Thread: who needs mudflaps?

I have mudflaps on my 2a, admittedly a lwb, and they certainly collect a lot of mud, so I guess they do something. But none of the swb Landrovers I have owned have had them, and as far as I know they were never fitted to Series Landrovers new in Australia except possibly the Game.

However, I think you will find that current ADRs REQUIRE mudflaps on all vehicles if the mudguards do not go low enough, the only question will be whether these are retrospective. In general, ADRs are not retrospective, so I think you will find that they are not required on Series Landrovers since they were not fitted originally. However, it will be a vehicle defect if removed from any vehicle fitted with them originally, and probably becomes a requirement if the vehicle is raised or otherwise modified to increase the clearance of the mudguards. Anyone who has direct knowledge of the legal position, please confirm or contradict this!

Again, only looking at the lwb, I have had no problems with the mudflaps on either the 110 or the 2a as they simply drag on the ground when you use the departure angle, but are far enough from the wheels not to get caught when backing in these circumstances - I think of the first time I backed offroad in my new company Landcruiser in 1965 - no more mudflaps! This is likely to be a problem with the swb.

John

I'm about to do a trip with a lot of dirt driving, and I thought front flaps might minimise damage and noise under the car??

Originally Posted by Captain_Rightfoot

I'm about to do a trip with a lot of dirt driving, and I thought front flaps might minimise damage and noise under the car??

My 110 does not have front flaps - I have often thought about adding them to reduce the sand (rock) blasting of the folding steps and rear wheel arch flares, so you are probably right. Don't know about reducing noise, most of that will come from stones hitting the mudguards themselves front and rear, I doubt you will hear the ones hitting underneath over the noise from the ones hitting the inside of the mudguards.

John

Originally Posted by Captain_Rightfoot

I'm about to do a trip with a lot of dirt driving, and I thought front flaps might minimise damage and noise under the car??

Not only, but also. I reckon front flaps also reduce the chances of a flat from stones. Seem to recall reading somewhere about some US Highway Patrol study that found similar.

Cheers

On a recent trip to Fraser I lost one mudflap on the ex-Army Series III LWB. I knew because one side of the trailer was plastered with sand, and the other had none. They definitely do something!

If you do put mudflaps on don't put any metal bits on them. Mine had aluminium bottoms and sides when I got it. I guess to stop them wearing? On gravel roads there is the continous sound of rocks hitting metal. Can be a bit noisy.

WR

I fitted a custom rear bar to my D2 plus 33" tyres which meant the factory mud flaps were simply useless, so I made up some rubber ones which dropped down to an appropriate level but having just ripped off the 6th set I have been running around without them for the past few weeks. I think they do stop a lot of crud etc flying backwards and in my case up into the back corners of the car but they are a pain off road when you catch them between a rock the tyre as rip off far too easily even if fitted very securely.

I am leaving mine off jst now until I can find a better solution, like easy clip on on off or something.

Aye, Mick

G'day Bisho

Rear mudflaps are well worth fitting, as if you are travelling on a dirt road the rear wheels will kick up a fair bit of dust and stones that will destroy a following vehicle's windscreen, this can happen on bitumen as well, also in the wet the spray from the rear wheels can blind the following driver's vision,just as the spray from large trucks(snow) can give a "white out" effect. To save your rear flaps, attach a small chain to them and hook them back for off road use


Captain_ Rightfoot

Front mudflaps will protect the underside of your vehicle from stone damage and mud flung up and protect the driveline, also make it easier to spot any damage/leaks,it will also make it a little quieter in the cabin, they will save your paintwork to some extent, if they are on a slight angle the will deflect the stones outwards


cheers