Pros and cons of fitting mudflaps

[596]

I have had original Fiat front mudguards put on my new motorhome, I calculated that the trajectory of wheel spray could dirty the white front area of the van and certainly didn’t want that happening, I guess you just have to be careful when using ramps or going off road in case they get ripped off, I must say they are extremely expensive for two bits of rubber ?

Anyone got any views on whether they are required or not? A bit late for me but may help others ?

 

[Southdowners]

We find that the front of ours stays clean - it’s the back that gets filthy... really filthy, right up to the roof. It doesn’t help having 4 rear wheels though.

We were thinking of having a skirt put on but haven’t done so yet. I’ve heard that they do make a difference though.

 

[mike mcglynn]

I have just fitted some to the front of mine ,saves you getting your trousers muddy when you exit or heaven forbid the memsahibs legs ,worth the money and simple to fit .Remember when they were fitted at the factory as a matter of course .I am currently debating fitting some to rear .

 

[sally47]

Bought set from Halfords fitted myself easy and cheap been on for over five years and no issues when on the ramps Have full skirt on the back as well great believer in keeping as much spray/dirt off as much as pos works for me especially when bikes on but others might not agree

 

[PeteH]

I had one of these :- https://www.johnscross.co.uk/products/motorhome-dirt-skirt.html Fitted to the last R-V. I did keep the Cr8p down on the front of the Toad?.

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[596]

I hadn’t thought about the rear but what people say above makes sense, the front was easy as standard Fiat Ducato, I guess I will have to speak to Swift and see if they do some that fit their rear wheel arches, I have a 2.4ntr overhang.

 

[Silver-Fox]

I bought the really flexible material they use on rally cars.

Easy to cut to shape with a Stanley knife.
Nice and flexible for driving over undulating ground.

 

[Two on Tour]

Same as Silver-Fox.

My rears are wide and nearly kiss the ground and the fronts are Peugeot factory o/e but I find the cab side steps being that bit wider of the cab side, keeps the area rearward of them a lot cleaner than before I fitted them.

 

[Augusta08]

Those are neat side steps, I've got a damaged one on the Augusta I might replace:

 

[Blue Knight]

I have had original Fiat front mudguards put on my new motorhome, I calculated that the trajectory of wheel spray could dirty the white front area of the van and certainly didn’t want that happening, I guess you just have to be careful when using ramps or going off road in case they get ripped off, I must say they are extremely expensive for two bits of rubber ?

Anyone got any views on whether they are required or not? A bit late for me but may help others ?

If you've got a long overhang then fit mud flaps if you can. I bought a set of Rallyart mud flaps which go on an Mitsubishi Evo car and then fitted then myself. They are really flexible, so, that way, you never damage them if they hit/scrape the ground.

We found that our previous van (Pilote) with its huge overhang would collect a load of crap under its rear end but this reduced by 80% after the fitment of mud flaps.

They cost me £15 and 2hrs to fit and drill the aluminium supports etc.

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[BusyBuilder]

My A class has lorry type mud guards fitted, at 7 years old my vans underbody looks like new.

 

[Steve and Denise]

I fitted a skirt type brush to the rear of our A class just clear of the road it seemed to increase stone chips very quickly on our toad, so then I removed it.

I had much better results with rear mud flaps fitted close to the rear wheels, it was a tag not that that should make a difference.

Our new one has rear mud flaps and appears to keep the spray down quite well.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Front mudflaps were the first thing I fitted on our van. Proper Sevel ones ?

 

[Dorwyn]

I have OEM (Sevel quality) mudflaps and have been very pleased with them. I think I should have maybe offset the front ones a little more so they stick out beyond the body more, but they still have worked well. I've caught them going down a steep kerb, and also backing onto chocks, but with no ill effects. They do bend in such circumstances, and can make quite a noise if caught, but are stiff enough in ordinary driving. Perhaps I shouldn't use that s.... word on this forum!

 

[Scotsblood]

Interestingly our new Autoquest 194 has factory fitted spray suppressing rear flaps. Not something I happened to notice when viewing to make our purchase decision.
Have original Sevel front flaps ready to fit but it’s been wet every day since we picked up the 194 and I’m not that fanatical I will lay on a wet drive to fit them!

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[Larrynwin]

Front and rear mud flaps were fitted from new on my Hymer, as standard I guess as it was not an extra cost.
I have also fitted a dirt skirt which keeps the rear panel and toad a bit cleaner.

 

[bigtwin]

I fitted a skirt type brush to the rear of our A class just clear of the road it seemed to increase stone chips very quickly on our toad, so then I removed it.

That‘s interesting. I have long questioned the effectiveness of these as, it seems to me, that they are likely to increase the turbulence around the back of the MH and, therefore, not assured to reduce the ‘grit blasting’ of a ’Toad’.

Ian

 

[ambulancekidd]

I recently had cause to be following one of the new Scottish Ambulance Service Mercedes wagons on a rainy day & noticed that the rear mudflap is a full width item with those nobbly bits to trap & drop water.
I had a wee chat with the Paramedic whom I'd known for years at the hospital & had a good look over the wagon (it never leaves you lol) conversation got round to the rear mudflaps & he informed me that the reason for these is to avoid grotty road spray from being drawn back onto the rear of the vehicle.
This has always been a problem & with the ramps etc forming part of the rear door, the crews have always got mucky when using ramps & door handles etc.
This wouldn't really matter with a normal delivery van but who wants a Paramedic with dirty hands?
Anyway, the paramedic told me that these mudflaps are very effective at keeping the whole rear of the Mercedes clean!
I know this would not help with the front of the OPs vehicle but, surely this wouldn't be too difficult to reverse engineer on the back?

 

[mid4did]

I made up a couple of rear mudflaps from a rubber door mat and some thick flexible plastic sandwiched together with some mastic and cut to size.Mounted just behind the wheel arches.
Reason was the road dirt and rainwater was making a mess underneath.It got into the electrical junction box and caused no end of problems.
Just a bit of systematical wire changing to a new box and no problems since.

 

[Steve and Denise]

That‘s interesting. I have long questioned the effectiveness of these as, it seems to me, that they are likely to increase the turbulence around the back of the MH and, therefore, not assured to reduce the ‘grit blasting’ of a ’Toad’.

Ian

That’s what I thought Ian my toad had virtually no stone chips in two years with small mud flaps but was always dirty so I fitted the skirt thinking less road grime.
What I got was a lot of stone chips in about six months so I removed the skirt and fitted spray suppression type of mud flaps behind the wheels .
Maybe the skirt/brush should have been closer to the wheels ? Giving a better affect, anyway old van went new one came with two separate mud flaps just behind rear wheels.

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[Larrynwin]

That’s what I thought Ian my toad had virtually no stone chips in two years with small mud flaps but was always dirty so I fitted the skirt thinking less road grime.
What I got was a lot of stone chips in about six months so I removed the skirt and fitted spray suppression type of mud flaps behind the wheels .
Maybe the skirt/brush should have been closer to the wheels ? Giving a better affect, anyway old van went new one came with two separate mud flaps just behind rear wheels.

When fitting my dirt skirt I gave about 2” of ground clearance to avoid flicking up of stones and don’t get a problem with debris on toad.

 

[PeteH]

Because mine was an R-V the ground clearance was quite high anyway. I did not notice any increase in stone chip damage I must admit.