Fender Flares, Which Style?

sniper_101 · Oct 26, 2011

Looking for a nice subtle flare for my 00' 350. I have OE rims (305/70 MT tire), so I don't want a deep pocket flare, because I don't plan on lifting with real offset wheels. I like Bushwacker's "Street Flares" and "OE Style Flares". Any suggestions, or pictures of one of these two on your truck are more than welcome.

I have some fender lip issues on the rear left I want to fix and seal up, but throw flares over so I don't have to have it blended perfectly, prevent it from chipping up again, and try to keep the crap off the sides of the truck.

Thanks fellas!

Mtack · Oct 26, 2011

I have a set of the O.E. style bushwhackers. I can get a picture tomorrow if it quits raining. I like them, big enough to give a little protection but aren't so big that they look goofy.

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AKHILF · Oct 26, 2011

I would like to see that picture also

Keanoknick · Oct 26, 2011

I think the O.E. style ones look good, on a stock height truck.

cw96stroker · Oct 26, 2011

ATS Design Fender Flares would look good imo.

sniper_101 · Oct 28, 2011

Anyone else?

TyCorr · Oct 28, 2011

I have seen some OE style painted to match the truck they are to go on that looked decent. They just remind me too much of the cheesy ones ford put on the 90's rangers with the offroad pkg.

I like the pocket style flares just because I think the bolt heads break up the lines of the body a little and compliment the wheelwell. Problem is, superduties have huge round wheelwells to begin with and the pocket flares made for them are designed to cover the WHOLE contoured area around the wheelwell opening. THey are a decent product despite the design drawbacks.

For a stock height truck with small tires Id say the street flares if you just want a little bling for your truck. Paint em to match your accent color or if your truck is a solid color. Please do not leave them raw. Looks like shti!!!!!

Mtack · Oct 28, 2011

I have worked 16 hours a day the last couple of days and forgot the pics. I will get some tomorrow. I disagree about painting them on some trucks. I have had some painted to match my white truck and they looked like ass. They also chipped bad with my 35s, which defeats the main reason I put them on in the first place. Everybody has different opinions. On my truck the black looks much better and I don't have to worry about rock chips.

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waltenbach · Oct 28, 2011

I've got the bushwacker street flares. They only stick out about 3/4 of an inch and they don't look too obnoxious. I had the same problem you do about covering up a little fender cancer that I repaired but didn't want to paint half the truck to blend it all in. I left them the black they come in for now but I may have them painted in the future. I've got some door rust to take care of eventually so I'll probably have them painted then. I don't have a real good picture of them on my computer but I picked some out that kind of show them.

Mtack · Oct 29, 2011

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TyCorr · Oct 29, 2011

Mtack said:
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That works because the flares are the same as your accent color, flat black. Theres a truck around here that is running raw ones with black diesels, but he's got the pocket style due to being lifted on 36's.

There are exceptions of course. My cousins old sd was white with chrome and he had the pocket flares painted white with 35x14.5's on chrome 20's. It looked good. Yours wouldnt since you're running black wheels.

Truck looks good btw!!

The guy above, with the street flares, needs wider rubber. The tires outermost edge is inside the wheelwell too far. The function of the flares is great though, im sure. The op is concerned with looks so that is why I pointed that out.

waltenbach · Oct 29, 2011

TyCorr said:
The guy above, with the street flares, needs wider rubber. The tires outermost edge is inside the wheelwell too far. The function of the flares is great though, im sure. The op is concerned with looks so that is why I pointed that out.

I plow snow and do a lot of driving on gravel roads so for me its a compromise between function and looks. Current tires are 285-75-16's. When these wear out I'm planning on going a little wider and a little taller. I completely agree wider rubber would help the overall stance.

jdc753 · Oct 29, 2011

If you are actually trying to cover something I would go with an OE style flare since to me the factory ford ones or the street flares bushwacker offers are more just a trim piece than a useable flair.

wheel/tires at 18x9 with 5" backspacing and 35x12.5 toyo's, they end up sticking out about 1-2"

My dad's truck has the OE style with 100% stock suspension and tires, they look a bit excessive for the tires but for winter driving they keep everything super clean.

Also painted to match on a monotone truck I think they OE's blend in quite nicely,

Mtack · Oct 29, 2011

My truck is in need of a paint job in a bad way. The pic that shows the hood you can see where I started but haven`t had a chance to finish.

jdc753 said:

I wish my truck looked half as good as this one looks!

You have a point about the OE style but they do at least keep the tires from beating the paint off the lower fenders. I run 35s on mine but my tires are almost lined up with the flares.

sniper_101 · Oct 29, 2011

Thanks for all the input guys. I think I'll do the street flares. I just have some rust on the lip of my fender that is getting pretty bad, so the street flares should cover it just fine. Plus I have stock rims so anything with a wider coverage is going to look out of place with no plans of changing the wheels in the near future. The OE style look good, but I don't think they would on my truck.

Thanks again guys, feel free to keep posting up pictures and discussing.

TyCorr · Oct 29, 2011

The flares serve a purpose. I hear people say they'll never paint em because they'll get chipped up anyway. There are so many products out there now that it isnt even an issue.

Clear vinyl could be applied on the edge that faces the wheelwell, or clear plastidip. The flare could be undercoated on that edge in colormatch. Or you could even splurge the 250 every five years and have the flares repainted, if you still have the same truck.

Im not knocking anybodies decision to include the taking into account of the trucks looks after some miles are put on. I can appreciate the foresight! Having painted my wheelwell openings about five times I am in the same boat. My truck rusted alot through last winter and is pretty bad around the rear wheelwells.