Why Your Ride Needs Mud Flaps

PartsEngine.ca's Mud Flaps Guide

You may be asking yourself, why does my truck need mud flaps? Let’s answer that question with another question: Why do you need a bib when eating a Nova Scotia lobster? The truth is things look better when they’re not a complete mess. It’s true for you and it’s certainly true for your truck. Maintaining appearances aside, there are other benefits to installing mud flaps.

The Canadian winter season doesn’t just mean heavy snowfall on our roads. It also means a generous dumping of salt and sand which can translate not only into an awful mess on your vehicle; it can also mean chipping paint and the possibility of corrosion. The good thing here is that mud flaps are a very inexpensive way to protect your vehicle.

In addition to wanting to protect our own vehicles, we all want to be courteous drivers—installing a custom molded or universal mud flap will drastically reduce the amount of water and other vision impairing debris your vehicle kicks up.

Pros & Cons of the Mud Flap

Pros:

Provide protection to your vehicle's doors and quarter panels as well as the undercarriage.
Provide a courtesy to other drivers on the road by limiting the amount of debris flung out from under tire.
They don’t negatively affect mileage or the aerodynamics (air drag) of the vehicle.
They add visual appeal to your vehicle.
Cheap and easy to install.

Cons:

If not installed properly, they can fall off. This can be avoided if you take the time to install them correctly and ensure they are properly attached.
Choosing the wrong mud flap, especially for low riding vehicles, can cause them to rub against the ground and curve them back—making them look bad and prevent them from doing what they were made to do.

Cotton Fit VS. Universal

⎯Which ones should I buy?

When we hear the word “custom” it generally refers to the best available product that will best suit our needs. All things being equal, custom products should be purchased over a universal product. That being said, there are quality universal splash guards like the Dee Zee Rubber Mud Flaps or the Powerflow Road Sport Universal Fit Road Guard Splash Guards available on PartsEngine.ca that can certainly get the job done. Universal fitting products are generally a little less expensive than custom molded ones, so if budget is a concern, pick up some universal splash guards.

The real difference between custom and universal mud flaps is that of course, custom fitted mud flaps have been specifically designed for your particular make and model. For some people, that offers a peace of mind that the product is the best that money can buy. In many cases, that piece of mind is worth the additional cost.

Product Profiles

⎯A look at WeatherTech, Husky & Powerflow Mud Flaps

WeatherTech Mud Flaps

⎯STARTING FROM: $49.99 CAD

QuickTurn™ Hardened Stainless Steel Fastening System
Literally "Mounts-In-Minutes™" Without Removing The Wheel
Engineered Specifically For Each Application
No Need For Wheel/Tire Removal In Most Applications

Molded From An OE Approved Thermoplastic Resin
The WeatherTech(R) MudFlap No Drill DigitalFit™ Will Offer Undeniable Vehicle Protection
No Drilling Through Steel Fender, Preventing Rust And Most Importantly Without The Need For Drilling Into The Vehicles Fragile Painted Surface

Husky Liners Custom Mud Guards

⎯STARTING FROM: $49.99 CAD

Visually, they look like they were made for your vehicle.
Longer and wider design to maximize the amount of water, mud and other road debris caught by the flap.

Made from a durable, impact-resistant thermoplastic that will stand the test of time.
Available in a paintable matte finish, allowing further customizability and increasing the visual appeal of your vehicle.

RoadSport Universal Fit RoadGuard Splash Guards

⎯STARTING FROM: $19.38 CAD

Visually, they look like they were made for your vehicle.
Longer and wider design to maximize the amount of water, mud and other road debris caught by the flap.

Made from a durable, impact-resistant thermoplastic that will stand the test of time.
Available in a paintable matte finish, allowing further customizability and increasing the visual appeal of your vehicle.