Do they really help protect your vehicle from road debris? How many here have them vs do not? If you don't - how is the paint on your rocker panels?

Trying to decide if I want to get them on my next truck - I have them currently.

 

Yes. I never understood why a vehicle would even be sold without mud flaps. It is a discourtesy to other drivers. I hate driving behind someone without mud flaps as you get sprayed with double the amount of debris/rocks. And yes, they do offer protection to the rockers from debris... keeps it looking cleaner for a little longer too. I would personally never drive around in a vehicle without mud flaps unless I stayed on clean pavement constantly.

 

With the current OEM offset wheels (+44) I don't see the need for mud flaps since the wheels are tucked in the fender wells. Aftermarket wheels with zero or negative offset I would definitively have fender flares and flaps.

 

Yes on both of my trucks. My trucks are 1994 and 1977. They have mint factory paint on their rockers.

 

I've never owned a vehicle with mud flaps and after owning vehicles for years and many thousands of miles have never looked at one of my vehicles while getting rid of it and wished I'd had mud flaps on it. I feel the same way about "bug shields". Personally (to each his own) the possible protection they would offer my vehicles doesn't outweigh the fact that I don't care for the way they look and I'd have to look at them all the time.

 

Drive one winter in a northern state where they put gravels down for traction and you might change your mind on mud flaps.

 

I've had them on every vehicle I've owned for a very long time. I feel they help me maintain the paint in good condition, help keep it cleaner longer. I don't think they do much for anyone following. If they don't like what I do throw up, possibly they need to back off. LOL, like that's gonna happen.

 

Drive winters down here in the South and you might change your mind about mudflaps too.
I didn't answer for anyone but myself.

 

Drive winters down here in the South and you might change your mind about mudflaps too.
I didn't answer for anyone but myself.

 

Won't drive a vehicle without them...stock or not. It is actually law that you require flaps here in Alberta.

Mudguards 64(1) A motor vehicle or trailer must have a part of its body, a fender or a mudguard that covers the width of each tire. (2) The body part, fender or mudguard referred to in subsection (1) must be above each wheel and (a) extend downwards at the rear of each axle or axle group to at least the centre line of the axle, or (b) be a distance away from the ground equivalent to at least 1/3 of the horizontal distance from the bottom edge of the mudguard to the centre line of the axle, but not closer to the ground than 150 millimetres when the vehicle is loaded. (3) In addition to the requirements of subsection (1), the following types of vehicle must be equipped with rear wheel splash and stone-throw protection that complies with SAE Standard J682: (a) a commercial vehicle or combination of commercial vehicles that is registered for a gross weight of more than, Section 65 AR 122/2009 VEHICLE EQUIPMENT REGULATION 33 or that weighs more than, 4500 kilograms and that is not a bus; (b) a bus; (c) a trailer. (4) A passenger car is not required to have a mudguard. (5) This section does not apply to a trailer designed and constructed for drive-on and drive-off low loads.