LOL, I'd like to think that the majority of my posts are in an effort to save folks from the same heartache that I endured.



Bushwackers - had em, can't endorse em. If you're on pavement all the time, they're ok......but damn those fronts make a vehicle that is already as aerodynamic as a refrigerator, even less so.....like imagine putting on a flying squirrel suit, spreading your arms, and running down the interstate at 70mph. In all honestly, they are ok, but the issue is if you ever take em offroad. In some regards, they are very fragile, and in some regards too rigid. If you bend the plastic at all, they don't go back in to shape.....you'll have a big crease. If you bend em enough to break the 2-sided tape seal, you'll be completely uninstalling em, picking off the tape, adding new tape, and re-installing em. If you grab em on something hard enough, you'll rip it right off. Oh, and if you slide right by something, it takes such little pressure on the rears to completely dent in your rear quarter panel. Ask me how I know on all of those scenarios. Bushwacker makes some aluminum ones that actually aren't much more. I'd go with those before plastic again. Don't pay that much for plastic.....just trim your factory flares before doing that. I used to think trimmed flares looked like crap, but it's all about the cut.....if you're on a tight budget, there are ways to do that nicer than others.

I'm not saying Bushwakers are complete shit, but you really have to be honest with yourself about your use. I can tell you this for certain.....you can spend a lot of money on those, and once you F up 3 of em, you'll be lucky to get much for em once you admit your mistake and try to get a few bucks back. There have been just a few things on my jeep that literally was 90% cash-in-the-trash......those were one of em.

**disclaimer** I use my jeep. I'm not out running KOH, but I use this thing. Opinions like this are based on my experience and how they held up to my specific use. I can for example tell you that Bora Bora would rip one off first time out......whereas Rednroll might make it a bit longer. There's not a right or wrong, cuz we all use our jeeps differently. No use is right or wrong, better or worse, but all the advice you get is subjective to the different ways people use their jeeps, and every one is different.

 

 

Yeah, I guess a set of 4 for the Bushwhackers really isn't that much cheaper than some of the metal alternatives... I've definitely taken some chunks out of the sides of my jeep before (not this one yet), so probably will be better served with something a bit sturdier, but I do like the look of those at least. These Westin flares (Front and Rear) don't look bad. The flares I had on my TJ were these 1/4" steel overbuilt hundred pound custom fabbed monstrosities, could chuck the jeep sideways into a rock and just bounce it off without a scratch... man I miss those things! Wonder what it would take to get something like that made again...

Of course, those also involved a lot more cutting and drilling of the tub that I'm comfortable with doing to my beautiful JK

 

LOL, here is another experience lesson.....it's easier to drill and cut a new tub than it is to try to cover crap up after it's damaged. I used to subscribe to the "damage it first, then just cover it up" theory. Don't, just drill for those nutserts baby.

 

 

Y, I'd agree with the just ripping off part. I slid by a tree with those flares. There was hardly any pressure, I just squeezed by. I thought I did so with no damage. The flare didn't appear to be damaged, cept one little screw that popped. Later I realized the issue was how they mount. When any pressure at all is applied from the side, those disperse the pressure on the thin sheet metal of the quarter panel rather than the pinch seam. Just saying....It dented my whole quarter panel in. It was fine the first time, I lived with it. In fact, I fixed that rear flare twice. The third time I ripped it completely off, and that was that. Can't tell you how long I spent repairing my wheeling trips over....I think a year, maybe 15 months of having em on.

**oddly enough, that is why is better about the factory flare just trimmed.....it rips right on off. Few plastic clips and you're back in business. No hours of picking off 2-sided tape, jacking around with smooshed plastic supports.

 

I really like the look of some of the aftermarket flare options, but I talked myself out of paying big bucks for them and just keep chopping the stock ones. I like that they rip off before damaging the body. (usually). Both types of clips are cheap at clipsandfasteners.com, and it's real easy to replace or swap them.

I'm actually on my 4th set of factory flares now (with a 5th set sitting in a storage unit) - trees, rocks, an idiot on an icy road. Stuff happens. I just watch craigslist for people clearing space in the garage and pick them up for free/cheap, then cut em and they are ready for if/when. So yeah, by all means, pay for expensive flares, and just hang onto the old ones in case I need them ...

 

LOL

I've smacked this Jeep into too many things (pesky little trees popping out of nowhere!) to shell out $$ for plastic fenders. My stock ones haven't committed suicide yet, so I'll continue to beat them in the meantime.

Idk man, I've folded my chopped stockers, and they just pop right back out to where they were after I've through. In fact, I've damaged my body (crushed a corner on a tree, scraped the passenger door on a tree, chipped powder coat on corner while dragging it against a tree, etc) and my fenders folded against the tree/object and popped back to original form every time.
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