EDIT - removed flares last night: Everything came off fine except on the front flares, backside of the wheel well about 6 inches up from the rocker bottom of the truck one of the holes wasn't filled with plastic snap rivets that you can just pinch or pull to get out...it was some sort of metal screw/rivet thing with a smooth head that is surrounded by plastic on the outside and inside of the fender. I was just barely able to fit a finger in behind the fender by opening my front door. The shank of this spike thing feels like it's possibly threaded, but more likely just ribbed. I'm gonna run out to take pics asap today to help, but I'd assume anyone with the same gen truck that has removed their fenders would have had the same issue. Thanks.

Hey everyone.. So this is an idea I've been toying with for months now.. long before I even had my truck lifted, or the new rims. I regret not buying a base model 4x4 or an xlt because I think I don't want the plastic fender flares anymore. I want to simplify the look of my truck, as well as make those tires poke out a little further... and the fender flares on the rear extend out at least an inch further than the metal fender lip so taking them off would really help.. as well as help eliminate my #1 issue with the ranger... that damn tucked in rear axle!! why the hell couldn't they bring them out a little further.
Plus, ocassionally when the truck has a couple people in it and I'm drivin up off a road onto a ramped driveway or driving or a curb or something the back end of my front fender flares get clipped slightly and make a loud rubbing sound and probably just adds to the scratches on the paint caused by the sharp edges.
I know I'll have scratches as well as holes to deal with. Eventually I'd get a respray and get the paint fixed and at the same time get the holes filled, when I have some spare cash. but for now I would just do my best to wax and buff and polish and at least make the line less visible.. and either leave the holes, or I've even thought of getting some black bolts and nuts to put in the holes, with some black rubber or plastic washers to protect the paint.
So, anyone have some pics of fenderless rangers? preferably with a lift, and maybe a similar wheel setup if ya got it??? mine are 16x10 with a 4" BS, and 33x12.50 for rubber.

Thanks everyone.

 

Marie's (DisturbedESV) truck:




Good picture of how far her tires stick out:

 

Ya I like the looks of that. And her tires are only 8" wide, and they poke nicely front and rear. Thanks.

 

The only thing I would be worried about if I was you is that you're going to have a ton of rock chips once you get rid of those flares. If you have some rubbing, I personally would just trim a little bit of the flare off.

 

Kinda off topic but how did you change your foglight lenses yellow... Is it a spray kinda like the night shade or is it like that laminx stuff???

 

yea i was wondering the samething about the fog light lenses...and like rangerboy101 said your gonna get alot more rock chips with out the fender flares

 

It's lamin-x. it looks like it almost could be a spray though because my fogs were both badly cracked when I put it on so it just bubbled more and more and started getting a haze etc. Fortunately I ordered enough to do it twice so when I have the money I'm getting new fog lights and before I install them I'm going to put the laminx on and let it settle up for a couple weeks inside my warm room. I also have yellow bulbs though.

 

a future project possibly.... do what 08xlt4x4 did and get my rockers bedliner sprayed... make not have the same dramatic affect as white on black, but it would still look good and serve a valuable purpose.

 

yea that is a good point...but this is just my opinion i like your truck the way it is now.

 

how long do we bet it will take shane to post his truck LOL

 

I think your truck looks good the way it is. I wouldnt take them off. Just my .02's

 

Well Thanks for the suggestions and $0.02. The majority of people have said the same thing.. that "the fenders look good" "they finish the offroad look" etc etc... some people like them for the looks, others for the paint protection, Shane has mentioned the paint chips issue... and ya I'm shocked shane hasn't posted, though Ive seen probably every pic of his truck he's ever taken, except in the last few months.... so shane, nows your chance? and shane, maybe post more pics of your gf's truck if you have some that weren't already posted.. I wanna oggle your gf's ride.

and onto the flares again... Doesn't anyone else think that the ranger looks good without them?? am I taking crazy pills...? Oddly enough the majority of the people that say they like the fender flares happen to be people without them... it's a question of the grass being greener on the other side... and you know what.. I'm gonna ***** shanes truck for him briefly... to help my point....

I mean, COMMON... forget about the fact he has a BL and 35's, his truck just looks so much more.. i don't know.. purpose built, no gimmicks. Hell, id even love it more if the ranger didn't have those little lips for the fenders.. just come straight down... I've started to think of the plastic fender flares with pretend pocket bolts as nothing more than a gimmick... it's like a spoiler on a front wheel drive car...

**EDIT: One thing I forgot to mention in my case against the flares... They are SOO oversized on this generation. hell they practically come up the the hood on the front, and the bed rails on the rear, they're ridiculous! I think if anything, they make the tires appear smaller than they are, takes the focus off of them. I'd be happier with no flares, or.. the old style flare even.. but i'd rather have none. Plus, just knowing what they're doing out of sight to my paint bothers me...much rather take em off, clean it up as best as I can, and someday down the road get it cleaned up and the holes filled when I can afford that, in combo with doing the rocker panels in bedliner spray.





Then mine


100_0361.jpg?t=1261350546

 

I say keep them. Your truck looks so much better with them. I think certain colors and trucks can pull it off. To be honest I think the yellow truck posted earlier needs some flares badly. Shanes truck looks good with out them. If you do decide to pull them off and want to sell them let me know. I bought black 06+ ones to put on my truck but I'd much rather have DSG ones.

 

keep the flares.

 

if you hate them that much get the darker FX4 flares. take a look at ShadowRanger08's truck he just did them on his and its the same color as yours and they look wicked!

 

well it's not so much the colour that bothers me. Like I said, they just seem to overpower the wheel well and the tires because they are so oversized.. plus by taking them off it would make my rear wheels appear to be at least another inch out from under the fenders... Very sweet :)

 

Well I had a 02 no flares and really like not having the flares gives a nice clean look
now I have the FX4 with flares and although still not a fan they are growing on me

I think the truck would look a little taller in the wheel wells with out the flairs

 

You're the First fellow anti plastic flare person I've met on here. "a clean look" is the only way I can really describe the ranger without fender flares too... It just looks like how I think a truck should look.I just love simple little boxes... Give me a lifted 88 Jeep Cherokee with tires shoved out of the fenders and I'd be in love.
as far as little tuner cars... give me like a 1980 MK1 Rabbit or a 1990 Jetta with a stripped interior, a vr6 or 1.8 turbo slammed down to an inch or 2 off the ground and im happy. All those vehicles are just simple boxes.

 

I wish I could have a flare like yours on my truck. I think your truck looks absolutely amazing. Its clean and it has the perfect stance. I would **** myself if I could have your truck.

 

the ONLY thing i dont like about my flares is the ones for the rear wheels catch all the stuff that the front ones miss. ill go take a pic of my truck right now for example

 

nevermind i just looked outside and its dark

 

I personally hate flares, I removed mine a long time ago.

 

Thank you LOL

 

Take them off and send them my way, you wont have to look at them then.

 

Thanks.. but sure you'd **** yourself to have my truck... but you'd probably kill yourself if you had the debt I have because of the truck. Just on the superlift, prekey/shackles, and the skyjacker leafs, plus the install on all of that stuff I've probably invested a total of 6 or 7000 dollars canadian... that doesn't include my rims and tires, or my 2000 dollar leer cap.. or the tool box I have, or the tonneau cover I had before that :( AHHHH lol.. Plus I still have my financing, my insurance, and a handful of other toys I've bought along the way... I mean, who doesn't need a home theatre and a Roland electric drum kit in their room?? and a brand new specialized mountain bike and all the night riding lighting to light the whole forest??... **** MY LIFE!... haha

EDIT: Plus have you looked at the "things to maybe do" list in my sig?? I tried to add more but ran out of space.. that doesn't include smoked headlights, tint, regearing the truck, touching up the paint and filling the holes if I remove my fender flares, the dream of a new front bumper with a winch mounted to the front.... That's probably another 6000 worth... at least... I need to rob a bank.. I think a lot of those big ticket items on that list are a long way off, if they ever happen. probably better off just trading in in a couple years for an F250