Rear Monaco mud flap

[djhinds]

I am new to towing a car behind my MH and I just noticed it does not have the big Monaco mud flap on the rear. It is a 2004 Sig. and all others I have seen had one. I plan on towing a CRV with a tow bar. Does the mud flap really help? I called Monaco parts, they said it cost $850 and a $45 crating charge plus shipping. I see most of you have a toad, so what are your experences with or without a mud flap.

Thanks
Dave

[jimkate]

We are also new to towing. Here's my thoughts. Monaco's price for a rear mudflap, which is basically a sheet of 1/4" - 3/8" rubber hanging on or bolted to a light angle iron bracket is ridiculous. Check Camping World. They were advertising a rear mudflap installed for less than half that money.

I wouldn't do either. I would do what the previous owner of my coach did. He welded and bolted an angle iron across the back of the coach, then bolted a 3/8" rubber sheet to it. It looks good, and really does a good job of protecting the toad.

We also ordered a protectatow on the advise of some friends. It cost us $247.77 plus $40.00 shipping.

Check out their website:

Protect-a-Tow

I hope that with the rear mudflap and the protectatow, our toad should be well protected.

[MikeyG]

Dave:
Check out www.futuresalesrv.com. Lost mine on the road last weekend and will have the new flap and stainless logo tomorrow. Fair prices and nice people.
Good luck.
Mike G
2008 Camelot PDQ

[Diplomat Don]

I have no proof, but I think the mudflaps help to keep down the dirt and rocks. The flaps that really keep the toad clean are the ones right behind the duals. They should be very close to the ground since the height never chnages.

I had saved the same website that MikeyG posted in case I ever needed one. It has one of the best prices out there.

If/when you install the new one, make sure it's about 3"-4" off of the ground when the coach is aired up. Anything lower than that will kick up road debris. Also, make sure that whatever you use to connect the mudflap to the coach, the top mounts are a couple of inches closer to each other than the mounts are on the flap. This keeps the flap from rocking from side to side.

[Mike Canter]

Dave, one thing you are going to have to be real careful about in installing a rear mudflap is the auto air leveling system on your Sig. The original mudflap is on chains so it swings. When we hit the button on the air leveling system I usually have to run outside and swing the mudflap forward so it doesn't get beat up or the muffler doesn't get bent up when the rear of the Sig comes down. If the parking spot is off the rear of that Sig can come down real close to the ground. I have seen it actually come down so that protective bar under the transmission almost touches the ground. Before we level we have to always check under the rear of the MH for rocks and things. The other thing is that if for some reason the Sig has to be towed then the mudflap has to be removed first because when the front of the Sig is lifted up and the rear drops way down. That Sig sits real close to the ground in its normal position. This is probably why it was taken off by the previous owners or maybe it was removed because it was towed and not put back on.

Even with the original swinging mudflap I still get a few rocks and stuff on my toad. I would hate to see what would happen without it.

My recommendation is to get hold of the previous owners and see if they have it laying around. Maybe the dealer you bought it from can call them.

[Twomed]

Yes it helps a bunch. The down low and forward position is much better than the one out at the rear of my prevoius rig. The $850 is part of why M bit the the dust the first time....ridiculous!

[big jimbo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeyG Dave: Check out www.futuresalesrv.com. Lost mine on the road last weekend and will have the new flap and stainless logo tomorrow. Fair prices and nice people. Good luck. Mike G 2008 Camelot PDQ

A neighbor in the park where we are just bought one from those people and we installed it yesterday. He was happy with the service, the price, and the product.

Only problem was, the installed the hangers in the wrong place for his Camelot and we had to relocated them and do some rearranging of the supplied hardware. Not real difficult and it looks nice on the coach.

[Mike Canter]

Looked at that website for futuresalesrv and by the looks of it there is no way that will work on a Signature because it appears that it is hard mounted to a bracket all the way on the rear. Believe me when I tell you that if the parking site is not level and it has to drop the rear then something is going to break because it is going to come straight down on that non swinging mudflap. It could push it up and break the fiberglass or the muffler or something. Dave, go into your motor home and dump the air from the rear suspension and raise the front suspension like you are parked on a slight hill and see what happens. My wife and I have a routine on leveling that she stays by that rear OEM swinging mudflap ready to push it and slant it forward when that rear suspension drops. The Signature is very low to the ground when level.

The 2004 Signature with the Detroit Diesel does NOT have a jack leveling system. It was not an option so it is all done via the air leveling system so nothing will stop it from going all the way down.

[bdpreece]

There is a new Ultragurad mud flap on ebay right now that you can get with mounting hardware shipped to you for $129.95. I had an Ultraguard on my last coach and it served me well.

[moisheh]

Future sales is the OEM supplier for Monaco. The mud flap hangs via chains on each side. They are great people with fabulous service. Dont ask why I needed a new mudflap!

[Mike Canter]

Yep, a chain swinger will work. Thats what is on my Sig. I still bend it and have to take it off about once every six months and walk on it to straighten it out.

[djhinds]

Thank you everyone for all your input, it made up my mind. I just ordered a new mudflap on www.futuresalesrv.com . That was alot more reasonably priced than buying it from Monaco Parts. I put them in my favorites for the future...

Dave

[OnJa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Canter I still bend it and have to take it off about once every six months and walk on it to straighten it out.

That is o.k. for chunky folk, but for us light weighters, a hammer will have to be handy.

[jim.smithjr]

We had to be towed to Cummins Western Canada for a new exhaust sensor last winter. Our flap was removed by the towing company. The shop "forgot" to remount the flap and I never noticed it while we were reloading our 04 caddy on it's dolly. The subsequent trip through the mountains to Vancouver resulted in $1400.00 damage to the front of the car!

Cummins decided that I was 1/2 responsible because I didn't reattach the flap as soon as I noticed it wasn't in place. Of course, all the damage was done by then anyway.

The flaps work... when it is in place, we never have tow vehicle damage.