Tube Fenders

[hunterhabec]

I have a real question I am interested in tube fenders but want to hear everyone's opinion on them. I am also trying to figure out the fact that if I get tube fenders and then i get a new front bumper which they all like stick out that it would look wonky. Any tips would be great.
Thanks

 

[The4bangertj]

Tube style fenders offer nothing but looks. The only clearance gained from a fender is from a highline fender where you cut the hood. Tube fenders are a cosmetic thing only while metalcloak offers removable flares but as far as clearance go they’re really the same as stock. I would also never buy 90% of the fenders since they’re all cheap Chinese made with crap steel and power coatings which look terrible a year after install. I would only ever swap a stock fender with an aluminum one for rust and weight reasons, and highlines if you actually want clearance gains.

 

[hunterhabec]

Tube style fenders offer nothing but looks. The only clearance gained from a fender is from a highline fender where you cut the hood. Tube fenders are a cosmetic thing only while metalcloak offers removable flares but as far as clearance go they’re really the same as stock. I would also never buy 90% of the fenders since they’re all cheap Chinese made with crap steel and power coatings which look terrible a year after install. I would only ever swap a stock fender with an aluminum one for rust and weight reasons, and highlines if you actually want clearance gains.

thanks

 

[rasband]

Are you after looks or performance (or both)?

If you like the look but don't care about any other benefits - you do you.

If you're after some performance improvements, there's a bit to address as to what actually does what (@The4bangertj provides a good starting point)

 

[inkedrose]

Tube style fenders offer nothing but looks. The only clearance gained from a fender is from a highline fender where you cut the hood. Tube fenders are a cosmetic thing

100% disagree with this. I have the Genright tube fenders, the rounded cut on the front gives you substantially more clearance in tight spaces (your wheel hits before the fender does) After bumping my stock fenders a few times I switched. Been in a few situations where I would have removed a stock fender. Turn your wheel to full lock and look at how much fender is hanging exposed on the opposite side.

 

[Jamesval035]

I have a real question I am interested in tube fenders but want to hear everyone's opinion on them. I am also trying to figure out the fact that if I get tube fenders and then i get a new front bumper which they all like stick out that it would look wonky. Any tips would be great.
Thanks

I’m not crazy about tube fenders and a full width bumper. I’d say stay with a mid width or stubby bumper for it to look just right. Imo

 

[tnjeepguy]

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/post-your-flat-tube-fenders-with-3-4-inch-lifts-and-33s.47186/
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/whats-your-opinion-on-tube-fenders.9067/

Search is good.

 

[The4bangertj]

100% disagree with this. I have the Genright tube fenders, the rounded cut on the front gives you substantially more clearance in tight spaces (your wheel hits before the fender does) After bumping my stock fenders a few times I switched. Been in a few situations where I would have removed a stock fender. Turn your wheel to full lock and look at how much fender is hanging exposed on the opposite side.

Good point I forgot about that. Some tube fenders are more squared off in the front and get close to oem and some definitely contours the hood better. So my original statement is the clearance for your tires.

 

[Strizzo]

Good point I forgot about that. Some tube fenders are more squared off in the front and get close to oem and some definitely contours the hood better. So my original statement is the clearance for your tires.

I have the metalcloak fenders on mine and they offer significantly more clearance over stock, especially when you go with lower backspace wheels to keep from rubbing larger tires on the control arms, and the larger tires would rub on the flares and outer part of the fender where the flare mounts. You can see in the attached picture how much more clearance there is over the wide flares i have on the rear.

I do agree with you on the cheap "flat fender" tube fenders are pretty much the same clearance as stock.

 

[The4bangertj]

I have the metalcloak fenders on mine and they offer significantly more clearance over stock, especially when you go with lower backspace wheels to keep from rubbing larger tires on the control arms, and the larger tires would rub on the flares and outer part of the fender where the flare mounts. You can see in the attached picture how much more clearance there is over the wide flares i have on the rear.

A different flare on a stock fender would still offer the same clearance a metalcloak would offer.

 

[tworley]

When would a question not be considered real?

If you're wanting real performance gains, look at Crawtek's or Genright's aluminum highline. There is however, a lot more to installing them and hitting the trail.

 

[Strizzo]

A different flare on a stock fender would still offer the same clearance a metalcloak would offer.

No, because there isn't the flange hanging down where the flare bolts to, and the metalcloak are higher up in that same area compared to stock fenders. The only place where its the same as stock is right along the shut line of the hood, which is why it works best with a wider stance.

 

[The4bangertj]

No, because there isn't the flange hanging down where the flare bolts to, and the metalcloak are higher up in that same area compared to stock fenders. The only place where its the same as stock is right along the shut line of the hood, which is why it works best with a wider stance.

It doesn’t have better clearance because the stock fender doesn’t have the bolts where the tire would contact first. The limits of the stock flare is the top hood line and rear bottom where it meets with the rock slider. The only solution to get more room is the move the fender up by cutting the hood for room and moving the battery up to get the angle for the rear.
Even metal cloak knows this because they will only show differences using a stock flare in the condition that the plastic flare is a hard bump rather than it be plastic and move like it was intended since the actual metal fender has clearance all the way to the top where the hood meets. So some tube fenders actually make that worst as the distance taken from the actual tube uses more space than the stock fender.

 

[lBasket]

 

[tworley]

IIRC, it was Tox who proved minimal gains with metalcloak fenders, I want to say it was <1", but I'd have to find that number in his build thread.

 

[BC Moto]

I have are some flat tube china fenders, I got them used to see how much I liked them and I do. The clearance it has is a little better because of the rounded front edge as my tire sticks out further as for upward clearance I still rub the tube but its not that bad, when I go up in size then it wouldn't be as easy. Now that I do like it I am going to switch to some hi-line aluminum fenders to save weight and gain a bit of clearance for 37's

 

[Strizzo]

My thoughts are that the metalcloak gets rid of all the extra metal hanging down where the flare mounts to, as well as most of the material where the turn signal mounts. The bottom of the MC fender/tube is about level with where the top of the fender was, so you could probably improve the stock fender by removing the flare and trimming the flange. There is also more clearance at the rear towards the firewall, as the MC inner fender meets the firewall pretty much at the bottom corner.

I can see where you wouldn't necessarily get as much additional clearance if you run stock wheels and still had the tire getting up into the area where the hood latches mount and the hood lays down.

 

[jjvw]

View attachment 600568

My thoughts are that the metalcloak gets rid of all the extra metal hanging down where the flare mounts to, as well as most of the material where the turn signal mounts. The bottom of the MC fender/tube is about level with where the top of the fender was, so you could probably improve the stock fender by removing the flare and trimming the flange. There is also more clearance at the rear towards the firewall, as the MC inner fender meets the firewall pretty much at the bottom corner.

I can see where you wouldn't necessarily get as much additional clearance if you run stock wheels and still had the tire getting up into the area where the hood latches mount and the hood lays down.

For as often as this is discussed, more people should have a better grasp on what is going on.

Metalcloak fenders are no different than chopping the factory fenders off about an inch away from the hood. This results in about an inch increase in upward tire clearance at full articulation. This small gain in tire clearance is only useful if the overall build occupies this space, which for most it does not.

There is also a small increase in clearance at the rear wall of the fender. However, if this space is not utilized during full steering lock, then there is no benefit.

Cycling the axle without springs will demonstrate all of this.

 

[GPK03X]

For as often as this is discussed, more people should have a better grasp on what is going on.

Metalcloak fenders are no different than chopping the factory fenders off about an inch away from the hood. This results in about an inch increase in upward tire clearance at full articulation. This small gain in tire clearance is only useful if the overall build occupies this space, which for most it does not.

There is also a small increase in clearance at the rear wall of the fender. However, if this space is not utilized during full steering lock, then there is no benefit.

Cycling the axle without springs will demonstrate all of this.

But do you like the way MC fenders look?

 

[jjvw]

But do you like the way MC fenders look?

Metalcloak fenders are ugly.