Most guys and gals who drive trucks love their vehicles. They consider themselves "truck people". Some of the fun which can be had with a pickup, Jeep, or SUV involves off-roading. Equipping your ride to be successful at this kind of adventure means installing lift kits along with bigger wheels and tires. The object is to make the truck look and perform as "bad ass" as possible. However, once the truck is lifted, and the 35's are bolted in place, something is still missing. You may see too much of a gap between the wheel and the fender. Or, you may find that your fat new tires are throwing too much dirt and debris up against your sheet metal.
Of course, you are not required to go off-roading once you're done these modifications. We know that it can be done "just because" that's the look you like. We like it too! The good news is, whether you are an avid off-roader or not, you can invest in a set of fender flares for your truck. Fender flares are one of those accessories which serve both form and function. They will protect your paint from the ravages of the weekend trail ride, and they will complete that killer look that you worked so hard to get with all the other accessories you've installed. And we're not done with the good news: fender flares are surprisingly affordable, and easy to install. Most kits can be installed WITHOUT drilling or cutting. Let's look more closely at some of the fender flare options for your truck.
Best Choice For Fender Flares
As you scroll through the choices of fender flares at our website, you will begin to notice some similarities, as well as some differences among these choices. First observation: the pictured items are a flat or semi-gloss black. Just about all these fender flares are made from ABS plastic, meaning, it's a durable, tough, long-lasting material that will stand up to the elements, on-road and off. As the truck owner, you have the option to leave the flares black, or, paint them to match your rig. If you do decide to paint, please be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions. Painting is not difficult, however, the plastic needs to be prepped in a particular way to ensure best paint adhesion.
Next observation: the "size" of the flare varies, with some flares maintaining a profile very close to the factory fender, with others extending out quite a few inches. The deciding factor for you may well be the amount by which your tires stick out from the fenders. If you are running the factory OEM set-up, and still want flares, stay with models with names like "OE Style" or "OEM Fender Flares".
Do you need a more aggressive look, and want flares with exposed bolts? As we stated earlier, most fender flares can be installed without drilling. You will be pleasantly surprised to know that many of the fender flare designs with that exposed bolt look still don't require a drill! The exposed "bolts" are for show only. Examples of this style include "M1 Fender Flares", "Bolt-On Style Fender Flares", and "Pocket Style Fender Flares".
By the way, as you wander through our listings, you may find phrases such as "height 6 inches, tire coverage 2 inches". This is designed to give you some idea of the size of the flare. In the cited example, the flare itself is 6" high, and extends out from the fender by 2 inches. Look for this info, as it will greatly help you choose the fender flare that will best achieve your goals.
Are you the guy or gal who went to the max with the new wheels and tires? It sounds like you are also willing to make more extensive modifications to the truck to get the look you want. If you're ready to cut sheet metal, look at the "Cut-Out Fender Flares". This set-up guarantees the best protection AND clearance for your rig. Keep in mind that depending on your mechanical and bodywork skills, fender flares which require sheet metal cutting may mean the use of a professional installer.
Jeeps have a unique look, and a rabid audience. Let's face it: this company has built its world-wide success in large part by sticking with a design that dates back to World War II (before everyone at CARiD was born). So it stands to reason that Jeeps require a particular style of fender flare, and several companies have stepped up to produce the goods. Smittybilt delivers with their XRC Fender Flares, also available in a Tubular design. A 6 inch Wide Fender Flare is also among their offerings. Rugged Ridge makes an All Terrain Fender Flare for Jeeps as well as other brand trucks.
We've mentioned several times that fender flares are easy to install, and that most of them do not require drilling. The vast majority of these installs will use existing screws and holes already in place on the truck. Where additional fasteners are needed, a common way to provide this is by use of a clip which slips over the fender lip. A screw can then pass though the fender flare and into the clip, again, without use of a drill. Of course, the Cut-Out Fender Flares need some aggressive sheet metal cutting, ideally, using a power tool like a cut-off wheel.
Your final decision is whether to go with fender flares for just the front fenders, just the rear fenders, or a set for all four corners. Before you decide, check out some of the very favorable pricing on our website: in some cases, purchasing the set of 4 can save you $100 over the purchase of the front set plus the rear set. For us, putting flares on just one end of the truck only works if there are very different sized tires on one axle or the other. We prefer the unified look of 4 fender flares, so as the truck is viewed from the side, it has that purposeful and complete look. Whichever you decide, you will likely agree that your truck feels incomplete without those ruggedly beautiful fender flares installed!