Mud flaps vs. side steps for rocks protection?

[84jeepjohn]

He is the passenger front and driver rear with a 392 XR with RSE AND rokblox Xl flaps

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[Adv_aw8s]

I have Rokblokz, RockSlide Engineering sliders and XR flare extensions on my 392. 2 years in and no rock chips anywhere, muddy water yes but no rocks. I run mostly forestry roads so it was a must for me. My 24 2 door is getting the same treatment.

I have this same exact set up and have been very happy with it. Lots of miles off road to include the Dalton Highway. We live in Colorado and it does very well at keeping the winter off the side of the jeep and door handles. I did cut some pieces of xpel to cover my door hinges.

 

[68Jeepster]

My Sport came with nothing and my 5'-2" wife has trouble climbing into the Jeep so I want to get side steps in the near future. I found some in another thread that I like. They're very comparable to the ones I have on my Xterra.

They are a little hard to see but can someone advise if these are OEM and still available?

Thanks!

 

[jadmt]

My Sport came with nothing and my 5'-2" wife has trouble climbing into the Jeep so I want to get side steps in the near future. I found some in another thread that I like. They're very comparable to the ones I have on my Xterra.

They are a little hard to see but can someone advise if these are OEM and still available?

Thanks!

they look like the oem (mopar) flaps.

 

[68Jeepster]

they look like the oem (mopar) flaps.

Ok thanks!

I would guess mud, rocks, grit, etc would occasionally come up between the tube and the doors. Maybe the full step that is flush with the body would offer better protection but I like the way this one looks.

Pros and cons with all these things I guess. If anyone has opinions on the Mopar tube style vs the Mopar flush step or can point me to an existing thread, I'd really appreciate it . Thanks!

 

[jadmt]

Ok thanks!

I would guess mud, rocks, grit, etc would occasionally come up between the tube and the doors. Maybe the full step that is flush with the body would offer better protection but I like the way this one looks.

Pros and cons with all these things I guess. If anyone has opinions on the Mopar tube style vs the Mopar flush step or can point me to an existing thread, I'd really appreciate it . Thanks!

I can tell you Rokblokz with oem rubicon slider and M.O.R.E hidastep works great. My wife is 5'1" and shrinking and is 62yoa old has no issues getting in and out of my lifted jlur on 35's. just did Moab trails Poison spider, Elephant Hill, Fins and Things and Top of the World and neither the flaps or the Hide a steps made any contact. Both are removable in a minute but I did not see the need a single time for either.

 

[Gmanjeeper]

I have this same exact set up and have been very happy with it. Lots of miles off road to include the Dalton Highway. We live in Colorado and it does very well at keeping the winter off the side of the jeep and door handles. I did cut some pieces of xpel to cover my door hinges.

Just added the Rokblokz XL fronts. My third set, bit my first XL. Very happy with them. Either I am used to them or they blend in (black with black logo) such tha t I do not really see them. Now I will sell my front Rokblokz original size with the cut out for the OEM Rubicon rock rails.

 

[Gmanjeeper]

I have this same exact set up and have been very happy with it. Lots of miles off road to include the Dalton Highway. We live in Colorado and it does very well at keeping the winter off the side of the jeep and door handles. I did cut some pieces of xpel to cover my door hinges.

Also now strongly leaning towards adding the XR fender flare extensions.

 

[Adv_aw8s]

Also now strongly leaning towards adding the XR fender flare extensions.

I wasn't a huge fan of them when they came out on the xr's but once I saw them in the wild they didn't look to bad. For us the benefit they give us in the winter keeping all that snow and ice off the door handles and side of the jeep was worth it. Now I don't even really notice them.

 

[Nitehawk92]

I'm having the same problem. I already have a few little scratches from rocks flipping up. I had talked with some forum members about this awhile back and they said even with mud flaps occasionally rocks would still fly up hitting their jeep. They said a sidestep that filled in the gaps from fender to fender works great. I currently have Rubi Rock Rails and I really don't want sidesteps but I'm actually thinking of installing a plastic sidesteps just to stop the flying rocks, similar to @Wbino has or I'm going with LOD rock rails/side steps.

Ohhhhh, I don't know ?

One more advantage to having the side steps that most people may not think about. I bought the Mopar side steps to keep cars from dinging my doors. If they hit anything it will be the side step. It also can help some with higher vehicles...

 

[LowBama]

One more advantage to having the side steps that most people may not think about. I bought the Mopar side steps to keep cars from dinging my doors. If they hit anything it will be the side step. It also can help some with higher vehicles...

Completely agree. On my rig unless it’s a 2500 truck doors are only going to hit plate steel, plastic or rubber. 60k and 4 years not one door ding.

 

[4xFUN]

I just really hate mud flaps, especially for an off road rig...My JLR-X has the OEM flare extensions and I replaced the stock Rubi rails for Rock Hard 4x4 Angle-Up sliders. This combo helps with side spray and the sliders sit so high up and out, it eliminates any chance of door dings from most cars and trucks. If I didn't have the body color fender flares this is all I would do, however I had the tiny strip of factory PPF removed from the front of the rear fender flares and did full coverage with XPELL PPF on front of all four flares.

 

[DonPire]

I just really hate mud flaps, especially for an off road rig...My JLR-S has the OEM flare extensions and I replaced the stock Rubi rails for Rock Hard 4x4 Angle-Up sliders. This combo helps with side spray and the sliders sit so high up and out, it eliminates any chance of door dings from most cars and trucks. If I didn't have the body color fender flares this is all I would do, however I had the tiny strip of factory PPF removed from the front of the rear fender flares and did full coverage with XPELL PPF on front of all four flares.

Could you post some pics?

 

[Wbino]

The last time I put mud flaps on anything was a 1985 Dodge Daytona.

 

[4xFUN]

Could you post some pics?

Below are a couple of pictures, PPF cover the front facing sections of all fender flares and stops at about the middle of the top of the fender flares. The Rock Hard 4x4 Angle-up sliders stick out a bit and angle up to cover more of the lower sill.
Do large mud flaps offer better protection from small stones? Yes, but IMHO they are way ugly and do not belong on a Jeep...

Flare extensions are pretty close to the outside of the tires, these tires are 37x12.50/R17 D KO2's on OEM 17x8 wheels...

Here is a side view showing how high the sliders cover...

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