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Rear wheelhouse liners: protective, or just for looks?

jastevenson

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Hi all,

Any thoughts on whether the wheelhouse liners are functional, or are they just for looks?

I live in a place that uses road salt and has snow for 3 months out of the year, so not sure if that means I need them to protect the vehicle?

Thanks!
 
Made for looks. If you want protective get your truck sprayed with krown undercoating.
 
If you think they are just for looks, take a wander under one that doesn't have them and look at the metal that is exposed to impacts from road debris, gravel etc, compare that to one with liners and then answer the question yourself. I installed liners after I looked but YMMV.
 
I think they are functional as well as for looks, that said you should pull them every so often and clean the dirt/salt that will inevitably work itself behind the liners.
 
Liners stop the sand blasting. Fluid film and the like prevent oxidation. You need both if you live in a rust belt, the looks are just a bonus
 
Not just for looks. They're pretty thin, but after running my truck for a full winter, and going on my second, they have been holding up great. I can't imagine how many rock chips I'd have in there if I didn't have them. And rock chips lead to rust.
 
I have them on mine and yes they do clean up the wheel well look, but they also protect it. Definitely something worth getting or adding to your truck.
 
Not just for looks. They're pretty thin, but after running my truck for a full winter, and going on my second, they have been holding up great. I can't imagine how many rock chips I'd have in there if I didn't have them. And rock chips lead to rust.

I couldn’t believe how thin and flimsy the plastic is compared to the factory liners that came on my 2017. The ones on the 2017 were pretty thick plastic which offered absolutely no flex. Still really happy to have them though, and agree that they are for both function and looks.
 
Well, one day I was driving down the road when a work truck decided to drop a bucket of paint into my lane. I swerved to avoid it but the paint still hit the driver side of my truck. The paint splatter was primarily in the front and rear wheel wells. So I removed them and cleaned them with dawn dish soap in my spare bath tub. I'd say they did their job, instead of the red paint getting up under my bed it got on the fenders instead.
 
My Ford didn't have them and the amount of snow/mud/debris that got up in the frame and the box was quite extensive. A guy really had to work to ensure that all the areas were cleaned out when visiting the car wash. I have to believe that having them would make it easier to clean out and prevent stuff from working its way into all the nooks and crannies up there.
 
I installed them on my Rebel, I probably pulled a pound or two of mud out of my bumper from the couple of hundred miles the truck was driven without the fender liners. Well worth it in the salt belt.

 
I put them on mine. Didn't use the OEM ones though. Found some for $85 shipped and they work good. View attachment 69280
Not trying to de-rail, but are those the rough country liners. If they are how was installation. The rough country do not look like they have the metal J style clips where the fender screws attach. Any info would be appreciated.
 
They are essential in the snow belt! There are holes to your inner fenders right above the wheel well that are open to salt and sand. If you do not have them, that salt and sand will sit on the inside of your outer panels Search my posts for photos of the holes. Also, invest in a $10.00 can of fluid film to spray above them before you install them.
 
Not trying to de-rail, but are those the rough country liners. If they are how was installation. The rough country do not look like they have the metal J style clips where the fender screws attach. Any info would be appreciated.
No, OMAC liners. I my two screws on the liners themselves. Around the edge of fender flares it just gets sandwiched between flare and body.

 
Getting a set. Just got back from a hunting trip that featured several drives around the outside of a cornfield to get to where I can walk to a stand. Even though it was dry, I still had a few wet spots to clear to get to my parking spot. I sprayed off the underside yesterday, and brought about 10 pounds of mud home with me. Thanks for the video. Pointed me in the right direction.
 

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