When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
The weather tech 1/4 turn fasterner has a plastic coating on the part that touches the aluminum so it should not be an issue
Interesting, I did not know that. Doesn't the quick turn fastener rub/scratch right up against and tighten right up to the inner fender lip? Where it puts more pressure on what it's grabbing the tighter you turn it? The mere installation would seem to easily rub off this plastic coating, not to mention fastener-to-chassis rubbing just from normal road vibrations, potholes, speed bumps, chassis flexing, etc.
I'm only asking because I'm still considering mudflaps to help keep mud, rocks, and dirt from getting flung up onto the outer fender and doors, potentially dinging up the paint.
so why not go with the OEM mud flaps? They're nearly the same price and are designed by the Mfg. for the specific application.
I think the design (look) and fit is the reason why. Plus I heard some of the other brand mudflaps tend to have a bit more flex to them and are less prone to breaking or damaging the truck when struck. Cold weather temps during the winter can play factor too on how brittle the plastic gets.
I think some of the older designed mudflaps also used steel compression U-clips that have sharp teeth on them that are meant to join the inner fender lip to the plastic mudflap right at the joining seam. I'm not fond with the idea of multiple steel clips with sharp metal teeth sliding and biting into my inner aluminum fender.
The installation design is just what I saw out there last year when I was researching this stuff. Things could've changed.
The plastic does not allow the metal to touch the alum body plus the plastic wont scratch off the paint
Originally Posted by CeeDee
Interesting, I did not know that. Doesn't the quick turn fastener rub/scratch right up against and tighten right up to the inner fender lip? Where it puts more pressure on what it's grabbing the tighter you turn it? The mere installation would seem to easily rub off this plastic coating, not to mention fastener-to-chassis rubbing just from normal road vibrations, potholes, speed bumps, chassis flexing, etc.
I'm only asking because I'm still considering mudflaps to help keep mud, rocks, and dirt from getting flung up onto the outer fender and doors, potentially dinging up the paint.
Last edited by 2015rubyFX4; 11-04-2017 at 04:27 PM.
How well does the Weathertechs, Huskys, and OEM mudflaps perform in the mud, or snow? I'm not just talking effective at keeping the muck off the side of your truck (and to some extent inside your wheel wells), but how do they hold up? Do they stay flexible? Do they put any added stress on the mounting point of the truck when the tires and wheels are buried in snow? Any issues when them getting buried in snow or mud and breaking off?
I don't own a set (yet?) so I'm not sure how flexible they are. What happens if you roll over a high enough curb... will they get torn off? I'm all stock by the way. My truck isn't lifted or even "leveled."
Do the weathertechs or any other brand prevent or decrease ice build up in the fender wells? This picture was from last winter, The build up was so bad I couldn't turn the wheels. I've leveled the truck since then. Just trying to avoid the buildup in the fender wells and onto the running boards.
Do the weathertechs or any other brand prevent or decrease ice build up in the fender wells? This picture was from last winter, The build up was so bad I couldn't turn the wheels. I've leveled the truck since then. Just trying to avoid the buildup in the fender wells and onto the running boards.
that kind of thing happens with every cars I’ve owned. I always kick off that build up in the winter
I installed the Huskys. If you get the version without fender flares, the coverage is fantastic, but I think the flare version is a bit shorter in the front and back.
If I had more funds to spare I would have gotten the Gatorback ones from Ford OEM. With the stainless steel weight those look fantastic (though some dealers put their names on top of the blue oval and unless they have the reputation and the customer service to back it up (like Island Ford) it's quite the nuisance).
The molded ones from the factory are awfully short and have an unsightly bezel. Weathertech sure makes a lot of noise over "No-Drill" but Huskys don't need drilling to stay put either, and still manage to have good coverage with good design. On WT's flaps the lower half of each flap looks like an afterthought. For what it's worth, both WT and Huskys will do a good job of keeping dirt and water off the body and rocks from bouncing off the side of your truck.
Unless you have a Lightning and the truck is barely sitting above the ground I don't see how you'll find a curb high enough to rip off the flaps.
"that kind of thing happens with every cars I’ve owned. I always kick off that build up in the winter"
I'm no stranger to snow country. I carry a hammer to knock off the big chunks. This was the first winter in this truck and I've never had one build up so much I couldn't turn the steering wheel and had to fight to get the door open. Might be the combination of the flat end on the factory running boards and sitting lower than my old truck.
this picture was from last winter, The build up was so bad I couldn't turn the wheels...
That's some pretty good "build-up" there. That's kind of what I expect to happen with my truck sometime in the next few months. That's why I was asking how well do the mudflaps not only protect the truck from all that back splash and buildup but how well will they hold up with that much ice frozen on them. With snow and ice clogging up your wheel wells, frozen mudflaps, and blocks of heavy snow and ice stuck to them, how do they hold up to all that coupled with kicking or hammering the blocks of ice off?
For the money, which is very affordable. I'd go and give at least one of them a try. I'm only familiar with the Husky brand for floormats. Based on what people have been saying on here, and other reviews... it's down to the big three for me: OEM, Husky or Weathertechs.
I could not get the WeatherTech ones to fit correctly on my 2017 Lariat FX4 because of the molding around the wheel well. It would not fit without some modification. I'm returning mine and ordering the OEM mud flaps.
11-04-2017, 04:21 AM
