Mud flaps are named because of their flap-like appearance. These are located behind the driver and passenger side wheels of the semi-trucks. Most truckers add these on the tires of the trailers to ensure the safety of other vehicles and passengers on the road.
How To Install Mud Flaps on a Semi-Truck? You can install the mud flaps on the semi-truck by selecting these according to the model of your vehicle. Clean the area and remove the mud near the wheel. Use the hangers to mark the points on the wheel well. Drill the holes and secure these with the hangers at the marked position. Moreover, you can add these without drilling the holes by removing the screws already located on the wheel well.
Mud flaps are also known as splash guards, and their main function is to keep the road debris away from the wheels and vehicle’s body. It is an aftermarket addition accessory, and you can mount it within 40 to 50 minutes, depending on the procedure.
How do you install mud flaps on a semi-truck?
It is easy to mount mud flaps on your vehicle and it is better to perform it at home instead of spending additional costs to recruit expert mechanics. Moreover, you require less than 50 minutes to do this. It is also necessary to replace these when they get damaged or dirty.
Selection of mud flaps
Some modern semi-trucks contain built-in screws to install these aftermarket additions, and you do not have to drill holes in the wheel well.
You have to select the mud flaps that do not require drilling. In addition, it is also necessary to select these according to their manufacturing material.
These are available in rubber, nylon, and metal materials. I like the rubber type because of its durability and ability to withstand road conditions.
These are long-lasting and require less maintenance as compared to their metal counterparts. Moreover, these are also less vulnerable to corrosion.
Furthermore, I also saw the customized mud flaps on my friend’s semi-truck last week. He told me that these are available in different shapes, designs, and colors, and you can order the customized ones for a cool appearance.
I always match their color with exterior body paint for a uniform appearance.
Cleaning of vehicle
You have to clean your vehicle to remove the mud residues, road debris, and road salts before their installation. However, I prefer to remove the tires to mount these by drilling holes in the wheel well.
Tire removal requires more effort and increases the time required for this procedure, but it provides more clearance near the wheel well.
In addition, it is better to remove the tires to reduce the risk of damage. Use the tap water and home-based detergents for cleaning of nearby areas.
Moreover, you can also remove road dust and dried mud with pressurized water. You require almost 50 to 60 minutes to mount these with the drilling procedure.
Furthermore, their cost is about $80 to more than $100 because of the accessories in their kit, including hangers and brackets.
People add drill-based mud flaps in commercial and heavy vehicles because they are long-lasting, and you do not have to replace them frequently.
Mark points to drill holes
Use the marker to mark the points on the wheel well for their installation. Use the hanger to identify their mounting location and mark these points.
Connect the drill machine with an electric socket to turn it on. Carefully drill the holes in the wheel well according to the size of the screws that come with the kit.
In addition, it is also better to read the manual instructions that come with this product for a better understanding of safety concerns.
Keep the drilling machine upright for perfect hole drilling without damaging the nearby structures.
Installation of mud flaps
Clean the nearby surface after installation of the hole to remove the dust. Adjust the mud flaps in the hangers that come with their kit.
You can see instructions in the owner manual. These contain numbers or are marked with front and back signs so you can mount them accordingly.
Check these and mount the driver’s sides on the right and passenger sides on the left sides. Slightly tighten the screws of the hangers to adjust their position. Fasten the screws tightly after adjusting these at their place.
Can you install the mud flaps without drilling the hole?
You can also mount the mud flaps on semi-trucks without drilling the hole. It is a simple procedure and only requires 20 to 30 minutes. Moreover, it costs around $50 to $80 to add these to your truck.
These are cheaper because they do not contain accessories in the kit required for their mounting.
These contain adhesive tape on their sides to secure their position. In addition, these are suitable for several newer vehicles because they have drilled holes in wheel wells.
These drilled holes also contain the screws for their installation. Use the drill machine to remove the screws from the wheel wells. It usually includes three screws, and their number can vary depending on the vehicle and fender area.
Take out these screws one by one and keep them aside. Adjust these near the fender area and tighten the screw to secure its position.
Carefully position it so its adhesive area comes in contact with plastic material. Remove the backing material from the adhesive tape and secure its position.
Add the remaining screws and tighten these with a wrench. Use the wrench according to the size of these screws for proper fastening.
Where is the proper placement of mud flaps?
It is necessary that mud flaps should cover the proper width of the tires. Select their size according to the dimensions of the tires so they can cover the width.
Covering width is necessary to protect the hole tires from road debris. Moreover, keeping it several centimeters above the ground surface is also essential to decrease the chances of wear and tear.
I selected their sizes so they could cover half of the tire in the vertical direction. Ground clearance is also necessary to decrease their scrapping with road surfaces while moving on elevated roads and uneven terrains.
It is also better to position these slightly outward to protect the other vehicles and pedestrians from mud splashes.
What are the benefits of adding mud flaps on a semi-truck?
Many truckers add mud flaps on their semi-trucks to keep them neat and clean and reduce the washing effort regularly.
Mud splashes from the roads come on the wheel well, tires, and undercarriage. These mud splashes get dried when you do not have sufficient sources for their cleaning.
Dried road debris is hard to clean and requires more effort. In addition, splashes from tires can also affect pedestrians and other road vehicles.
These splash guards help protect the vehicle’s undercarriage from mud splashes, road salts, and other road debris.
It protects the truck undercarriage from corrosion, usually due to exposure to road salts. Rock particles can also hit the vehicle’s body and produce scratches or prominent marks on its surface, directly reducing its resale value.
These splash guards help keep road debris and rock particles down while moving on the road. These are the best products when driving on rainy roads and uneven terrains.
You have to add these to comply with the rules and regulations of your state. Some states made their mounting mandatory to ensure the safety of other cars and pedestrians.
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