The Pros and Cons of Toyota Mud Flaps
Types of Mud Flaps
Aerodynamic mud flaps feature ventilated slats or louvers to decrease aerodynamic drag, reduce sidespray and improve airflow in order to improve your Tacoma’s fuel efficiency. Another advantage of this design is that aerodynamic mud flats can vent heat. In other words, the improved airflow allows for the fast release of water and air that would otherwise be recirculated from the fenderwell while improving the overall performance of the truck by cooling the brakes and tires. Believe it or not, but there is a difference between mud flaps and mud guards. Mud flaps, well, flap. That is to say they’re flexible and soft. On the other hand, guards are inflexible, hard and better for repelling strong debris. Although mud guards aren’t as likely to twist at high speeds, mud flaps are far superior since their flexibility allows them to better protect against more types of debris.Benefits of Mud Flaps
You might ask yourself, “Do I really need mud flaps on my Tacoma?” Well, why do people wear bibs when eating lobster? The truth is that, for the most part, things look better when they’re not a complete mess. This is true for you, and it’s also true for your truck. Aside from maintaining appearances, however, there are several other benefits to installing mud flaps. Depending where you live, your area may often experience heavy snowfall, which usually means a generous dumping of sand and salt. Not only does this mean a huge mess on your truck, but it can also mean chipping paint and the potential for corrosion. However, mud flaps are an extremely inexpensive way to protect your vehicle. Also, in addition to wanting to protect your truck, you probably want to be a courteous driver as well. Installing a universal mud flap or a custom-molded mud flap will greatly reduce the amount of vision-impairing debris such as mud and water that your truck could kick up and onto other cars. Let’s break down the pros and cons of installing mud flaps:Pros:
- Easy to install.
- Cheap.
- They add visual appeal to your truck.
- They don’t negatively affect the aerodynamics (air drag) or mileage of your vehicle.
- They provide a courtesy to other drivers by limiting the amount of debris your tires fling up.
- They provide protection to your truck’s undercarriage, quarter panels and doors.
Cons:
- If you don’t properly install the mudflaps, they could fall off. However, this can be avoided if you take your time during installation to ensure you’re doing it correctly and that they are secure.
- Choosing the wrong mud flap can cause them to rub against the ground. When this happens, the mud flaps will curve back. Not only will this hinder the appearance of the vehicle, but the mud flaps won’t be able to do what they’re supposed to do.
As you can see, the only real disadvantage to installing mud flaps is with the installation process itself. Since some cars and trucks aren’t built for mud flaps, they might not have the holes necessary for installation. In these cases, you’ll need to drill in the holes yourself using the flaps’ manufacturer’s guide as a reference. Even with the small amount of time you’ll put into installing them, the mud flaps will be worth the investment. Once you’ve made the one-time expense, you can rest assured that your Tacoma is protected from damage that could cost hundreds of dollars in repairs.