Recommendations on flat / tube fender flares

Red Dog

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I currently have the Bushwacker pocket flares and figured when I replace my fenders this Spring would be a good time to try new/install new flares. I'm currently running 31"/10.5's with factory/no lift, have ZERO plans to start building for rock crawling as my TJ is my daily driver. New flares would be purely for cosmetic reasons. At the moment I'd prefer not to go back to stock but at the same time the pocket style is used in my area often enough the reason I originally got them is not as valid as it used to be. Should also mention that full flat fenders are out of question for the time being due to various reasons.

The past few weeks the flat or tube style flares have had my eye. The thing I don't like about the flat style is the angled look on the front of them. I found that the tube style from Warrior Products has a reduced angle on their front and added to them being metal they currently are on top of my tentative list. However, I can't find more than a few reviews for them online, a couple of posts mentioning them here on the forum (used Search), and this has me concerned about their quality.

Since nothing is set in stone yet I'm wondering, for those who have flat or tube style fender flares which do you run or recommend?
 
What is your budget? The MCEs are nice and use the existing inner fender, though they aren't exactly cheap.
 
The Rugged Ridge Hurricane flat flare have less of an angled part. It's more L shaped. Personally, I don't really care for the look of the exposed bolts around them, which I don't even think are functional.
 
I have the Bushwacker 10920-07 Jeep Flat Style Fender Flare on my TJ. They're a bit steep, and I'd be hard pressed personally to spend so much on them but I basically got them new for $100 and kind of had to swap out my flares due to a botched job the insurance made good on. Long story short: when my Jeep had to go into the shop they mismatched flares but compensated me parts and labor. I used that money and spent the difference to get these and put them on myself.

They've long been my favorite look as far as flares go and I'm happy with mine.

76931
 
I have yet to see any without angles on the front such as these ones:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WCJRPPA/?tag=wranglerorg-20

The Warrior ones seem nice, but you're right, I can't find much on them in terms of reviews. You might have to be the test dummy for them!
I may accept that challenge. Wouldn't be the first time I was used as a test case.

What is your budget? The MCEs are nice and use the existing inner fender, though they aren't exactly cheap.
As much as I tend to look into changing things every few years, I'm hesitant to go with something like the MCE that would require drilling/cutting/losing the stock front turn signal. I appreciate the suggestion though, those do indeed look nice :)

The Rugged Ridge Hurricane flat flare have less of an angled part. It's more L shaped. Personally, I don't really care for the look of the exposed bolts around them, which I don't even think are functional.
Those are actually what got me considering flat and/or tube flares. Read some reviews that were less than friendly about the bolts being decorative and enough that mentioned sagging that I'm neutral about them at this time.

I have the Bushwacker 10920-07 Jeep Flat Style Fender Flare on my TJ. They're a bit steep, and I'd be hard pressed personally to spend so much on them but I basically got them new for $100 and kind of had to swap out my flares due to a botched job the insurance made good on. Long story short: when my Jeep had to go into the shop they mismatched flares but compensated me parts and labor. I used that money and spent the difference to get these and put them on myself.

They've long been my favorite look as far as flares go and I'm happy with mine.

View attachment 76931
I may end up going with these. I have the pocket style from Bushwacker and functionally have no issue with them. I'm just... I guess bored with the look. So far the size of the angle on front, and somewhere in a thread either Mr. Blaine or Jerry mentioned not recommending that style has them at number 3 on my "list" of options. Do they have any sort of support to keep them from sagging? How long have you had them? And where did you get that delete piece/cover for the small flare segment/rock guard behind the front wheel base and in front of the step?

The ones from Warrior Products have a bit less of an angle and underside reinforcement along with being metal (as I want them purely for cosmetic reasons this doesn't bother me). What does concern me is the lack of reviews in general, and a couple I was able to find mentioned the products not having the best QC.

I thank everyone who has left suggestions so far, it actually has helped!
 
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Forgot to ask: Is EAG a good brand? Found these on Amazon. Similar to the Bushwacker.

EAG is a decent brand. Chinese like the rest of the them, but I have yet to hear of anyone having issues with their parts. I ran their bumper and was happy with it!
 
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Do they have any sort of support to keep them from sagging? How long have you had them? And where did you get that delete piece/cover for the small flare segment/rock guard behind the front wheel base and in front of the step?

They are supported by some brackets, you can see them here in the install PDF. Basically you install these brackets where the normal flares go, then install the actual flares over them and screw the flares to them.

So far they don't sag at all, but I haven't tested what they're able to hold up beyond a cup of coffee and some hand tools. I recall seeing pictures of a petite woman standing on some installed on a JK a few years ago, can't find that picture now.

They've been on for just over a year, I installed them end of January 2018.

That little part (referred to as a "rocker panel") is just adhered on to cover up the rather large hole and small nutserts left behind from the OEM flares. Here's a pic before I put them on of what they cover:

77094


That piece does butt up against the flare quite nicely, there's no discernible gap.

All in all I've been very happy with them and love how they look. Honestly though, install was a royal PITA. Putting the brackets on was easy, putting the flares on the brackets was not. You have to line up six or seven U clips (depends on the flare) and then push the flare over them and pray to God they didn't get pushed out of the way so when you go to screw in the flare to the bracket it goes through the clip. There was a lot of dry fitting to be done and starting screws to make sure I could get through the clips. Sometimes I'd move the screw all around and be able to force the clip back in place, sometimes I just had to redo it.

Install took me WAY longer than I had originally hoped, I think I figured maybe two hours at most from removal of original flares to finishing up. Probably took me closer to six and a lot of cursing. I'd do it again though, these are the best looking fender flares available on any Jeep in my opinion.
 
I have fishbone front and rear tube fenders from Quadratec. Just installed in October. I will say I’m pretty disappointed it’s starting to rust near the bottom rear of the rear fenders. Otherwise sturdy and the finish everywhere is is really nice.
But for what it’s worth they’re probably comparable to Amazon or ebay ones at a cheaper price.

EE6BC28C-1211-44FB-9961-8376925AE16C.jpeg


621D37BA-A0E9-479E-B361-B99A3BCEC6CC.jpeg


CD503568-47AD-4190-9E83-AC18637F0383.jpeg
 
I have the Bushwacker 10920-07 Jeep Flat Style Fender Flare on my TJ. They're a bit steep, and I'd be hard pressed personally to spend so much on them but I basically got them new for $100 and kind of had to swap out my flares due to a botched job the insurance made good on. Long story short: when my Jeep had to go into the shop they mismatched flares but compensated me parts and labor. I used that money and spent the difference to get these and put them on myself.

They've long been my favorite look as far as flares go and I'm happy with mine.

View attachment 76931

How much extra tire clearance do those flares give? Anything noticeable?
 
Crap. I guess it'll be Poison Spyder then like I was previously planning. Now to decide what width I want.

Only if they require cutting the hood. The fact of the matter is that the significant clearance restriction is the rear wall of the wheel opening, less so the top above the wheel. And this only really applies to 35s. Assuming the rest of the build is appropriate to the tire size, 33s are not restricted on factory fenders and flares in any way that matters.
 
Only if they require cutting the hood.

I'm not sure what you're replying to here.


The fact of the matter is that the significant clearance restriction is the rear wall of the wheel opening, less so the top above the wheel.

"Even on the non-highline version, the DeFender™ provides a much larger wheel opening than stock or some competitors' tube fenders. The back of the wheel opening, where larger tires tend to rub when the steering is at full-lock, is approximately 2½" further back compared to typical tube fenders, and about 4" further back than the stock Jeep flares."
 
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I'm not sure what you're replying to here.
Your post. ;)

"Even on the non-highline version, the DeFender™ provides a much larger wheel opening than stock or some competitors' tube fenders. The back of the wheel opening, where larger tires tend to rub when the steering is at full-lock, is approximately 2½" further back compared to typical tube fenders, and about 4" further back than the stock Jeep flares."

Good! That will help 35s. :)
 
So I won't need extra vertical fender clearance to go to 35s? That's what I'm building for and I'm not sure I'm really a fan of the hi line look (or cutting the hood) so I'd like to avoid that if I can.

Only if you are running a minimum of bump stop extension, which usually comes along relocated upper shock mounts. And if the 35X12.5 is actually a 35X12.5 like an MTR. In that case, a highline fender will get you an additional ~3/8" of flex.

This is my 35x12.5 Patagonia with a 10.75" shock divided roughly in half, relocated upper mounts and MCE flares. The tire is closer to 34".
20200418_131307.jpg


20200418_131218.jpg


To get full stuff and full lock...
20200418_133413.jpg


...this section needs to go away.
20200418_135344.jpg


35s on stock shock mounts will have far fewer conflicts with stock fenders and flares.
 
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