A GUIDE TO FENDER FLARES

Fender flares are a useful addition to any truck or SUV, but especially for those with oversized tires or low-offset wheels. Improving the off-road aesthetic of a vehicle is a popular reason to buy fender flares. But there are also practical reasons for fender flares.

If you have oversized tires, fender flares provide up to three inches of coverage and can prevent tire sling and rock chips from damaging your truck's body.

There are several different types of truck fender flares. Some work better with different rigs. For example, pocket or bolt-on fender flares might look great on a truck with a big lift, but they might look a bit out of place on a stock truck with factory wheels and tires.

Let's take a look at the ins and outs of fender flares.

WHAT ARE FENDER FLARES?

Fender flares are exactly what they sound like--a part that flares out from your vehicle's fender. The additional real estate works to cover oversized off-road tires and low-offset wheels if you have them installed. Most fender flares are custom-sized for specific vehicles and only require bolt-on installation.

Because fender flares guard against kicked-up rocks and debris, they're constructed to take some damage. Most fender flares are made from a durable composite material, which is usually ABS thermoplastic.

WHAT DO FENDER FLARES DO?

Truck, SUV, and Jeep fender flares are installed for various reasons. One of the top reasons is paint protection. Similarly to mud flaps and splash guards, the main purpose of fender flares is to protect your paint from rocks, debris, and mud.

You can think of fender flares as kind of a huge mud flap that gives you up to three inches of coverage along your fender wall. The inner fender and rocker panel area are very prone to rust, so protecting them with fender flares just makes sense.

Another reason for installing fender flares is aesthetics. Fender flares simply look good, particularly if you have large tires. Fender flares give your vehicle a wider profile for a more rugged look. They can also make your vehicle look more premium since larger fender flares are often an option on higher trims.

Finally, there might be legal reasons where you live to get fender flares. Some jurisdictions consider it a violation to have tires that protrude past the tops of your fenders.

PROS AND CONS OF FENDER FLARES

Are fender flares worth it for your vehicle? This largely depends on what you need. If you like the appearance of fender flares, there's no real con to installing some. If you're running wide wheels and tires and need extra coverage for legal or aesthetic reasons, then it would definitely be worth it to install some.

Do you often drive on dirt or gravel roads that mess up the underside of your vehicle? Then fender flares are worth installing.

There are no real cons to installing fender flares if you have any of the situations mentioned above. In fact, you'd generally be better off installing them than not. The only possible con is getting a type of fender flare that doesn't go with your vehicle.

FENDER FLARE TYPES

Bolt-On fender flares are one of the most common styles of aftermarket fender flares. The name is somewhat of a misnomer as you won't have to drill holes into your vehicle's fenders to attach these. Instead, bolt-on fender flares are installed using factory holes and bolt heads that are recessed into the plastic.

Pocket flares are similar to bolt-on styles in that they have the same method of installation, but pocket flares feature a more dramatic bolt-head appearance with deep pockets on the outer diameter.

Extra-wide fender flares are just what they sound like. These flares usually provide the most coverage at around three inches. This is ideal for trucks running extra-wide wheels and tires.

OE fender flares are designed to look like the original equipment on your rig, which means they have a sleek profile and very little tire coverage. These look best on low-profile trucks and are not the best choice for tall trucks with big tires.

Flat fender flares are typically used on Jeep Wranglers. These Jeep fender flares protect the paint and body of your rig without interfering with articulation and wheel travel, which is a characteristic feature of the Wrangler.

Painted fender flares come in a variety of styles, but they're pre-painted to match your rig's factory paint color. The other styles described above typically have a textured black finish.

BRANDS TO CONSIDER

Several brands offer fender flares, including Bushwacker, Rough Country, and Lund. Let's take a look at what these three top brands have to offer.

BUSHWACKER FENDER FLARES

Bushwacker fender flares come in many different styles, including flat fender flares for Jeeps, pocket flares, cutout flares, OE flares, and more. The best way to figure out which Bushwacker fender flares will fit your rig is to use the vehicle selector tool. These flares come in a pretty affordable price range for a high-end brand with most styles priced between $400 and $700.

ROUGH COUNTRY FENDER FLARES

Rough Country is known for making a wide range of affordable parts and accessories for off-road vehicles. Rough Country fender flares are on the lower end of the price range with most styles priced between $200 and $400. As Rough Country truck accessories are generally geared toward the off-road set, most of what you'll find are pocket fender flares, Jeep fender flares, and tubular fender flares.

LUND FENDER FLARES

Lund fender flares land in a similar price range to the Bushwacker flares. Most Lund flares are either the bolt-on style or the smooth style often called OE flares, but Lund calls them SX-style flares. Lund also offers some extra-wide flares. Using the vehicle selector can help you find what you want.

HOW TO INSTALL FENDER FLARES

Fender flares aren't usually difficult to install, but if you don't have time or don't feel up to the task, you can get them installed at any H&H location. Start by reading the instructions and making sure that all the parts are there.

Some flares are ready to install, but others have to be assembled. The next step is to match up your flares with the factory mounting holes and mark them. Finally, install the flares using the factory holes or any drilled holes, and you're done.

Protect your truck, SUV, or Jeep with fender flares from H&H Truck Accessories. We offer a wide variety of fender flares from top brands like Lund, Bushwacker, Rough Country, and many more.