AaronW

Hi everyone, hoping a vendor or two sees this. Not sure really where to post...

In Australia we have very strict modified vehicle laws, technically you can't run more than a total 3" of lift (suspension and tyres) in my state. You also have to have your tyres completely covered, full width bars, etc, etc, etc, there's a lot.

One of the main issues is tyre coverage, most officers will look past lift and larger diameter tyres, but are quite picky on tyres sticking out of the flares.

There are only a handful of options available for wider than factory flares, here's a breakdown...

Steel/aluminium flares;

• Poison Spyder & JCR

Pros: tough, steel, 2" wider than factory.
Cons: super expensive, heavy.

Plastic flares;

• Xenon (or the Australian rip off DBOR)

Pros: light, 2" wider than factory, cheaper.
Cons: prone to snap and crack rather than flex

• Rugged Ridge (these are what I currently run, unfortunately I, like many others, need more width)

Pros: light, cheap, flexible
Cons: only 1" wider than factory, cheaper plastic material

• Buswhacker

Pros: light, 2" wider than stock
Cons: large, cumbersome, prone to snap/crack

• Trailmods Gen2

Pros: light, removable, 2" wider than stock
Cons: poor quality, subjectively ugly design (seriously what were they thinking?)


So where do we stand?

I've looked particularly at MCE for their flares are light, flexible, and good quality. However they unfortunately abandoned the idea of wider than factory flares.

What we need is a lightweight plastic flare that is 2" wider than stock, and quite flexible as obviously being so wide it's going to take hits on obstacles.
If anyone has any other suggestions for wider than factory flares I'd love to hear it, otherwise if a Manafacture/Vendor is reading this please consider the Australian market, there is a large gap here that I know LOTS of people would be interested in.

Sorry for the long winded post, please advise me if there is a better place to post it up.
If you've read this far thanks for the interest!

Cheers,
Aaron

resharp001

Plastic, flexible, and able to take hits on obstacles, and at a budget friendly price point.....AHHHH, the holy grail.

Frustrating situation you are in. Unfortunately, we're hitting the end of a run for the JK, and the product offerings are unlikely to increase as manufacturers start focusing on the JL. I had some bushwackers back in the day......so I totally relate to them not being suitable for serious offroaders. I didn't want to pay the price of a metal PSC flare at the time. In hindsight I wish I had cuz I basically pissed away $500+ on those POS Bushwackers. Although the PSC are pricey, at least they stand up to the abuse.

Smudgeontheglass

I think the most interesting approach I've seen was someone using the smittybilt flares (which are very narrow but are pretty heavy duty) and then bolting / riveting on an extension made of conveyor belt. The rubber / steel mat flexes on hits but is rigid enough to stay in shape on the highway.

resharp001

LOL, that sure sounds like an interesting design. Creative if nothing else.

AaronW

I'd pay big money for a well designed flexible wide flare in all honesty.