A warning about installing fender flares

[Sykotyk]

Here's a tip. If you have the truck ten years, and the wells start to rust a lot and you sand and repaint the edges with some rustoleum or something THEN add the flares to cover it up. Otherwise, they're a waste on brand new vehicles.

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[lajlmt]

Wow.
You helped me decide not to get them.
Thank You.
Have a safe 4th.

GB

Ditto!

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

Yeah. Flares need to be well sealed to be worth it. Otherwise, as you show, it defeats the purpose. Why worry about rock chips when you're accelerating the rusting potential of your wheel wells.

That sticky tape used needs to cover the entire fender where it's covered AND then some type of silicone/sealant filling that void. There's no other way to get them to sit perfectly tight. Fine dust/salt will get in, especially via water.

Maybe this is why the Air Design flares come with a tube of adhesive?

HRG

 

[Mav_S13]

Maybe this is why the Air Design flares come with a tube of adhesive?

HRG

The Air Design instruction says to only apply it to the built in channel under where the tape is. Debris can still get under the flares similar to these that way. Best to just apply it all around the perimeter.

 

[Headbanger]

Thanks OP. The salt up here in PA would do a number under those flares. I wonder if the mudflaps are in the same boat...

 

[Back2Trucking]

Best use for the flairs might be to hide rock-chipped paint, installed just before selling/trading the truck.

 

[Mav_S13]

Thanks OP. The salt up here in PA would do a number under those flares. I wonder if the mudflaps are in the same boat...

If the mud flaps molds around the fenders and covers some paint, definitely. The Mabbet mudflaps I have on do not cover any painted surfaces so those are staying on.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Thanks OP. The salt up here in PA would do a number under those flares. I wonder if the mudflaps are in the same boat...

My other concern with the Mabett fender flares, is fading. A sore spot for GM was the Chevy Avalanche's fading plastics.
I am wondering how much environmental testing of their products Mabett does?

 

[ksc83]

The air design ones didn’t have that issue for me. I had to take them off because I hit something that caused me to damage one and it was just too damn expensive to replace just the one but when I was taking them off; there wasn’t anything but clean paint under them.

 

[MichaelHigh]

Wow.
You helped me decide not to get them.
Thank You.
Have a safe 4th.

GB

This is something to consider. It's goes up the side if the fenders and under them to reduce the edge rock chip.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

This is something to consider. It's goes up the side if the fenders and under them to reduce the edge rock chip.

Good idea.
Thank You
Have a safe 4th.

 

[MichaelHigh]

Glad to offer an alternative. I'll be getting some of this in the near future.

Mike

 

[Solo]

Might be able to get away with some vinyl decals.

Heh... Groucho style. 🥸

 

[Jah.]

Originally decided to get them but changed my mind after learning partial stick on . not interested in anything that requires tape to stick something on . just my personal bias .

 

[MaverickSVT]

I am not surprised by this at all.
OP good thing you took them off!
a few years of salt and moisture and dirt trapped in there would have been likely an issue down the road.

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