While returning home last sunday, one side of my real splash/mud guard came off. Looks like the bolt hole for the carbine fatigued enough to completely open up Looks like maybe 1/4" diameter, The one on the other side looks like it is about to go. I was thinking of buying 5/16 x 2" black metal bar and bolting that on the existing medal strip. Drilling a 1/4" hole a little bit away from the edge, and then using 1/4" grade 8 bolts to hold the new repair on. I would tap some threads into the existing metal bar Foretravel uses. Any thoughts on this approach?
Dop a search on this forum for MUD FLAPS and you will find many ideas.
Gary B
Grade 5 is enough.. pc
I used half inch clevis connectors to attach the flat iron to the frame. I don't believe it will wear out soon.
Agree. For that application, grade 8 is overkill and a waste of money.
However you (re)attach the mud flap, it is good to have some "flexibility" in the mount. In some instances, when you level the coach on a steep slope, the rear frame can almost touch the ground. If the mud flap is rigidly mounted, it can be bent or mangled.
I have done our coach, another coach at FOT, and a friend's coach, all the same way as follows. Bolted a stainless steel bar 1/4" thick x 1" wide x the length of the flap with 1/4" stainless bolts, flat washers, and self-locking nuts. I then mounted two eyebolts to the coach frame after adding a "coldshut" chain link. Drilled two holes in the flap & stainless bar and "threaded" a coldshut chain link into each hole and the held the entire assembly up until I could get the coldshuts thru the links hanging down from the eyebolts. Then closed the coldshut links with vice grips.
Stainless bar can usually be purchased at places like Grainger, Fastenal, or a steel supply business. Same with the stainless bolts, nuts, and washers. The eyebolts and chain link "coldshuts" from a hardware store.
OH, by the way, when drilling for the 1/4" bolts, make sure they will not interfere with the coldshut links locations.
Entire flap assembly now has flexibility to move.
Just went out & looked at my setup. I mistakenly said to use two coldshuts. I only use one on each eyebolt. Sorry!
On my coach the rear mud flap hangs on a couple of links so it can swing free. You will be glad that yours is like that the first time you back over a parking bumper!
Keith
If you take it off, you may get better MPG!
Make sure to check it frequently, mine disappeared on a recent trip to Houston and back, it was secure when we left Longview but was missing all together when we returned...
Our big mud flap was originally fastened with two locking carabineers. We added two more so if one broke we would not damage or lose the mud flap. Our mud flap now swivels on 4 carabineers.
One of reasons for splash guard, on the early ford pushers was to help cool the engine by delaying the hot air from going back to radiator. They did a air tuff test that proved this.