1fastdad
mo.
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Joined: 08/27/2007
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I tow a seabring conv.on a tow dolly and get a lot of small rock chips. A year ago I installed one of those rock guards that look like long hair hanging down and the toad stays a lot cleaner but still get rock chips.
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Hikerdogs
Wisconsin
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Joined: 08/23/2004
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I have to disagree with BroncoRVer on the full mud flap. If it's installed properly it will not kick up gravel and will help keep the toad clean.
We started towing our Buick LeSabre without the flap. The car and the back of the coach got so filthy you couldn't touch either without getting full of mud and dirt. After a couple trips without any protection we installed a full length Ultra Guard mud flap. Since then both the coach and car have been considerably cleaner. We towed it over 25,000 miles with no damage to either the car or the coach.
In 2006 we started towing our Jeep Wrangler 4 down. It's been towed another 20,000+ miles with the mud flap still in place, and again the Jeep stays clean and has no damage from flying debris.
Having said this I do feel the profile of the toad has an impact (no pun intended) on whether it will sustain damage. Last year in Alaska we saw several low profile toads (mostly Saturns and Toyotas) that looked like the front end had been sandblasted. Some were behind coaches with no protection, others behind coaches with mud flaps and still others behind coaches using the Protect A Tow or similar devices.
I have no idea whether the mud flaps and Protect A Tow devices were installed before or after the toads had sustained damage. Given our experience I would suspect they were installed after the fact to prevent further damage. In any case these devices will only reduce or eliminate debris from your coach causing damage. Vehicles passing you or coming from the opposite direction can still kick up rocks that cannot be stopped.
Hikerdogs
2001 Winnebago Adventurer
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lanerd
Ridgecrest, CA
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Joined: 03/03/2003
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We have the full width mud flap on the mh, and the Roadmaster Guardian and have pulled our restored 4x4 Toyota pickup (86) for about 4000 miles without a chip or other damage. Yes, it does get very dirty, especially if I drive on a dirt road or during the rain. Our mh has an exterior water faucet that I connect a hose to and have on occasions actually washed off the Toyota when it was so dirty you couldn't even tell what color (Red) it was.
We have been looking for a used "skirt" to compliment our Guardian, but so far have been unsuccessful.
Hope this helps
Ron
Ron & Sandie
'08 Safari Simba SBD35
86 Toy 4x4 P/U for Toad.
Tow Bar: Sterling
Brakes: Unified
Toys:
Yamaha 660R Raptor (mine)
Honda 350ES Rancher (hers)
64 Fairlane w/351c - 4sp
Both Fed CS Retirees
Hobbies:
DW's: Quilting
Mine: DW
RETIRED!! How sweet it is....
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eheading
Lakeland, FL
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Joined: 11/20/2000
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We have been towing for over 12 years now. Our current toad, a 2004 Tracker has been towed over 60,000 miles in 4-1/2 years. It probably has a few more stone chips on it than it would if it had been driven solo all that time, but not many. Most of them, believe it or not, or on the sides!! About 3 years ago we towed it to Alaska and spent the summer there, no problems on that trip either. On that trip we had a Roadmaster Guardian - I would definitely recommend front end protection when going to Alaska. Now though, we don't use any protection at all.
And I agree with those who have no problems with the full width flaps. Our current motorhome has one, and we haven't had any problem with throwing stones. That is just our personal experience.
Ed Headington
2005 Revolution LE
2004 Tracker toad
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lanerd
Ridgecrest, CA
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Joined: 03/03/2003
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About the full width mud flap. Mine is about two inches off the ground and I'm sure that if I'm on a gravel/dirt road and I go down into a dip, that mud flap is going to scrape the ground and more than likely throw up some stuff onto the front of the toad. On our trip to Alaska (starting next week) I will be on the look out for anything like I just described to help reduced damage to the toad's windshield.
Ron
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The Beave
Georgetown TX USA
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Joined: 08/07/2002
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We have towed our '05 CR-V for about 15,000 miles with only mud flaps behind the rear wheels of the rig with little damage. I guess it does help that the front fascia is the black Tupperware stuff because nothing leaves a mark. We have had some fine pitting on the windshield that could have been prevented with a windshield cover.
The Beave
30' 1997 Beaver Monterey
(The shortest DP we could find)
2005 Honda CR-V
Remco surge brake
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flhtci-rider
Montreal, Canada
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Joined: 12/25/2005
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We towed a Grand Vitara for 18,000 miles found at times real dirty. The only problem we found was the brakes got over heated and meeded a brake job more often then usual. We now have an enclosed Haulmark Edge trailer and really love the trailer with the car in it. It stays clean, NO were and tear on the car, plenty of storage for fulltiming, and beleive it or not feel it is easier to tow. Also can back up whenever needed.
 2006 Scepter
2008 24' Haulmark EDGE
2003 Grand Vitara
My best friend DW
1 fur ball Max (AKA - PITA)
And enough solar power so I never have to start the Genni
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BroncoRVer
8,600 feet elevation, Colorado
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Joined: 07/22/2005
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Try driving behind a motorhome on the freeway that has one of those full length mudflaps, and see how many pebbles and road trash gets thrown up on your car....I bet you won't stay behind it very long.....
There are alot of posts here about damage from these full length mudflaps...do yourself a favor and get rid of it.
2006 Winnebago Voyage 35A, W-22
Brake Buddy, Aventa II tow bar, Protect-A-Tow
2005 Hyundai Elantra toad
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stevelv
FullTimers at Last!
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Joined: 05/24/2006
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Tow a Jeep GC for nearly 19,000 miles and no damage EXCEPT when I forgot to unlock the steering - that was $2500 worth of damage 
Lesson learned!
RV Park Finder
Fulltimers
2002 Beaver Santiam 38DST + Banks + 99 Jeep GC
DH,DW,Jake and Indie
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stevelv
FullTimers at Last!
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Joined: 05/24/2006
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BroncoRVer wrote:Try driving behind a motorhome on the freeway that has one of those full length mudflaps, and see how many pebbles and road trash gets thrown up on your car....I bet you won't stay behind it very long.....
There are alot of posts here about damage from these full length mudflaps...do yourself a favor and get rid of it.
I think what you mean to say is "if you have a full length mudflap then make sure you adjust it so that it doesn't drag along the ground".
Mine never kisses the tarmac and works well.
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