Forum Discussion

Big_Blue's avatar
Big_Blue
Explorer
Apr 05, 2015

Skirt, no skirt, mud flaps, no flaps or nothing at all?

I'm in the process of getting a Roadmaster base plate installed on a 2015 Subaru Forester with a manual transmission to to tow behind a 2008 Winnebago Destination.

What do you use to minimize rocks & other road damage to the toad. Options include RV mounted skirts or mud flaps, or any of the shields mounted to the tow bar or towed vehicle.

What do you recommend?
  • I have a Roadmaster Hitch with a "Tow Shield" that mounts to the hitch mount. It is about 2' tall and a little wider than my car.

    Roadmaster also sells a flexible tarp like device that will prevent most rocks from getting to the car grill.

    RoadmasterInc.com

    Good luck,

    Fred.
  • Your toad is very low to the ground. I think you should be looking at something like the Roadmaster Guardian.
    Mud flaps or skirts would not prevent some debris from coming out and hitting the front of your toad.
    I have the grass skirt mounted to the bumper of my MH. I have had a few chips from debris. My Suzuki is higher then I am guess your Subaru sits
  • We had a Newmar Essex with a big flap on the back. After a year it fell off on the highway. We had more dings on the toad before it fell off on 81. I think when it's on it creates a vacuum after it that sucks stuff off the orad and deposits it on the toad.

    We don't have one on our Prevost and the toad is fine.
  • j-d's avatar
    j-d
    Explorer II
    I've heard you don't want a "rear flap" (near the very rear of the coach as opposed to behind the tires, and all the way across) too close to the road surface. I thought that was so you won't kick debris up when the coach suspension drops the bumper down. The Vacuum Idea is interesting.
    We don't tow that far, but I haven't found chips. Our Class C lost one of its OEM flaps. When I made the replacement, I made two out of a tractor/trailer mudlap (FAR less expensive than an "RV" flap...) and they extend about another 2" toward the pavement. Still not long enough to kick anything up. There's about 10-feet from flap to bumper, and I don't know what goes on under there underway. No evidence of stone chips, but if it rains underway the toad gets filthy.
    Three of those 18-wheeler flaps would create one big flap all the way across at the bumper. Reading the Vacuum Idea, not sure I want to do that.
  • I will clarify out setup.
    We have true mud flaps right behind the rear wheels. This knocks down a lot of debris and water. The grass skirt on the bumper is about three or four inches off the ground. It knocks down more of the spray from wet roads.
  • All good food for thought. I'm liking the skirt less & less and may go with the Roadmaster options.

    Cheers, Bob
  • Our 2013 Ford C Max has been towed close to 10,000 miles behind our Sunstar. No rock guard on the RV and no damage to the car.
  • I have mud flaps on the rear wheels and a solid skirt on the rear of the MH, about 4" above the ground. If I am driving on a gravel road I slow down to about 30 mph. No damage, but I have found some gravel on the car after driving on a gravel road.

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