Need better front fender flares.

[Doogle]

The flares I see advertised seldom show an overhead view of what they are trying to sell. So how are we supposed to decide if they will perform the way we want. I bought some heavy rubber material a few years ago and made extensions. They were about 1 1/2" wider going from the top horizontal run to the front. It helped, but not enough. I will probably remake and have them protrude 4-6 inches further forward. And also make them wider. I just finished an 800 mile trip that rained the last 2 hours. I seldom have my 1/2 windshield on. But since I knew it was going to rain, I put it on that morning. Wrong decision. If you ride 15-30 mph, the tires are throwing that mud up in the air, waiting for you to drive into it. My windshield was blocking all my vision for things close to me. And when turning, the tires throw mud another direction. I think lower and farther forward flares are what I need.

I also considered making a fender that would mount some height over the tire. It would turn with the wheel. The best option. But I don't see anything capable of supporting the needed supports for it. And anything attached to my steering could be dangerous riding through shrubs, cactus, and the occasional oak tree I try to ride over.

 

[Admin]

 

[futzin]

Good luck

 

[CID]

I feel your pain, SxSs have notoriously bad splash protection. Luckily, except for close-in spring riding in the foothills, I'm usually riding dry terrain. Wet conditions slow me down so much as to almost not be fun.

A spinoff from my dirt bike days - a piece of rubber cut from a tire tube hanging down from the front fender would stop a lot of splash from getting thrown up in front of the rider. I think something similar would work on a SxS, the advantage being that it wouldn't have to turn with the tire, it would just rub the tire during compression. Maybe start with 6-8" hanging down from the leading edge of the fender flare.

Good luck -

 

[SLOWPOKE693]

Getting dirty is part of driving an open cab SxS offroad.

 

[DRZRon1]

The flares I see advertised seldom show an overhead view of what they are trying to sell. So how are we supposed to decide if they will perform the way we want. I bought some heavy rubber material a few years ago and made extensions. They were about 1 1/2" wider going from the top horizontal run to the front. It helped, but not enough. I will probably remake and have them protrude 4-6 inches further forward. And also make them wider. I just finished an 800 mile trip that rained the last 2 hours. I seldom have my 1/2 windshield on. But since I knew it was going to rain, I put it on that morning. Wrong decision. If you ride 15-30 mph, the tires are throwing that mud up in the air, waiting for you to drive into it. My windshield was blocking all my vision for things close to me. And when turning, the tires throw mud another direction. I think lower and farther forward flares are what I need.

I also considered making a fender that would mount some height over the tire. It would turn with the wheel. The best option. But I don't see anything capable of supporting the needed supports for it. And anything attached to my steering could be dangerous riding through shrubs, cactus, and the occasional oak tree I try to ride over.

Solution?

 

[DRZRon1]

Getting dirty is part of driving an open cab SxS offroad.

U mean getting icky mud and dust on yourself?

That’s the fun of it for some of us-

 

[SLOWPOKE693]

Solution?

This one works too.....

 

[DRZRon1]

This one works too.....

View attachment 466575

Agree!

There are times when wifey just wants a road soda and a leisure cruise thru the mountains in comfort - so yes the Willy’s jeep is the weapon of choice.

The other times it’s helmets/goggles/skinny pedal down - hang on and enjoy the soundbar from the 999cc unicam motor

 

[Smitty335]

Getting dirty is part of driving an open cab SxS offroad.

I'm not going to say a thing!

 

[Hometeam]

We have the Mud Buster’s XL and they do a pretty good job overall. We also drive with a process of attacking the mud and puddles a certain way. So in a straight line we always accelerate through it. For instance as we drive down a trail with a muddy water coming up I will slow a few mph and then hammer it going through. 2 things happen then as the front lifts some and the tires are pulling (almost like skimming) through the water/mud. That actually gives you more control throughout the water also. The other thing we do is if their is a smaller mud/water puddle coming up and I can’t hammer it due to space then I will do a slight twitch of the steering wheel to the right for a split second throwing the rooster tail of mud into the driver side fender and not in front of where the sxs does catch up to it. This is not a perfect science but it has actually helped a ton with mud covered windshields. But we do carry wet towels in each sxs because it is impossible to completely stop it from happening. I am always telling my boys to accelerate through the water. I’m sure someone will make fun of this but my kids and I both drive this way and it does help some.

 

[Adam490]

We have the Mud Buster’s XL and they do a pretty good job overall. We also drive with a process of attacking the mud and puddles a certain way. So in a straight line we always accelerate through it. For instance as we drive down a trail with a muddy water coming up I will slow a few mph and then hammer it going through. 2 things happen then as the front lifts some and the tires are pulling (almost like skimming) through the water/mud. That actually gives you more control throughout the water also. The other thing we do is if their is a smaller mud/water puddle coming up and I can’t hammer it due to space then I will do a slight twitch of the steering wheel to the right for a split second throwing the rooster tail of mud into the driver side fender and not in front of where the sxs does catch up to it. This is not a perfect science but it has actually helped a ton with mud covered windshields. But we do carry wet towels in each sxs because it is impossible to completely stop it from happening. I am always telling my boys to accelerate through the water. I’m sure someone will make fun of this but my kids and I both drive this way and it does help some.

It works great, you've mastered it!

 

[DRZRon1]

We have the Mud Buster’s XL and they do a pretty good job overall. We also drive with a process of attacking the mud and puddles a certain way. So in a straight line we always accelerate through it. For instance as we drive down a trail with a muddy water coming up I will slow a few mph and then hammer it going through. 2 things happen then as the front lifts some and the tires are pulling (almost like skimming) through the water/mud. That actually gives you more control throughout the water also. The other thing we do is if their is a smaller mud/water puddle coming up and I can’t hammer it due to space then I will do a slight twitch of the steering wheel to the right for a split second throwing the rooster tail of mud into the driver side fender and not in front of where the sxs does catch up to it. This is not a perfect science but it has actually helped a ton with mud covered windshields. But we do carry wet towels in each sxs because it is impossible to completely stop it from happening. I am always telling my boys to accelerate through the water. I’m sure someone will make fun of this but my kids and I both drive this way and it does help some.

I try to time it so I can pull up slightly ahead and slam the puddle and mud with a technique to hopefully coat whoever I’m riding with in front of me

 

[Hometeam]

I try to time it so I can pull up slightly ahead and slam the puddle and mud with a technique to hopefully coat whoever I’m riding with in front of me

See….lots of options!!

 

[Hometeam]

It works great, you've mastered it!

View attachment 466706

I yinged when I should yanged there! I could hear the help (you) coming from a mile away! Hardest phone call I’ve had to make for help!

 

[Doogle]

Getting dirty is part of driving an open cab SxS offroad.

Mud doesn't bother me. But not seeing where I'm going.......

 

[Doogle]

I feel your pain, SxSs have notoriously bad splash protection. Luckily, except for close-in spring riding in the foothills, I'm usually riding dry terrain. Wet conditions slow me down so much as to almost not be fun.

A spinoff from my dirt bike days - a piece of rubber cut from a tire tube hanging down from the front fender would stop a lot of splash from getting thrown up in front of the rider. I think something similar would work on a SxS, the advantage being that it wouldn't have to turn with the tire, it would just rub the tire during compression. Maybe start with 6-8" hanging down from the leading edge of the fender flare.

Good luck -

Tonight I pulled 1 of my 2" wider extensions off. I still had the roll of rubber material from my original attempt for protection. I will cut it 4" longer, going up to the headlight. And all edges will be 2" wider. I'll figure extra supports as I bolt into place. The push pins that hold the fenders aren't enough for the wider rubber, especially when coated with mud. I'm mostly in the desert. But it rains when you don't want it. And in dry times, there are water crossings.

 

[Doogle]

I added some rubber to my left fender last night. Even though it isn't something needed often. When it's needed, I need it. I may be looking at another 700 mile trip this fall. So far I just added the rubber, without any underneath support. I need to finish the right fender and do some test riding to see how it holds up unsupported. And I'll need to find some mud to see how that extra weight on the flares night make it sag. The rubber is about 4 inches farther forward and 2 1/2 inches wider than what I previously added. A straight line from the front of my new rubber to the high point on the rear of the tire, looks like it will make a huge difference on the spray I will ride in to. But we'll see.

The first picture is what I added a few years ago. It helped a little. But not enough.