Rear full width hanging mud flap - retain or remove?

[Craig36]

This is a strange post, as you guys are talking about the hanging stone shield, not your mud flaps. Your mud flaps are directly behind your duals, and as the name implies, are to stop mud and some rocks from shooting out the back.

Rocks that get past the mud flaps are usually stopped by the hanging stone shield which typically hangs only a couple of inches off the road. If you drive on paved roads, it would be unusual for a rock coming off your wheels to make it past both. Tires throw rocks up at some upward angle. The odds of one shooting out dead level with road are slim and would go out under your toad. If you move the stone shield higher it defeats the purpose.(it doesn't hurt if it drags on dips. That's why it hangs on chains)

I have had four motorhome and two toads, and the only stone chips on my toads came from following trucks on the road.

If you drive a lot on gravel without the stone guard you have a much higher probably of shooting stones on your toad.

[Ajhyman]

We have a 2019 Essex Or Toad is a Ford Festiea .We Took mud flap off Less Dirt on car now . Less chips in paint 100% better with out it !!

[F4Gary]

[JohnBoyToo]

Your coach, your choice, your preference... so far

[cvretis]

On the way back to Texas 2 years ago, we got caught in a storm with potential tornados. Did IH 10 at 35 MPH for about an hour to get home where we has a safe room. The flap was swaying so hard, "How hard was it swaying?" that one of the chain hooks broke. I reattached with stronger hardware. Many states have mud flap laws for two wheels on each side and this qualifies.

[dans1999f-53]

Changed mine out to a 11 inch, no longer drags. Foretravel stocks the plain black ones like I put on. They are universal and need drilled

[tallmantwo]

Talked to a friend of mine he took his off and weighed it said it was a 100 Lbs. Is this true?

[zzotte]

I tow and have not notice any issues with my, I just don’t let my drag on the floor


Zzotte

[AFChap]

I finally removed the full width flap from my coach after having it on, then off for an Alaska caravan, then back on. Mine hung 6-8" from the road at ride height. It is now "shop art". We had a toad or two totally ruined by low hanging flaps on our caravan, too close to the roadway and sweeping gravel, etc off the surface onto the toad. I have factory flaps behind the duals, and have concluded over 18 yrs and 120k miles that the full width flap is only extra weight that provides advertising for the mfg'er.

[Schask]

I removed ours this last fall Made a lot of difference on debris on the road. It’s just free advertising fine Newmar. I tried to raise the flap up 3” but the bolts were welded so bad with rust I just cut them off!

[Schask]

Damn spell check!! Sorry. Too much wine I guess.

[Schask]

Jim. Then you must drive on all smooth and even roads. That’s not our world. Good for you!!

[CFXCH]

I lost mine due to the rubber deterioration. I will not replace it. I'm positive that it created enough turbulence to whip gravel and small stones up on the hood and a handful of grit and gravel in the windshield wiper area. It also impedes the natural airflow under the coach. Since it is gone, all these issues have disappeared.

[stonegully]

Took mine off because after 100,000 miles it was in awful shape and I had heard too many suggestions as to why it was a problem including but not mentioned in this thread, better gas mileage. One thing I did not expect, I could not believe how heavy it was. I would bet somewhere between 50 and 100 pounds. Have not driven a great distance since I removed it I believe it might be law that if you removed it you need mudflaps Which I installed.