Mud Guards options?

[R1Thor]

Apologies for the late response, I wanted to give more info about how we make them but I am on vacation (yayyy! ) and barely online.
So... you are correct that ABS generally isn't UV resistant. We use ABS that's coated with a UV resistant layer but never done my own tests to be fair. We've been doing this for more than half year and so far so good. With that said though, I wanted to point out that currently we use ABS sheets that are glossy on one side and textured on the other and I personally don't like them too much. The good news is that this will soon change. For some reason it took me many months to find proper material for this (I've tried at least two dozens of materials for this particular purpose) but I am happy to say that just prior to leaving for my vacation I found THE ONE It's ABS again, but has special coating that gives us a few things:
* Satin finish on both sides (super smooth and premium looking)
* Elements resistance

The ABS I will be using down the road is actually marine rated, so I am very optimistic that it will hold up great. I expect to get my first shipment of the new ABS sheets in early September. Also I will (relatively soon) start offering carbon fiber version, and I will likely make a version with and without the aero hole cutout.
To clarify additionally - historically we've been laser cutting these, but that was a super expensive process for us because laser cutting ABS destroys the laser filters very quickly and those things are expensive. As of about a month ago, I got us our first CNC router so for the past few weeks we've been CNC cutting these. The CNC adds the bonus of being able to cut carbon fiber, so I am going to make some tests when I am back and if all goes well I will release that too as soon as I get a bigger shipment of the carbon fiber sheets.

Last but not least - I've tested various samples of PE and it felt rather cheap. You are correct that it's indestructible so I am open to the idea of switching to PE if ABS causes us issues in the long term, just saying I prefer to avoid it for now. If premium look/feel PE exists, I haven't found it yet...but again - if ABS causes us issues in the long term, I will invest more time into sampling more PE in the hopes of finding something that works.

TWRAPS: it's cool that you're active on here and are advocating for your brand and listening to your customers. That's somewhat rare these days.

I do appreciate you looking at continuous improvement; that's also fantastic from many perspectives.

I will say, though, I have to disagree that rigid plastic is going to be a good long-term solution for these trucks (if used ruggedly; which is why I would want a mudflap). I think they're likely to be damaged upon impact (at least any impact that induces significant flexion). That's one of the biggest benefits of poly*urethane* (You kept saying PE--which is polyethylene, and ...I hope you weren't actually trying polyethylene--that's more like packing material). UNLESS you meant HDPE (high density polyethylene), then I dig it. That stuff is solid. Almost as good as delrin (POM-Acetyl).

User preferences will win out, for sure. I had 'hard' mudguards on my Volvo V60, but that wasn't seeing any impact or offroading. That was strictly being used as a splash guard. I believe those were HDPE, but don't quote me on that.

But then it definitely comes down to preference--if someone wants a rigid mud/splash guard, this absolutely makes sense.

I would also suggest researching Nylon (there are various flavors), especially carbon infused nylons (assuming you're injection molding). They have the best of all worlds--rigid with some compliancy, fantastic elongation at break (elasticity), impact resistant, strong and resilient, chemically non-reactive, and they don't give a damn about the elements.

Sponsored

 

[R1Thor]

In the event that anyone is interested in what the Rally Armor looks like installed, here you go: https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/threads/rally-armor-mudflaps-installed.18492/

 

[twraps]

TWRAPS: it's cool that you're active on here and are advocating for your brand and listening to your customers. That's somewhat rare these days.

I do appreciate you looking at continuous improvement; that's also fantastic from many perspectives.

I will say, though, I have to disagree that rigid plastic is going to be a good long-term solution for these trucks (if used ruggedly; which is why I would want a mudflap). I think they're likely to be damaged upon impact (at least any impact that induces significant flexion). That's one of the biggest benefits of poly*urethane* (You kept saying PE--which is polyethylene, and ...I hope you weren't actually trying polyethylene--that's more like packing material). UNLESS you meant HDPE (high density polyethylene), then I dig it. That stuff is solid. Almost as good as delrin (POM-Acetyl).

User preferences will win out, for sure. I had 'hard' mudguards on my Volvo V60, but that wasn't seeing any impact or offroading. That was strictly being used as a splash guard. I believe those were HDPE, but don't quote me on that.

But then it definitely comes down to preference--if someone wants a rigid mud/splash guard, this absolutely makes sense.

I would also suggest researching Nylon (there are various flavors), especially carbon infused nylons (assuming you're injection molding). They have the best of all worlds--rigid with some compliancy, fantastic elongation at break (elasticity), impact resistant, strong and resilient, chemically non-reactive, and they don't give a damn about the elements.

Hm! I must admit, I've tested a lot of PE's but I never tested PU...will try PU once I am back!
As for HDPE - this one is great, but I haven't been able to find a thin HDPE sheet that's matte/satin ob both sides.

I am actually going to be experimenting with Nylon once I am back. I have a few test sheets already. My concern there is the cost - this thing is very expensive. I might need to redesign the product to be able to keep the cost down. The other issue (at least with the test sheets I got) is that this scratches easily, so we might need to also make PPF for it which further adds to the cost.

 

[madgrey]

I'm holding out for something that's close to the texture and color of the OE plastic cladding that they interface to. Carbon fiber is nice when you can match it to other parts of the vehicle but I'd prefer something OE looking. The TWRAPS ones are definitely priced right, just hoping that the new ABS ends up looking good.

The Rally Armor ones look like high quality but I'm not a fan of the mirror black finish and the price doesn't really compute. I've purchased OE look molded sets for under $200 and recently spent $300 on a set color matched to the vehicle body.

 

[Polar]

Hm! I must admit, I've tested a lot of PE's but I never tested PU...will try PU once I am back!
As for HDPE - this one is great, but I haven't been able to find a thin HDPE sheet that's matte/satin ob both sides.

I am actually going to be experimenting with Nylon once I am back. I have a few test sheets already. My concern there is the cost - this thing is very expensive. I might need to redesign the product to be able to keep the cost down. The other issue (at least with the test sheets I got) is that this scratches easily, so we might need to also make PPF for it which further adds to the cost.

Hey @twraps - quick question is there anyway to buy the larger OffRoad “Large” version of your mudflaps right now? My R1S arrives this week and for the PNW fall crud want some good coverage behind my AT tires!
Thanks!

 

[twraps]

Hey @twraps - quick question is there anyway to buy the larger OffRoad “Large” version of your mudflaps right now? My R1S arrives this week and for the PNW fall crud want some good coverage behind my AT tires!
Thanks!

I stopped making the larger ones...I still keep the cut models though, so I can make them, but right now I am in a waiting mode for the new material and just selling the existing inventory that I pre-made a few weeks ago. The new material should come by the end of next week (supposedly...not sure what's taking them forever, I ordered it about 5 weeks ago).
So I'd say towards the end of next week I can make them as a custom order.

 

[twraps]

I'm holding out for something that's close to the texture and color of the OE plastic cladding that they interface to. Carbon fiber is nice when you can match it to other parts of the vehicle but I'd prefer something OE looking. The TWRAPS ones are definitely priced right, just hoping that the new ABS ends up looking good.

The Rally Armor ones look like high quality but I'm not a fan of the mirror black finish and the price doesn't really compute. I've purchased OE look molded sets for under $200 and recently spent $300 on a set matched to the vehicle body.

Just FYI, I also plan to make them in real carbon fiber, but the price of the raw material is so high that I expect that the carbon fiber ones will cost close to $200... I actually plan to experiment with the design to see if I can make improvements that will keep the current coverage but reduce the material usage, so I can do the carbon fiber cheaper but I am skeptical.

 

[Polar]

I stopped making the larger ones...I still keep the cut models though, so I can make them, but right now I am in a waiting mode for the new material and just selling the existing inventory that I pre-made a few weeks ago. The new material should come by the end of next week (supposedly...not sure what's taking them forever, I ordered it about 5 weeks ago).
So I'd say towards the end of next week I can make them as a custom order.

Thank you - we’ve corresponded over email today - appreciate the response across both platforms.

 

[pangpang77]

@twraps, when will the new mud flaps come out or are the ones on the website new and improved?

 

[twraps]

@twraps, when will the new mud flaps come out or are the ones on the website new and improved?

The ones on the website are already the new ones (with the new ABS that's satin on both sides) and a new hole & bracket that allows you to pull the mud flap towards the wheel well to reduce the gap there (on the rear mud flap only). I just haven't had the time to update the listing and re-shoot the video...it's been crazy busy around here for the past month or so.

 

[Polar]

The ones on the website are already the new ones (with the new ABS that's satin on both sides) and a new hole & bracket that allows you to pull the mud flap towards the wheel well to reduce the gap there (on the rear mud flap only).

@pangpang77 here is what they look like and @madgrey the ABS when new as below had a bit more of a sheen than OEM plastic, a couple months in though they have lost some of that and match better.

This image shows just how much protection they provide from the “aero gap” (also shown my yellow jack puck)

 

[pangpang77]

@pangpang77 here is what they look like and @madgrey the ABS when new as below had a bit more of a sheen than OEM plastic, a couple months in though they have lost some of that and match better.

This image shows just how much protection they provide from the “aero gap” (also shown my yellow jack puck)

Looks much improved. Thanks for the pics!

Order placed!

 

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

The ones on the website are already the new ones (with the new ABS that's satin on both sides) and a new hole & bracket that allows you to pull the mud flap towards the wheel well to reduce the gap there (on the rear mud flap only). I just haven't had the time to update the listing and re-shoot the video...it's been crazy busy around here for the past month or so.

Do the new ones have the aero hole?

 

[twraps]

Do the new ones have the aero hole?

Nope not yet...I will make a variation with the aero hole as soon as I have time... I have a lot of products on my todo and hope to soon ramp up to be able to list them, this being one of them.

 

[nickatnitetonite]

I'm trying to install the twraps mudguard and the rears don't fit with the bracket. @twraps can you take a look and let me know if I'm doing something wrong? The bracket just looks too short to reach the hole.

Sponsored