Hey guys. Well I have always like flares that looked like this



The lil pockets and shiny bolts. I have always liked that style. But that isn't really available for a ranger. Except for some rare expensive bushwackers I believe. So I got my hands on a set of flares off an 08 fx4 for $200 and did some modifying. I ground down the plastic "bolts" and then drilled holes thro the plastic and picked up some stainless steel bolts that were similiar to the plastic molded ones. Then I put em in. Check it out:

Rear:



Front:



and close up so you can kinda tell:



Its pretty crappy cell phone pics. I will get better ones once they are on the truck. Which might actually be awhile. I have some other body work to do first.

I think they turned out pretty good. You can kinda tell if you look close. The bolt head doesn't entirely cover up the ground down part, but from like 3 feet away it looks fine. The bolts stick out a fair bit, but I still like how it looks

Edit: That last pic is terrible. I will try to get a better one

 

I like where you are going with this, I bet they look good on the truck. Might have to do this myself

 

Pretty cool. Subtle touches make a big difference.

They look like they are supposed to have the bolts.

Good job.

 

Yup, from factory it looks like they are supposed to have bolts...so I put some shiny ones on! Oh also I painted the flares too. Its kinda hard to get the angle right. You have to grind it down at the top and leave a bit on the bottom so they stick out straight. I didn't do a perfect job. But not too bad

 

They Look Awesome ....... Post some pics of them on the truck if you can

 

That looks good! Did you just get really short bolts and put a nut on the back?

 

Thanks man, I still have to get to a body shop and do some paint fading back on the doors, then they will go on

That was my plan, but I don't think It will work. I think I will get longer ones and drill holes thro the fender and actually bolt them on

 

It's been a while since I had mine off... but how much room is there for a nut back there? You could try a thin jam nut to hold them on if you'd rather not drill into your fenders!

 

Ive been wanting someone to do this forever! cant wait to see em man

 

Its hard to tell... I am not sure. The bolts I have now are 3/4 inch long. I think I could get a jam nut and grind them down and it would work. I am not sure tho. We will have to see what happens, also here is better pics up close. As you can see you can kind of tell where I destroyed the plastic, I am debating getting one size bigger. I dunno if that would look too big tho.

 

Looks great! Im not a huge fan of the Ranger Sports tht have that "plastic bolt" look to them, so these look great!
I saw a Ranger steppy yesterday with the big extend-a-flare or whatever theyre called (the REALY wide ones) on it... and stock wheels and tires. You talk about goofy as hell!!!

 

Haha yeah I thought about getting those, but my wheels and tires will stick out like...an inch maybe. I don't need those

 

Allen head bolts? Hmmmm

 

I forget what they are actually called. I wanna say carriage bolts for some reason. They look exactly like what the plastic molded ones looked like

 

Why not just put a stainless washer on there to cover up the plastic?

 

You could go as big as the plastic ones were. I wanna see pics on the truck

 

those are not 05 flares, those are 06 flares

 

Yeah 06+ FX4 flares

 

This size I have now is the size that the plastic ones imitated. Its just how it was molded that made it wider at the bottom. I think I will see what a size bigger looks like...won't be on truck for awhile.

I wasn't sure when they came into play. I got them off a 2008 FX4

 

I ended up staying with the same size, the next size available (half inch up from 3/8) was WAY bigger. This worked out alright. Took off my fenders, drilled holes and put them on. Then spent to rest of the day wrestling trying to get my shoehorned ram jammed 2001 front end back on to my 96. Not perfect but it will do. Anyways...pics of them on the truck:

 

Even though you got those flares for a good price, $200 is $100-$150 less than the usual I see, I'm surprised you dropped the money on them when you are in such dire need of new tires lol.

They do look good though....when that truck gets all put back together it will be a beaut.

 

You didn't cover the frame when you painted the truck? lol

 

Thanks! And I have 315/75/16 Treadwrights ordered...my cousin is bringing them up on sunday. Don't worry, they will be on soon. Also I got a chrome pushbar

Haha...I got it done at a bodyshop my buddy works at, he did it after hours. It was dirty so I think when I wash it all the paint will come off.

 

Looks great! I like the look of real bolts on them....