Replacement of OE Sahara fender
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 12
Likes: 1
From: Syracuse, Utah
Replacement of OE Sahara fender
So i had a rough time on the trail this weekend and a tree won when i slid off the trail. Anyways i broke the drivers rear fender. I have a 2011 JKU Sahara and its got paint matched tan fenders. Just wondering if anyones replaced fenders through a dealer or ordered paint matched fenders through a dealer and how much im looking at to get just one replaced. i doubt ill be able to find a set of tan fenders in the used market and id much prefer to keep the tan fenders. Thanks guys!
JK Jedi
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 11,346
Likes: 2,086
From: Willow Park, TX
Dang, that is gonna be a tough pill to swallow. I'd agree the odds of finding the painted tan rear that you need is slim to none in the used market, and I shudder to think that buying brand new is going to be. ....as I'm sure it's $$$$, yet not quite so much that you've priced yourself in to a new set of metal fenders that you paint to match and end up better off. I've always viewed that as a big drawback to the painted flares.
Do you have Gobi or a different color? There is a full set on ebay right now -
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2007-2018-JEEP-WRANGLER-JK-JKU-SAHARA-UNLIMITED-GOBI-TAN-FENDER-FLARES-PAINTED/232643484243?fits=Make%3AJeep&hash=item362aa1da53: g:e3oAAOSws0Jaal6e&vxp=mtr
If that's the color, you could always contact the seller.....MAYBE they're willing to split the fronts and rears up.
**edit, nm....i just saw "saraha tan" listed in your profile.
Do you have Gobi or a different color? There is a full set on ebay right now -
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2007-2018-JEEP-WRANGLER-JK-JKU-SAHARA-UNLIMITED-GOBI-TAN-FENDER-FLARES-PAINTED/232643484243?fits=Make%3AJeep&hash=item362aa1da53: g:e3oAAOSws0Jaal6e&vxp=mtr
If that's the color, you could always contact the seller.....MAYBE they're willing to split the fronts and rears up.
**edit, nm....i just saw "saraha tan" listed in your profile.
JK Jedi
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 11,346
Likes: 2,086
From: Willow Park, TX
Just one more thought.....don't rule out buying some other color painted flare, and having a body shop paint it to color match the jeep. There's a chance that could still be more cost effective.
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 12
Likes: 1
From: Syracuse, Utah
I think im gonna end up going the route of aftermarket metal flares and eventually just paint matching them. I love the look of paint matched fenders but no way im paying almost metal flare prices for oem fender. I like the DV8 slim fenders and at 389$ for all 4 on extreme terrain i think id be a moron to spend close to that on just one oem painted fender. Thanks for the reply guys!
JK Jedi
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,468
Likes: 211
From: SE Michigan
Factory take offs and taking to a paint shop for repaint would be a good path. Also for cost effective aftermarket flares check out the Aries. They make them in aluminum and can get them powder coated or bare so you can take them to have color matched painted.
Lighter weight and no rust issues to worry about with aluminum.
One thing I noticed are the bare cost a tad more, which I've always scratched my head wondering why.
Lighter weight and no rust issues to worry about with aluminum.
One thing I noticed are the bare cost a tad more, which I've always scratched my head wondering why.
Last edited by Rednroll; Feb 6, 2018 at 09:24 AM.
JK Jedi
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 11,346
Likes: 2,086
From: Willow Park, TX
I’m going to preface this by saying I’m not suggesting one fender vs. another, or plastic vs. metal, but I will suggest you research for your purpose…..as you may be a little prone to trail damage. LOL.
Should you find yourself in that same situation, just keep in mind that nothing is going to just rip off like that factory flare. That really sux, but, the fact that it just ripped off saved you from further damage. At one point I had the plastic Bushwacker flats. They were total crap if you wheel….and they eff’d up one of my rear quarter panels…..first just by sliding past a tree (not hitting it mind you, just sliding by), then by getting hung up on a tree. I got tired of fixing that crap and pulled em off. At that time I wished I had just paid for metal flares originally…..but I was now too cheap to do that so I converted to fenderless.
Although a lot of metal flares like look very similar, that doesn’t mean they are. I kind of fancy Metalcloak flares myself, but doubt I’ll ever go back to flares. There sure seems to be a good bit of price differences out there from cheap e-atuo grilles off ebay right on up to the most expensive. You’d think that most of it might be manufacturing costs (cheap Chinese stuff) and some of it could be cheap end product finishes. Some of it could also be the manner in which they attach with extra brackets to help strengthen/support. I’m NOT claiming to have researched flares much cuz I haven’t….I occasional pursue, but I can’t speak much to what is better than others in this area. What I can say is you should consider what happens if you bang one of those things around. I wheeled with another forum member…..I think he had DV8 flares, but can’t recall tbh….anyhow, they got one of those rears caught on a bolder and ripped the first 2-3 nutserts right outta the body and bent the flare pretty bad. Didn’t take much at all….didn’t even notice it at the time as it didn’t look bad, even in video. So, moral here is just don’t think that because they’re metal, you won’t have any issues in the future….and issues could end up leading to additional damage. It’s a pretty decent expenditure, so take your time making a decision.
Just food for thought at least.
Tbh, from that perspective…..if you like the factory flares, finding some random colored flare and having it painted to match might not be the worst decision.
Should you find yourself in that same situation, just keep in mind that nothing is going to just rip off like that factory flare. That really sux, but, the fact that it just ripped off saved you from further damage. At one point I had the plastic Bushwacker flats. They were total crap if you wheel….and they eff’d up one of my rear quarter panels…..first just by sliding past a tree (not hitting it mind you, just sliding by), then by getting hung up on a tree. I got tired of fixing that crap and pulled em off. At that time I wished I had just paid for metal flares originally…..but I was now too cheap to do that so I converted to fenderless.
Although a lot of metal flares like look very similar, that doesn’t mean they are. I kind of fancy Metalcloak flares myself, but doubt I’ll ever go back to flares. There sure seems to be a good bit of price differences out there from cheap e-atuo grilles off ebay right on up to the most expensive. You’d think that most of it might be manufacturing costs (cheap Chinese stuff) and some of it could be cheap end product finishes. Some of it could also be the manner in which they attach with extra brackets to help strengthen/support. I’m NOT claiming to have researched flares much cuz I haven’t….I occasional pursue, but I can’t speak much to what is better than others in this area. What I can say is you should consider what happens if you bang one of those things around. I wheeled with another forum member…..I think he had DV8 flares, but can’t recall tbh….anyhow, they got one of those rears caught on a bolder and ripped the first 2-3 nutserts right outta the body and bent the flare pretty bad. Didn’t take much at all….didn’t even notice it at the time as it didn’t look bad, even in video. So, moral here is just don’t think that because they’re metal, you won’t have any issues in the future….and issues could end up leading to additional damage. It’s a pretty decent expenditure, so take your time making a decision.
Just food for thought at least.
Tbh, from that perspective…..if you like the factory flares, finding some random colored flare and having it painted to match might not be the worst decision.
JK Jedi
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,468
Likes: 211
From: SE Michigan
I’m going to preface this by saying I’m not suggesting one fender vs. another, or plastic vs. metal, but I will suggest you research for your purpose…..as you may be a little prone to trail damage. LOL.
Should you find yourself in that same situation, just keep in mind that nothing is going to just rip off like that factory flare. That really sux, but, the fact that it just ripped off saved you from further damage. At one point I had the plastic Bushwacker flats. They were total crap if you wheel….and they eff’d up one of my rear quarter panels…..first just by sliding past a tree (not hitting it mind you, just sliding by), then by getting hung up on a tree. I got tired of fixing that crap and pulled em off. At that time I wished I had just paid for metal flares originally…..but I was now too cheap to do that so I converted to fenderless.
Although a lot of metal flares like look very similar, that doesn’t mean they are. I kind of fancy Metalcloak flares myself, but doubt I’ll ever go back to flares. There sure seems to be a good bit of price differences out there from cheap e-atuo grilles off ebay right on up to the most expensive. You’d think that most of it might be manufacturing costs (cheap Chinese stuff) and some of it could be cheap end product finishes. Some of it could also be the manner in which they attach with extra brackets to help strengthen/support. I’m NOT claiming to have researched flares much cuz I haven’t….I occasional pursue, but I can’t speak much to what is better than others in this area. What I can say is you should consider what happens if you bang one of those things around. I wheeled with another forum member…..I think he had DV8 flares, but can’t recall tbh….anyhow, they got one of those rears caught on a bolder and ripped the first 2-3 nutserts right outta the body and bent the flare pretty bad. Didn’t take much at all….didn’t even notice it at the time as it didn’t look bad, even in video. So, moral here is just don’t think that because they’re metal, you won’t have any issues in the future….and issues could end up leading to additional damage. It’s a pretty decent expenditure, so take your time making a decision.
Just food for thought at least.
Tbh, from that perspective…..if you like the factory flares, finding some random colored flare and having it painted to match might not be the worst decision.
Should you find yourself in that same situation, just keep in mind that nothing is going to just rip off like that factory flare. That really sux, but, the fact that it just ripped off saved you from further damage. At one point I had the plastic Bushwacker flats. They were total crap if you wheel….and they eff’d up one of my rear quarter panels…..first just by sliding past a tree (not hitting it mind you, just sliding by), then by getting hung up on a tree. I got tired of fixing that crap and pulled em off. At that time I wished I had just paid for metal flares originally…..but I was now too cheap to do that so I converted to fenderless.
Although a lot of metal flares like look very similar, that doesn’t mean they are. I kind of fancy Metalcloak flares myself, but doubt I’ll ever go back to flares. There sure seems to be a good bit of price differences out there from cheap e-atuo grilles off ebay right on up to the most expensive. You’d think that most of it might be manufacturing costs (cheap Chinese stuff) and some of it could be cheap end product finishes. Some of it could also be the manner in which they attach with extra brackets to help strengthen/support. I’m NOT claiming to have researched flares much cuz I haven’t….I occasional pursue, but I can’t speak much to what is better than others in this area. What I can say is you should consider what happens if you bang one of those things around. I wheeled with another forum member…..I think he had DV8 flares, but can’t recall tbh….anyhow, they got one of those rears caught on a bolder and ripped the first 2-3 nutserts right outta the body and bent the flare pretty bad. Didn’t take much at all….didn’t even notice it at the time as it didn’t look bad, even in video. So, moral here is just don’t think that because they’re metal, you won’t have any issues in the future….and issues could end up leading to additional damage. It’s a pretty decent expenditure, so take your time making a decision.
Just food for thought at least.
Tbh, from that perspective…..if you like the factory flares, finding some random colored flare and having it painted to match might not be the worst decision.
Just pick one, and learn what tears off with it when bumping them into something and go from there to make improvements would have been my advise......Oh wait....maybe that's you wearing off on me.
