Removed oem fender flares

[Sgambots91]

2019 1500 Classic Warlock

Heard stories about fender flares causing rust. Decided to take mine off today to see how it looked under there.

Bought truck brand new January 2020. Has about 7500 miles on it. Couldn’t believe how much dirt was behind them already.

I decided to leave them off. And I actually like the look better. The black non painted flares made it look kind of cheap in my opinion. Color matching would help them look better on the truck, but I can’t justify that cost when these could do more harm then good in the long run.

I’ll post up some more pics after I give it a good bath.

 

[OnSale]

2019 1500 Classic Warlock

Heard stories about fender flares causing rust. Decided to take mine off today to see how it looked under there.

Bought truck brand new January 2020. Has about 7500 miles on it. Couldn’t believe how much dirt was behind them already.

I decided to leave them off. And I actually like the look better. The black non painted flares made it look kind of cheap in my opinion. Color matching would help them look better on the truck, but I can’t justify that cost when these could do more harm then good in the long run.

I’ll post up some more pics after I give it a good bath.

View attachment 219166

The stock mud flaps on my truck destroyed the paint where they were installed. Dug into the paint so bad it’s bare metal in the shape of the mud flap. I’ve been meaning to get some flares to cover them up.


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[JB1]

It’s amazing how much dirt gets under them

 

[W4RL0CK]

Looks good OP! I removed my flares on my Warlock the first week of ownership. I just prefer the look without them. I also added the OEM spats and some custom rock guards I made.

 

[Princeton_Man]

Living in the Winter salt zone, can you imagine how much road salt would gets embedded behind those things in just one year? Very good decision!

 

[Tim Garceau]

That actually looks perfect, a little dust/dirt coating actually adds a layer of protection over the clear coat. Now if you put flares over exposed metal/already rusted spot, sure it'll compound the oxidation rate.

Most fenders rust from the inside out, especially 99 percent of the 3rd Gens up north.

 

[misfit77]

Send them to me..ill pay shipping. We are rust free in AZ


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[Joe_Clark]

I would be interested an any of y'all's take offs. I'd pay shipping as well.

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[Sgambots91]

I leased the truck. I’m most likely buying the lease out, but in case I don’t, I need to hold onto the flares so I can put them back on.

 

[Sgambots91]

That actually looks perfect, a little dust/dirt coating actually adds a layer of protection over the clear coat. Now if you put flares over exposed metal/already rusted spot, sure it'll compound the oxidation rate.

Most fenders rust from the inside out, especially 99 percent of the 3rd Gens up north.

I heard that the common driving vibrations cause the dirt to move around making small scratches over time. And not to mention the massive amounts of salt used here in NY over the winters, would get stuck behind there. Maybe I’m being paranoid, who knows. But between me liking how the truck looks without them and fenders less likely to rust, it’s a no brainer to me.

 

[Sgambots91]

Gave it a good wash. Still some glue residue on it, but not too bad. Will try my orbital buffer to see if that takes it off.

I have 2” wheel spacers on and not sure how I feel about them without the flares. Some angles it looks great and aggressive. Other times it looks kinda silly with the amount of poke with a skinny wheel. Thinking of taking them off.

Some pics:

 

[bfill_rebel]

Gave it a good wash. Still some glue residue on it, but not too bad. Will try my orbital buffer to see if that takes it off.

I have 2” wheel spacers on and not sure how I feel about them without the flares. Some angles it looks great and aggressive. Other times it looks kinda silly with the amount of poke with a skinny wheel. Thinking of taking them off.

Some pics:

View attachment 219544

View attachment 219545

View attachment 219546

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View attachment 219548

Second pic is the only one that to me looks a little off with the spacers. But at the end of the day if you don’t like em they are easily removed and if they don’t go back on they are easy to sell and ship on here...


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[DILLIGAF]

We call them Rust Flares up here for a reason. No one that wants to keep their truck rust free uses those freaking things.

 

[Tracy in IL]

That's why I painted my fender lips and rocker panels with bed liner material. Hopefully it'll keep things rust-free.

 

[Leonard Russo]

That's why I painted my fender lips and rocker panels with bed liner material. Hopefully it'll keep things rust-free.View attachment 219635

That looks awesome !

 

[jack67]

I'm thinking of taking off the flares and the pillar tape to see how it looks myself. Can always put them back on. I might paint the flares black and try that too. This is my website on my Ram: I have "real" Rams in there too!
https://moskovita-photography.com/2014_Ram_1500.html

 

[Later2u]

I put some on my 2004 a couple of years ago.
I'm not worried about rust here in Kalifornistan.

 

[14Deebo]

I have the Rough Country pocket flares on my truck and after 50k miles they have caused a nice etch in the clear coat. I go back and forth on taking them off and having the truck wet sanded and buffed out. I currently have some 17x9 -12mm wheels on the truck that require spacers to look normal with the flares. However, I am about to buy some new 20x10 -24mm wheels and am going to see what they look like with the flares before I make my decision.

That's a good looking Warlock btw.

 

[Pull Ya]

I have had my stock flares on for almost 4 years. Before I installed them I put the 3M protective film on the fenders underneath where the flares would bolt on. I removed the flares about 3 months ago to replace the 3M two sided tape and found there was no sign of rust and the paint under the flares was just fine, no scratches or no sign of the flares rubbing against the paint. If you have wide tires that stick out past the wheel well and you think your flares are going to cause damage, wait until you see all the rock chips and damage road debris will do to the rockers of your truck without the flares. One thing you can do is install the 3M protective film on rockers including behind the rear tire. This may save some of the damage you will surely sustain. While some flares are not wide enough to cover the complete width of some wide tires, they do help prevent most rock chips and other damage. Just IMHO and based on my experiences.
Jay

 

[Sgambots91]

I have had my stock flares on for almost 4 years. Before I installed them I put the 3M protective film on the fenders underneath where the flares would bolt on. I removed the flares about 3 months ago to replace the 3M two sided tape and found there was no sign of rust and the paint under the flares was just fine, no scratches or no sign of the flares rubbing against the paint. If you have wide tires that stick out past the wheel well and you think your flares are going to cause damage, wait until you see all the rock chips and damage road debris will do to the rockers of your truck without the flares. One thing you can do is install the 3M protective film on rockers including behind the rear tire. This may save some of the damage you will surely sustain. While some flares are not wide enough to cover the complete width of some wide tires, they do help prevent most rock chips and other damage. Just IMHO and based on my experiences.
Jay

Great points. Do you deal with crazy amount of road salts though in winter?

I’m also really loving the look without the flares. Looks cleaner to me. I’m sure they would look much better color matched however. But the cheap plastic look wasn’t for me.

I think flares look the best when the truck has a decent size lift and wide wheels. Maybe down the road when I have some extra cash for a new wheel setup, I’ll get the flares painted and put back on.