Non highline fenders advantages?

[Hamfists]

Are there benefits running non highline fenders on a tj with 35s? Pretty sure I know the answer but I like the flat fender look ,

It just does not look like there would be any clearance gains over stock fenders , looking at genright, and nemesis aluminum front fenders

 

[Chris]

With your current spring / shock setup, are your fenders limiting your up-travel? If so, then there is a disadvantage to running the factory fenders. If not, then there is no real disadvantage.

 

[mjonesjr84]

It really depends on which fenders you install. The standard flat style fender will give you some more up travel over the OEM fenders. I have the Motobilt fenders and got quite a bit more room over the stock fenders, not use up but also back. I gained slightly over 4" from the top of the tire to the fender. See the pictures below. The 6-1/2" is the OEM fenders; the 10-5/8" is the Motobilt.

 

[Hamfists]

With your current spring / shock setup, are your fenders limiting your up-travel? If so, then there is a disadvantage to running the factory fenders. If not, then there is no real disadvantage.

Currie 4 inch front springs 1-1/4 bl , currently on 33s no issues at all with clearance now , I purchased a set front and rear Rubi axles with 5.13 gears that priced to cheap to pass up a while back . I’ll move to 35s with the new axles
When I eventually get around to installing the new axles I’ll also install poly performance shock towers with 11 inch front travel shocks

I’m getting ready to paint a bunch of aluminum armor body color , and I keep thinking while I’m at it i could paint the fenders at the same time

 

[mjonesjr84]

Currie 4 inch front springs 1-1/4 bl , currently on 33s no issues at all with clearance now , I purchased a set front and rear Rubi axles with 5.13 gears that priced to cheap to pass up a while back . I’ll move to 35s with the new axles
When I eventually get around to installing the new axles I’ll also install poly performance shock towers with 11 inch front travel shocks

I’m getting ready to paint a bunch of aluminum armor body color , and I keep thinking while I’m at it i could paint the fenders at the same time

With that lift set up, 35's will be fine with the stock fenders. I'm running 37's with the Motobilt fenders. Granted, I have essentially JK axles with gusseted C's.

 

[Blake Stamper]

Are there benefits running non highline fenders on a tj with 35s? Pretty sure I know the answer but I like the flat fender look ,

It just does not look like there would be any clearance gains over stock fenders , looking at genright, and nemesis aluminum front fenders

You will not see much benefit to running aftermarket flat fenders. The genrights are worse than factory clearance wise because the tube is wider than the metal lip of the fender, I don’t know for nemesis, but that’s what I’ve heard about the genright ones at least.

Metalcloak although not very loved because of some not honest marketing numbers does net you a little clearance but not much.

Finally Mce used to be the best in terms of clearance for flat fenders but they are no longer available.

If you are doing fenders for looks than just about any option will work but if your doing it for performance the hood and fenders have to move up.

 

[mjonesjr84]

Metalcloak although not very loved because of some not honest marketing numbers does net you a little clearance but not much.

I posted pictures above that show the 4" of additional clearance from the Metalcloak fenders. That's quite a bit over the stock fenders.

 

[MikeE024]

I posted pictures above that show the 4" of additional clearance from the Metalcloak fenders. That's quite a bit over the stock fenders.

You measured to the stock fender flare, but the tire fits inside of the fender flare.

There's a rounded cutout in the stock fender that allows more clearance than many, if not most, non high line replacements.

 

[Blake Stamper]

I posted pictures above that show the 4" of additional clearance from the Metalcloak fenders. That's quite a bit over the stock fenders.

Pull the flare on a factory tj fender flare (the limiting point is the metal not the plastic) you will find that the metalcloak nets about an inch of travel over a factory fender.

If I put plastic flat flares on my Jeep it’ll look like I have a ton more room but the hardstop will always be the hood line and fender.

 

[Blake Stamper]

I posted pictures above that show the 4" of additional clearance from the Metalcloak fenders. That's quite a bit over the stock fenders.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/metalcloak-fender-test-on-stock-suspension-with-33s.56875/

 

[mjonesjr84]

You measured to the stock fender flare, but the tire fits inside of the fender flare.

There's a rounded cutout in the stock fender where it joins with the flare that allows more clearance than many, if not most, non high line replacements.

Not with 12.50" wide tires on a 9" wheel with -6mm offset. And definitely not with the same tire on a 9" wide wheel with -12mm offset AND 1.5" adapters.

The first picture is without adapters.

 

[mjonesjr84]

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/metalcloak-fender-test-on-stock-suspension-with-33s.56875/

Which shows more clearance with the MC fenders.

 

[taylormade73]

 

[Hamfists]

You will not see much benefit to running aftermarket flat fenders. The genrights are worse than factory clearance wise because the tube is wider than the metal lip of the fender, I don’t know for nemesis, but that’s what I’ve heard about the genright ones at least.

Metalcloak although not very loved because of some not honest marketing numbers does net you a little clearance but not much.

Finally Mce used to be the best in terms of clearance for flat fenders but they are no longer available.

If you are doing fenders for looks than just about any option will work but if your doing it for performance the hood and fenders have to move up.

It’s mainly for looks , the stock fenders are in pretty good shape, i just do not want to loose any clearance over stock fenders after spending a bunch of money on aftermarket fenders

 

[jjvw]

Fully cycle the axle without springs installed using a floor jack to find out if the fenders are in the way.

Shocks determine the suspension travel. Fender clearance is determined by sheet metal. The flares move out of the way.

 

[MikeE024]

Not with 12.50" wide tires on a 9" wheel with -6mm offset. And definitely not with the same tire on a 9" wide wheel with -12mm offset AND 1.5" adapters.

The first picture is without adapters.

View attachment 584243

View attachment 584244

As @jjvw mentioned, the flare will move out of the way because it's not nearly rigid enough to stop the tire from achieving more up travel.

Some folks switch to wider fender flares, like the Rubicon flares, in order help the tire not touch the flare. But that isn't to address up travel.

Edit: For example, I was running 35x12.5R15 STT Pros (that were 13.10" wide) with 3.5" of BS on a 10" wide wheel. My uptravel didn't change when switching my setup to a narrower wheel with more BS and a narrower tire.

 

[Blake Stamper]

Which shows more clearance with the MC fenders.

“Metalcloak although not very loved because of some not honest marketing numbers does net you a little clearance but not much.”

 

[mjonesjr84]

“Metalcloak although not very loved because of some not honest marketing numbers does net you a little clearance but not much.”

Yup. I'm running 37's on 5" of lift with the MC fenders and have more clearance than I did with 4" of lift and 33's with OEM fenders. I'll take the extra ground clearance and up travel with the MC fenders.

The internet "opinions" is like butt holes, everyone has one.

 

[jjvw]

“Metalcloak although not very loved because of some not honest marketing numbers does net you a little clearance but not much.”

What we have seen more than a few times with 35s fully cycled without springs and the steering turned lock to lock is that MC fenders create about an inch of room clearance above the tire. Behind the tire is little to none because the battery tray remains the same as factory.

 

[mjonesjr84]

What we have seen more than a few times with 35s fully cycled without springs and the steering turned lock to lock is that MC fenders create about an inch of room clearance above the tire. Behind the tire is little to none because the battery tray remains the same as factory.

I can say the battery tray is not the same as the factory. It is moved a bit further up and back. It is much tighter to get the battery back in when putting the MC fenders on.

A lot of opinions on a product on this forum with no experience with them. I don't know if you have experience with them or not, but based on the battery tray comment I'm going to say not.

Again, opinions are like butt holes everyone has one.