Truck and trailer flaps

[PaulCW]

For those of you that employ either mud flaps on the truck and/or the fifth wheel can you vouch for their effectiveness and tell us what make/type you use.
Paul

[Gib3633]

No one mentioned what I got so I'll tell my story. Last winter in Florida we traded our Montana for a Mobile Suite and our 2500HD for a one ton dually GMC Denaly. I didn't want to damage either unit and couldn't find decent flaps so went on the internet and came across an outfit in either north or south Dakota but I'm thinking North and the were selling Gatorback. These are weighed flaps that don't fly all over when driving. The flaps were dear but the installation kit was worse. The installation kit supplied large self drilling self tapping screws and that would be ok if there was any thickness to the inner fender. I nearly lost them last summer but the inner stud was into secure material. So I had to get 1/4 inch bolts and fender washers and secure them with that.
The flaps are great and they stick out about an inch past the fenders to protect the paint. As much as I like the fit and finish of moulded flaps where we live in Ontario Canada I don't like the brine and salt caught between the flap and body. Although the flush mount may not look as good ,the pressure washer removers the salt, sand , and brine. Just another idea.

[Winnebago_Bob]

Duraflaps for the truck.

[Mile_High]

I HATED my Rock Tamers and sold them off. They worked fine in theory, but in heavy crosswinds, regardless of how tight you got them, the wind would twist and distort them. I couldn't believe I got more damage using them than I might of without them. The bolts on the top of the flap scratched the heck out of my bumper, and when in a turn the flaps would curl up in the wind and the nuts on the back of the fancy nameplate actually scratched the front of my RV!

I know each rig is configured differently, and some of the 5ers are low frames in the front vs high (mine at the time was high), so others may have different experiences, but to me they were just junk and I was sorry I ever tried them.

Ford flaps are working just fine for me.

[TrevorMcKinley]

I have these brush style ones. They've always worked great to protect the trailer and haven't done much to ruin my MPG.

http://mudflaps.com/c-290500-mud-flaps-by-style-towtector-brush-system.html

[deltabravo]

I have Rock Tamers.
I like them, but I was starting to wonder what my fuel mileage mysteriously dropped.

I removed the Friday, and figured out they were the likely cause of my drop in MPG. Yes, it sounds crazy, so before I arose at that as the definite cause, I made another trip today. Yep, the Rock Tamers are the culprit.

I had them on my 2006 D/A. I do RV transport with that truck.... running the same short route, 220 miles one way, 240 back.

I installed the Rock Tamers towards Sometime in March (near the end).

Over the last 3 weeks I've made a lot of trips and never saw above 17-17.5 mpg empty, and typically 11.5-12 loaded.

Last week I hauled two identical trailers - 19' Passports. Friday's run (w/o the Rock Tamers) I got 19+ empty and high 12s loaded.

Today I confirmed the cause of reduced MPG was the Rock Tamers. Same one way trip going south, I got 20.2 mpg.
I picked up a 26' unit and am stopped for the night and am at 13.5 mpg loaded.

[Veebyes]

X whatever on the Duraflap. Had nothing for the first trip to Alaska but taped bubble wrap & cardboard across the front of the 5er.

Had Duraflaps on for the next 2 trips & did not bother with the bubble wrap etc. No rock chips on trailer.

[chevor]

I buy from Ryderfleetproducts.com. Cut to fit. I can't justify paying hundreds for a piece of flat rubber.

[rattleNsmoke]

I put a cheap set of plastic flaps on my truck. next time around I'd spend a bit more and get a harder plastic molded set. The MBRP 5" tail pipe tip melted a nice hole in mine last summer.

[Irish2]

I had a set of Rock Solid flaps for years and they did the job protecting my trailer. Over the winter because they were getting older, I spent an hour in the garage and made a set from truck mud flaps that attach to my receiver. I put some Chrome bottom plates on them and they look awesome. Also........cost to me $64.00 in parts and 1 hour of my retirement time!!!!!!!!!

[azjeffh]

Winged One wrote:
I use Weathertech flaps.

Have the same on my F250 and they do nothing to prevent rock damage to my trailer. They do however protect the truck.

[Gonecamping444]

Duraflap also,this is my second truck I have had them on.Just put them on my truck & the directions say as long as they are at least 3" from muffer that be fine.

[Winged_One]

I use Weathertech flaps. They are molded to look like they came with the truck and are no drill. Front and back. Had them on the last 2 trucks. Excellent.



When hauling the 5th, I add a louvered tow guard:

Tow Guard

You can sort of see in this pic that it covers between the tires. The Weathertechs protect the trailer right behind the wheels. Worked well to protect my painted trailer.



I bought the tow guard when I still had a SRW.

[RAS43]

I have Road Wings and they have been on two trucks over 16 years. Work well keeping the crude off of the trailer. I had to replace the flaps when changing trucks due to the height difference but they were available locally. I also have Duraflaps front and rear of the truck to protect it.

[Garry_Gayle]

I can see where the Rock Tamers will keep the front of the coach clean but they do absolutely nothing to protect your truck like the Duraflaps do and I would be removing the Rock Tamers everytime I unhooked because they are B**t ungly in my opinion.