Mabett Underbody Cavity Shield Cover?

[Johnsfolly]

Saw this browsing Amazon.
So, this goes under the driver side rear wheel well.
Seems like it would just create a place for mud and crap to get captured and sit up against the sheet metal. And rust.

Am I missing something?

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[ianjay]

Maybe it would. People who have never owned a pickup seem to think the lack of a cover in this area will cause all kinds of problems over time. I use oil sprays on my pickups and road junk does get into these open areas behind the wheels. But my 2008 Ranger has never had issues even thought it lasted through many Canadian winters with no issues.
Having a factory cover on the other side confuses people but pickups have had open areas in the fenders since the first fleetsides (which have been around since the 1950's).

 

[oysterville]

Am I missing something?

A link

 

[Cherokee]

I’ve had cavities like that in other Trucks,
Fords, Toyota’s and never had rust or any other issues.
The Fiber under engine cover on my 2016 Ford Transit Connect had a good shovel load of dirt rocks and mud on top when I took it down for an oil change. I never drove off road.

Im leaving my hole open. I’m relying on my mud flaps to keep crap from getting slung up in there and open means lots of turbulent air will keep it dry.
I will be keeping an eye on it just because.

 

[Carlitos_92]

A link

I have one.

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/search/4196313/?q=Mabett+underbody&c[title_only]=1&o=date

 

[Johnsfolly]

Thanks.
I've never covered that area in my previous trucks and I think I will leave it alone and hose it out occasionally.

 

[Toddman45]

It keeps all the crudd thrown up by the rear ds tire out of the area behind the headlight cubby and taillight. I think it's worth it.

 

[geenweb]

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/posts/1061220

 

[ripperAZ]

Saw this browsing Amazon.
So, this goes under the driver side rear wheel well.
Seems like it would just create a place for mud and crap to get captured and sit up against the sheet metal. And rust.

Am I missing something?

You can get a lot of snow and ice packed up in there and then the heat from the exhaust will melt it and you always have a pool in your garage ever since I put this thing on and I come back from snow. I don’t have a pool in my garage so I consider it worth it. Probably has a minimal bit of Sound deadening as well. I also got the skid plate for the front makes oil change as much easier by not having to pull off the foam skid plate, which is actually a fire hazard.

 

[HeyBales]

Ford covered the passenger side similar area.

Muffler used to be right below the driver side area - so perhaps to prevent melting they never designed a cover in.
And when muffler moved farther forward - just kept the design they had.

 

[MetalsGeek]

Where I live, mud and snow leading to body rot is not a big concern so I installed one of the Mabett covers "just because" it sounded good (I wanted my truck to know I loved it). It fit fine and does the job, although the product packaging was "too good" and might have cost them as much as the product itself.

 

[Jasun]

That cover does look like it’d trap mud and water against the metal and just sit there. I’d skip it and hose out the area now and then.

 

[Tbone289]

That cover does look like it’d trap mud and water against the metal and just sit there. I’d skip it and hose out the area now and then.

Looks can be deceiving. It's not sealed. There are plenty of gaps around the edges of the shield for drainage. Some of the folks that installed theirs added seals thinking it should be sealed and not have drainage, and I warned them against that for the very same concern you have.

You can easily take the bed cubby out on the driver's side and look to see what's in there, and hose it out if need be. My shield has done a better job of keeping mud out than keeping it in. I'd much rather have the small amount of dirt that's in there than the layers of mud and slop on the back of my taillight that would be there otherwise.

 

[Bbisis13]

I’ve had cavities like that in other Trucks,
Fords, Toyota’s and never had rust or any other issues.
The Fiber under engine cover on my 2016 Ford Transit Connect had a good shovel load of dirt rocks and mud on top when I took it down for an oil change. I never drove off road.

Im leaving my hole open. I’m relying on my mud flaps to keep crap from getting slung up in there and open means lots of turbulent air will keep it dry.
I will be keeping an eye on it just because.

Same here. Have checked and found minimal accumulations.

 

[WJOHNM]

Most trucks older ones will rust around the wheel wells that cover will prevent that, now it will rust where you can see it!! I did buy one it's still in the box, I may put it on my new Lariat am picking up today.

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