Replacement fenders - input to comparison

[UKTJ]

I've been mulling over replacement fenders for quite a while now and keep going backwards and forwards. It's personal preference of course, but I like the look of some of the replacement fender options over the stock look. I've also managed to 'ding' both my stock fenders now, so I can add that to the justification for a change. Fenders can be a big investment anyway, but once you add on shipping of a large and fairly heavy part and the c.25% taxes paid when they arrive in the UK they are definitely something I'd like to do just the once. So I have been trying to do some comparisons of the pro's and con's (beyond the look) of a few options, to see what sor tof bang for the buck they provide. To do this I have made the table below.

Brand		Option		Cost $ *		Pros		Cons
GenRight		Standard 6" aluminium flares with cut stock fenders		1,600		Road legal Compatible with all under hood items Stock battery bracket compatible		No gain behind wheel Minimal gain above wheel Wide off road
Metal Cloak		Arched or Overline 6" Flares on aluminium fenders with replacment inner fenders		1,726		Compatible with all under hood items Flares can be removed for off road Battery bracket accomodates RHD Significant gain behind wheel		Need to confirm shape ensures legaility Minimal above wheel gain
GenRight		Standard 6" aluminium flares with GenRight inner fenders		1,950		Road legal Some gain behind wheel Stock battery bracket compatible		Minimal gain above wheel Cutting required for susp. Mounts Dilling required for some under hood items Not compatible with factory washer bottle Wide off road
GenRight		HiLine 6" aluminium flares with GenRight hiline inner fenders		2,000		Road legal Significant gain behind the wheel Significant gain above the wheel		Battery bracket not compatible with RHD Not compatible with factory airbox Not compatible with factory washer bottle Requires cutting hood

* Costs excluding any shipping and import taxes

Any input, thoughts, additions, or corrections much appreciated.

 

[Tob]

Also consider MCE fenders. Not too long ago I was climbing a waterfall with a vertical rock face on one side. I accidentally got off the line and pushed a fender flare into the rock face. The MCE flare simply bent out of the way (like over 45 degrees deflection) and then sprung back to its normal position after I backed off. The downside of a metal fender and flare is that when you bump into something, it may transmit force into the tub, grille, etc. . Other advantages are lower cost and retention of the stock inner fenders.

 

[IPerkWVU]

Also consider MCE fenders. Not too long ago I was climbing a waterfall with a vertical rock face on one side. I accidentally got off the line and pushed a fender flare into the rock face. The MCE flare simply bent out of the way (like over 45 degrees deflection) and then sprung back to its normal position after I backed off. The downside of a metal fender and flare is that when you bump into something, it may transmit force into the tub, grille, etc. . Other advantages are lower cost and retention of the stock inner fenders.

I also like my MCE flairs, I bet they would be cheaper to ship across the Atlantic also

 

[UKTJ]

Also consider MCE fenders. Not too long ago I was climbing a waterfall with a vertical rock face on one side. I accidentally got off the line and pushed a fender flare into the rock face. The MCE flare simply bent out of the way (like over 45 degrees deflection) and then sprung back to its normal position after I backed off. The downside of a metal fender and flare is that when you bump into something, it may transmit force into the tub, grille, etc. . Other advantages are lower cost and retention of the stock inner fenders.

I also like my MCE flairs, I bet they would be cheaper to ship across the Atlantic also

Definately a more budget friendly option and I suspect cheaper to ship, as you say. In terms of the other pros and cons I listed above I guess they very much align to the first row in my table.

 

[IPerkWVU]

Definately a more budget friendly option and I suspect cheaper to ship, as you say. In terms of the other pros and cons I listed above I guess they very much align to the first row in my table.

I bought mine after I bumped my OEM fenders into a tree.

They use the stock fender, so no messing with the inside fender. I gained a smidge of travel clearance where the OEM fender lip used to be is now flexible plastic, but not much. I’d buy them again for my next build.

 

[BlackJeep]

Timely thread... I was denied an inspection sticker today because I need wider fender flares. Going to check these options out.