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Discussion starter · #21 ·
Looks like its a toss up between Husky and OEM but the 2-way tape to save the paint rub is the tie breaker in Husky's favor! Now if we can just get Husky to stamp the Ram head logo on them....!
Thanks for everyone's opinions.
 
Are there other considerations for us who have wheel flares? Good info in this thread :smiley_thumbs_up:
 
put some clear paint protector under those flaps or they will wear the paint down to the bare metal. see the post, happened to me too
http://www.ramforumz.com/showthread.php?p=1412398#post1412398

Thank you so much for this heads up!! I have the oem molded flaps on my brand new 14 Sport. I thought I had them tight enough where this wasn't going to be an issue, but after reading these posts I figured I better check now before it's too late. Sure enough, I had the scuff marks from where it was wearing down my paint! That is totally ridiculous! Mopar should not be selling these if they're going to damage 100% of the trucks they're installed on. I bet 90% of the poor Ram owners, that have the oem flaps installed, have no idea the damage being caused. So, I wasted about 4 hrs of my life this weekend taking them all off and cutting out clear body guard film to extend just about 1/4 inch beyond the mud flap. I'm OCD about my truck so I was very careful to get it perfect. I bought the film from Pep Boys for those interested. The film dried much clearer (used soapy water to install) then the pics I've attached here. I think it will hold up....it better hold up...kind of committed now.
 

Attachments

I just installed the Weathertechs. I have WTW Steps and no fender flares. The install and fit seems great so far. I opted not to install the extra 3rd screw. Now after reading all the issues it makes me worry about the wear and tear on the paint. I may opt to go back and add the clear protective paper like CrazyPete did.

I will try to post up some pics later today.
 
I was next to another ram at a stop light the other day. He must of had the factory mudflaps on his truck. Once he took off and was over 40 mph, they started shaking:SHOCKED: like crazy. I am still on the fence about putting anything on my truck.
 
Ram Mudflaps

I chose the huskys because they come with precut protective tape. The Ram ones get sand behind them and then the vibration driving down the road wears the paint off the fenders underneath and BOOM Rust! The thing you where trying to stop! Just my 2C as I caught on with my 07 Ram before all the paint was gone, but through clear coat in a year. I also skipped the one additional mounting screw, not needed like others stated.
I had the same thing happen on my 2012 ram 1500. 6 months from new the dirt and small gravel got trapped behind the flaps and wore the paint of through the primer. My dealer had to repaint my front quarter panels. They do not fit good enough to seal grime out and I believe the dealer didn't install them right either. Got a new 2014 and asked the dealer if they would install over the factory guards that come on the trucks now and they said yes. Had them put on again and they installed them just like they did before without the factory protectors. apparently they do not work with them. Had them take them off. But a pair of weather tech to see how well they will fit.
 
Husky`s on all 4 corners. (OEM flaps ruin the paint, hold ALOT of snow/slush within them, due to a deep dish design at the bottom) I completely siliconed all the way around the mud flaps. No water or dirt can ever get between the mud flap and the body panels. Did not add the extra screw in each flap either, never had to on any of the other rams i`ve owned. Once siliconed, no damage to paint or wear factors, no flapping in the breeze going down the highway, not one issue using this install method. I even sealed up the whole wheel well(s) where the plastic inner fender protectors attach to the metal body panels, with black permatex silicone. All the mounting screws got siliconed to protect them from rusting as well. I`ve installed the factory stainless wheel to wheel step boards, almost touch the husky flaps on the front, i`m confident they`ll be just fine. Another thing i liked about the Husky`s, is the fact that they are wider, which is perfect for the sport trucks with the 20" tires. Having drove in crappy weather the last few days, the Husky`s have done a remarkable job keeping road debris off the side of the truck... something i cant say for the OEM flaps. Fit & finish of the Husky`s was very good, actually fit better than the OEM flaps on past rams i`ve had.
 
Mopar has rubber mudflaps that work on the wheel-to-wheel steps. Look good, block more mud, easy to install.
I`ve had the ones you`re talking about in the past, they like to hold water, snow, slush, salt, in between the flap and the body, causing rust issues, mainly because they shake badly at higher speeds, which in turn, rubs the paint off. At least thats what i experienced with them. Had to have my 2010 sport fixed twice due to rusting out (where they were mounted) by using those big rubber OEM flaps. I have switched to Husky`s and i also seal them up with silicone... no water/road salt gets in, no rusting issues anymore. Maybe others will have better luck with them, i didnt. I would never recommend them to anyone that wants to preserve their truck.
 
Husky`s on all 4 corners. (OEM flaps ruin the paint, hold ALOT of snow/slush within them, due to a deep dish design at the bottom) I completely siliconed all the way around the mud flaps. No water or dirt can ever get between the mud flap and the body panels. Did not add the extra screw in each flap either, never had to on any of the other rams i`ve owned. Once siliconed, no damage to paint or wear factors, no flapping in the breeze going down the highway, not one issue using this install method. I even sealed up the whole wheel well(s) where the plastic inner fender protectors attach to the metal body panels, with black permatex silicone. All the mounting screws got siliconed to protect them from rusting as well. I`ve installed the factory stainless wheel to wheel step boards, almost touch the husky flaps on the front, i`m confident they`ll be just fine. Another thing i liked about the Husky`s, is the fact that they are wider, which is perfect for the sport trucks with the 20" tires. Having drove in crappy weather the last few days, the Husky`s have done a remarkable job keeping road debris off the side of the truck... something i cant say for the OEM flaps. Fit & finish of the Husky`s was very good, actually fit better than the OEM flaps on past rams i`ve had.
ditto, thats the reason I get plain flat plastic cheap ones from pep boys. No salt / slush collection, no paint marring or scraping / rubbing. They wont win a contest in appearance, but are functional.
 
I don't plan on putting any mud flaps on my sport, I personally don't care for the look plus I have step rails which block most of the rocks down the side of the truck except behind the rear wheels but that's only a few inches with the spats.
 
I don't plan on putting any mud flaps on my sport, I personally don't care for the look plus I have step rails which block most of the rocks down the side of the truck except behind the rear wheels but that's only a few inches with the spats.

I have to somewhat agree with you... i hate the look of flappers on my sport too, BUT, i cant deal with the rockers gettin slammed with rocks from the tires and salty roads flinging sh!t all up the side of my truck. And if your step tubes stick out from the rocker panels, you might want to add chip guard protection. These rocker panels are VERY thin, they dent VERY easy, i learned the hardway... the step tubes/rails dont protect the rockers from anything.
 
I have the OEM molded mud flaps on my 14 Sport. I had them installed at delivery and the dealership did a great job of making sure they are straight, even, and tight enough to not move. I can yank on them in any direction and they hardly move so I know that they aren't moving enough for others to see while driving. I'm sure that if I pulled them off over time I too might notice some rubbing spots, but it doesn't matter. It's covered by the flap itself so you can't really see it.

The rubbing/vibration is not going to cause your sheet metal to rust through guys. Wear away the paint, yes. Cut through sheet metal, no. I have never seen a truck rust through in that area unless it was a 20+ year old truck and even at that, the rest of the truck is falling apart because the truck is rusting from the inside out. No way am I putting any tape on underneath either because (to me) that actually is more noticeable than the rubbing spots themselves. Especially as dirt, dust, and grime get underneath the edges of that tape.

I wouldn't be putting flaps on at all because I like that clean look. But after seeing how NOTICEABLY bad the stone chips look on your rockers, they are a necessity.

If you like the look of certain molded flaps, get them. It will be fine.
 
I have to somewhat agree with you... i hate the look of flappers on my sport too, BUT, i cant deal with the rockers gettin slammed with rocks from the tires and salty roads flinging sh!t all up the side of my truck. And if your step tubes stick out from the rocker panels, you might want to add chip guard protection. These rocker panels are VERY thin, they dent VERY easy, i learned the hardway... the step tubes/rails dont protect the rockers from anything.
I guess if I start getting chips I will do something but so far I have not scene any. My experience with mud flaps is they only protect an area as big as the flap is long. If you look at a truck with mud flaps that has driven through mud you will see a clean area directly behind the flap of about 6 inches then the whole rest of the side is covered in mud as usual, same area rocks will still be hitting.
 
I guess if I start getting chips I will do something but so far I have not scene any. My experience with mud flaps is they only protect an area as big as the flap is long. If you look at a truck with mud flaps that has driven through mud you will see a clean area directly behind the flap of about 6 inches then the whole rest of the side is covered in mud as usual, same area rocks will still be hitting.
Depends on how long you keep the truck and what you do with it.

I once never cared for mud flaps either so I thought I would wait and see what happened with my 01 Ram. I wished that I didn't. The truck was a daily driver and never really driven off-road. Not only were their more stone chips with every passing year, but a distinct dulling of the clear coat in those areas behind the wheels.

I did not make that same mistake with my 08 Ram, and what a difference. After 6 years, everything still looked like it was new.

The mud flaps are not going to protect the truck from everything, nor will they completely stop mud and dirt build up, but they really do minimize the amount of abuse from what the tires kick up.

Ok, so they may not be for everybody (especially lifted trucks), but for stock height or close-to-stock height, and guys like myself that really try to maintain a clean finish…it's the way to go.
 
My last truck was a mess with stone chips and dull paint. I had flares repainted and OEM Dodge molded mudflaps installed with good results. I dont care for the look, but plan to install them on my new truck.

For my truck with factory flares I think the Husky product will work best and not give me the transport look.
 
I ordered the LongHorn Ram Edition: 12x23 Special Cut - TH_GB1223C09L for the front and LongHorn Ram Edition: 12x23 Rectangular Cut - TH_GB1223L for the back. They were ordered on Sharptruck.com. I hope that helps.
 
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