F'ing Bushwacker Fender Flares!

Washed my truck today and noticed every one of the flares had the weather stripping coming loose. Three of them it was pushed in and the rear driver side by the fuel cap was just flopping in the wind.

Pulled them off thinking I'd order new weather strip and the paint is f#$&ed where that shit sat! Truck doesn't even have 5k miles on it!

Avoid them like the plague!..

 

That's a bummer. I've not done flares for this reason. If I ever to them I will be puttin' something there to protect the paint. Might just do bedliner on the lower portion of the truck and go up over the feners with it. Then the flares can't touch the paint.

 

Damn, that sucks. Sorry to hear op. I have some eBay specials that the welting was doing the same just about every day . I found some on Amazon that had 3m adhesive strips, when I installed them I also put electrical tape as a second layer of adhesive on the inside. I have not had an issue in about three weeks. I feel your pain

 

I totally agree with the OP, they can do a lot of damage. They look good, but they cause paint issues and rust.

 

And in case you're wondering why I hadn't noticed the strip by the fuel cap coming loose before now, we can't pump our own fuel in this commie ran state!

 

That sucks, sorry @Buster1 . Thanks for the heads up.

 

Got any Pictures of the paint? I’ve been tossing flares up for sometime but maybe I won’t now...

 

Dang that sucks! I heard about this issue on flares so I try to avoid them

 

I suggest anyone that wants to put them on and is worried about chafe, put some clear 3M protectant tape down. It’s basically the same stuff they use for front end rock chip protection.

 

Do you cut the 3m to the same shape as the flare? Like a half moon?

 

yup! They eventually will rub through the paint. Found out just in time before it rubbed through the clear coat. Should be able to buff out. Going to install them back and add some clear 3m protection film where the rubber contacts the paint.

 

you beat me to the punch

 

You need to mock up the wacker flairs to a sheet of clear 3M and mark a outline with wax pen then put a guide line on the truck and apply it. It helps also not to mount the flairs tight up against because they do flex. Maybe with a little research you might find someone that makes them already or can.
https://clearmask.com/amfinder/inde...nder[3]=62944&finder[4]=64945&finder[5]=65276

 

I don’t have fender flares but what I would do is, have the fender flares in my hand and trace the contact patch onto the 3M. Cut it just slightly bigger than where the flare rests. The margin would be up to you. If the roll of tape isn’t wide enough to do the entire flare, You can do it in sections and just piece it together. There may be a better way, but that’s what I would do. That’s also got me thinking if you were to spray the area with plasti dip. Just tape off around your fender flares leaving maybe an 8th inch of gap between the tape and the fender flare, remove the flare and put a whole bunch of coats on the paint where the fender flare would be resting.

 

https://www.tundratalk.net/threads/simple-paint-saver-mod-for-those-who-wish-to-run-flares.681753/

 

I have the bushwhacker flares and the tape is a joke. They never set right from day one and the “adhesion” to the flares is no good. It’s super thin and rolls around all over the place. You get it on and a few days later notice gaps or roll-in sections. Grrrr... Think after reading this, I will pull mine pending a real solution. I thought of contacting the company, but what will they do? Send another roll that still won’t adhere to the flares.

 

Also remember that when installing flairs that they will collect all kinds of dirt/salt if not sealed, on my rears (box sides are expensive) I applied some grease on the flair and black silicone to the inner quarter for a tight seal. The grease will not let the silicone stick to flair.

 

Sorry to hear about the paint that’s a real bummer. I would put some of the paint protective film under the flares where they meet the body.

 

I'm going to try and buff it out and leave them off.

 

I think they look like shit, and cause damage.
Double fucking no thanks.

When I’m looking at used vehicles, as soon as I see them in the pics, no matter what the “deal” might be, I click right on past and don’t even consider the vehicle.

For this exact reason.

Removal = $3,000 paint job.

 

@plinyyounger
I made my way south this winter, and I plan on taking half a suitcase back with me. (Visiting Napa)

 

Lol, nice! Great beer! I’ve spent a lot of time there, lol. Make sure you buy some blind pig too!

 

I have bushwacker fender flares on mine and have had no issues. I installed them myself and the weather stripping was fine (the time spent on preparation of the surface it adheres to is key) and during the install I made sure the weather stripping was in place and not rolled over then I held it in the position I needed it to be and my wife tightened enough to have me let go. It has been about 18 months and I have taken the front flares off to replace the headlights and seen no issues under them. I guess I am one luck SOB

 

You've got a wife that helps with parts installs?! Damn straight you're a lucky SOB!

 

Wrenching solo in the garage is also a nice break from the wife

 

Break from the wife? Thought that was divorce?

 

Nah, I have my hobbies she has hers and some of them overlap. But if you think not spending 24/7/365 with your spouse would lead to divorce then keep it up.

 

Exactly what I told the wife. We are planning on retiring, buying an RV, tow the Tundra and do what we want to do. What do we want to do? Does not matter, we have the time