Do mud flaps really work?
I installed OEM mud flaps when my truck was new and recently noticed that sometime recently my left front tire rolled over some fresh line paint. There was some yellow spray on the mud flap, but none on the body or step bar. They don't stop everything, but they sure help.
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From: Indiana
I think the main reason I'd want mud flaps would be to reduce the amount of slush that gets thrown into the front end of the running boards. When the roads are ugly enough and the temperature is low, that stuff builds up until it interferes with the doors opening. I don't know if any brand would work better to reduce that. Any thoughts, I'm all ears.
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Joined: Mar 2016
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From: Georgia On My Mind
Added Weathertecs and tailgate stays less dusty.
Ran thru some wet concrete at night and didn't know it. Next morning noticed fender wells and mud flaps were loaded with it but zero on the finished paint.
They do work.
Pecked out on my iPhone.
Ran thru some wet concrete at night and didn't know it. Next morning noticed fender wells and mud flaps were loaded with it but zero on the finished paint.
They do work.
Pecked out on my iPhone.
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From: KCMO
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To answer OP, yes I find they help quite a bit on my 2018, but you will still get some spray and junk. Much less up around the door jamb in front, which was one of my main reasons for adding them.
Last edited by xrlizard; Oct 15, 2018 at 07:58 PM.
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Mud flaps for our trucks are for looks mainly because they are too small to do what they are supposed to do. The main purpose is to reduce road spray and rocks kicked up by the tires from hitting other vehicles not to protect the vehicle they are on. This is why mud flaps are mandatory for semis and why their flaps completely cover the tires and almost touch the ground. Also why they are on the back tires of the tractor and trailers only, none on the front tires.
The wheel well for normal vehicles are good enough by regulations to do the same job. The Raptor's fender flares are there not just for looks. Regulations require that tires must be contained in the wheel well but the Raptors tires extend pass them. So Ford designed the Raptor to have fender flares to cover the tires as required by FMVSS.
The wheel well for normal vehicles are good enough by regulations to do the same job. The Raptor's fender flares are there not just for looks. Regulations require that tires must be contained in the wheel well but the Raptors tires extend pass them. So Ford designed the Raptor to have fender flares to cover the tires as required by FMVSS.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2018
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From: The Last Best Place
I think the main reason I'd want mud flaps would be to reduce the amount of slush that gets thrown into the front end of the running boards. When the roads are ugly enough and the temperature is low, that stuff builds up until it interferes with the doors opening. I don't know if any brand would work better to reduce that. Any thoughts, I'm all ears.
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 647
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From: Medicine Hat Alberta
I have stock 20" tires and weather tech flaps. Recently it rained and I had crap all down the side of the truck from driving around town.
This weekend it snowed, the wet and sloppy snow; had crap all down the side of the truck again. To the door handles and even up to the top of the bed of the truck.
Granted I'm sure a lot of this came from other traffic around me; but I don't think mud flaps really work.
This weekend it snowed, the wet and sloppy snow; had crap all down the side of the truck again. To the door handles and even up to the top of the bed of the truck.
Granted I'm sure a lot of this came from other traffic around me; but I don't think mud flaps really work.
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@RL1990 is definitely right about the reason commercial trucks use them, but I think they still have benefits for helping keep your own vehicle a bit cleaner, and I'm sure they throw off less rocks and spray to other vehicles than a truck with no flaps at all. If you want to control what's hitting your truck, the small ones like Weathertech are decent, but if you want to really stop as many rocks as possible, minimize spray on other vehicles, etc., you'd want those Gatorbacks or other larger flaps that hang closer to the road.
