort of thing, so I finally added a set of Tacoma front mudflaps after I had the running boards off for about a year. Here is a pic if you would like to see:

http://community.webshots.com/photo/...65480843TvogMl

Flygtenstein

Thanks, they are 33" MT/R's with a little less than 2" of front lift and around 4" of rear lift.

The mudflaps are cheapos from Farm and Fleet that I have screwed into the bottom two holes that mount the fender lining.

OicnaiC

I've been running with out front mud flaps since I bent up my running boards right after I got my Runner. I notice alot more rocks fly up and beat at my doors especially when going down gravel roads at high speeds, but I haven't noticed any real damage. When really offroading if its wet I do get a lot more mud caked on my doors but hey, that just makes it look cooler . What ever you decide get rid of the running boards, runners look much better without them

donc

IMHO alot of what the flairs and flaps do is prevent or at laest minamize the amout of stuff you throw off your tires. As the Ford owner said "who cares about who is behind me?"
I've alway bought flaps for each vehicle I own - to protect the guy behind me as much as my own car/truck.
I picked up a nice rock chip on the pass. side window Friday on the hi-way to Tacoma - a Ford driver who didn't pay the 40 buck for flaps

DrtRunner

That was the first thing I did to my Runner was rip the flaps off.
I think it really makes a difference if you drive on gravel and salted roads alot ( winter ). But ya, you'll see some marks- but hay thats what wheelin is all about.