Rear mud flap?

[dandandan]

Originally Posted by Crasher

After getting stone chips as high as 6' on the front of my custom painted enclosed trailer, I removed the factory Ad flap and paid over $800 to repair the paint job. 2000 miles later with no flap, there was still no paint chips on my fresh paint. My son went through the same thing with his Mountain Aire. Same result when the flap was removed. His new Newell did not have a flap on it or it would have been the first thing to come off. The only thing needed are the small individual flaps behind the drive or tag wheels. I've seen some that have nothing at all and no stone damage to the toad. Some like to have that big advertising flap on their coach, but it has served no useful purpose on any coach I have owned.

First MH did not have a flap and the toad got chips on it. Second MH has a flap and no chipped paint on the toad.


My experience is just one persons testimonial that the flap helped.


I am still open to some real analysis

[Trapper2022]

To each his own. I suggest you look at the lower edge of the rear mud flap. If it has no wear marks you are ok. If it shows any marks it is throwing rocks. That simple. This is not rocket science. Do a search and you can find plenty of people that posted pictures showing front of tow covered with rocks when they went to Alaska. Some people over think this.

Enjoy the journey

[GEM1N1]

Originally Posted by Trapperbob11

First thing I got rid of was the long mud flap with mfg. name. No regrets. If you go to Alaska or drive on gravel roads save your toad some damage. Get rid of it.

??? Does this kick rocks up at your toad?

[richard5933]

Depending on the location of your radiators and the airflow of your particular coach, a rear mudflap may create an engine overheat situation. Ours is mounted factory mounted just behind the rear axle and goes from the rear of one wheel well all the way across to the other side. Putting a mudflap rearward of the engine on our coach would result in a restriction of the airflow from the radiators and over heating.

Research for your particular make/model before adding one in the wrong place.

[Crasher]

Originally Posted by dandandan

First MH did not have a flap and the toad got chips on it. Second MH has a flap and no chipped paint on the toad.


My experience is just one persons testimonial that the flap helped.


I am still open to some real analysis

Why would you need more "real analysis"? You have said you get no chips with the big flap. I know I eliminated the chip damage by removing it. My analysis tells me I don't need one. Your's says you do. What more analysis is needed?

[dandandan]

Originally Posted by Crasher

Why would you need more "real analysis"? You have said you get no chips with the big flap. I know I eliminated the chip damage by removing it. My analysis tells me I don't need one. Your's says you do. What more analysis is needed?

One persons testimonial is not statistically based. I generally do not trust testimonials including my own

[Crasher]

Originally Posted by dandandan

One persons testimonial is not statistically based. I generally do not trust testimonials including my own

So you're saying that even though you have no stone chips on your toad with a coach that has a big flap, you don't believe it? If someone were to produce a statistically accurate analysis that proved that the big flap caused more damage than it prevented, would you take yours off knowing that you had damage without the flap??

[NRose]

If the mud flap is hung wrong (too close to the ground) it can create a wind tunnel effect and or hit the ground and throw loose rocks at your toad. If it is hung correctly, it can stop the rocks that get past the dually mud flaps and also help stop things like lumber in the road from getting to your radiator.
Ours did a great job of keeping the squirrel we hit from ending up on the front of our CRV. It covered the back mud flap.
I also think a custom design can add to your coach.

[garyre]

Common sense will tell you if hung properly and not dragging, also clearing dips it will provide extra protection in addition to mud flaps. If you pay attention to most of the ones on the road they are hung too low kicking up dust and rocks....Same for dual mud flaps if hung to low they kick up rocks which is not caused by the tires... I have both and experienced no problems thus far...

[Crasher]

Originally Posted by garyre

Common sense will tell you if hung properly and not dragging, also clearing dips it will provide extra protection in addition to mud flaps. If you pay attention to most of the ones on the road they are hung too low kicking up dust and rocks....Same for dual mud flaps if hung to low they kick up rocks which is not caused by the tires... I have both and experienced no problems thus far...

My stone damage ended when I took that big flap off. On top of that, my current coach does not have the small flaps behind the tag wheels and I still did not have stone damage on my freshly painted enclosed trailer. My point is that in my case the big rubber flap served no useful purpose and cost me over $800 to repair its damage. There is no indication that it was dragging and it's no longer causing damage sitting on the ground next to my shop.

[F4Gary]

Originally Posted by garyre

Common sense will tell you if hung properly and not dragging, also clearing dips it will provide extra protection in addition to mud flaps. If you pay attention to most of the ones on the road they are hung too low kicking up dust and rocks....Same for dual mud flaps if hung to low they kick up rocks which is not caused by the tires... I have both and experienced no problems thus far...

My flap was well hung () and I would constantly find small pebbles on my windshield wipers. Now I don't.
My car got just as dirty in wet weather with the flap as without.
That flap is just the equivalent of a big gold chain necklace.