Most of the lower section of my truck paint has been blasted off, most likely from road sand that is put down in the winter for ice traction. I'm considering rolling on a black bed liner on the lower section. Would this hold up and protect the lower part of the truck? Do you think it would look ok? I know my truck isn't the best looking cause it's DOT yellow, but I like it.

 

just use a brand that guarantees against fading or it'll start looking cruddy before long

 

Do that and it will hold up great. I personally think it looks great as well. I have several friends that have it on their trucks, and my 99 had it.

 

I will post a picture this weekend of mine done that way. My truck is Patriot blue with the bottom painted in black. It has been 1 year and I need to touch it up. But all is well with it.

 

I'm having my rockers perma-tech coated black hopefully in a couple weeks

 

This topic gave me an idea. Should I install fender flares and/or mud flaps to reduce the amount of stuff hitting the lower body? Any particular brand or seller recommendations are appreciated. The problem of debris hitting my truck will get worse because I'm looking for 285/75R16 tires to mount on my stock rims. Those will stick out a little bit more than normal. Anyone have experience with that tire size using snow chains on a stock truck?

 

No idea on the chains but i have noticed ALOT more chips in my lower paint after going to 285's as well. Ill be doing it over in bedliner one day.

 

no... because they look lame

285's on stock wheels shouldn't kick up much due to the stock backspacing

 

I just put husk mud flaps on my new truck and it looks great and it keeps rocks from flying up.

 

Some states you don't have a choice regarding the mud flaps. Duallies in Texas are required by law to have mud flaps.

 

Where I live it's mostly dirt/gravel roads. If I head south from here it's 101 miles till I pick up pavement. But a lot of the roads are pretty darn good and it's possible to travel 60 mph on them which releases a spray of rocks off each tire. So this is a problem I've dealt with for the last 30+ years. My rigs have fender flares and running boards and mud flaps. The running boards protect the body the best - not much can get past them to hit the body. And I mean real running boards, not the tubes or little narrow strips I see some people using for decoration. Behind the rear wheel is the the widest, longest mud flap I can mount on there. One of my rigs is now approaching 300,000 miles; there's paint peeling off the hood from exposure to the sun but the lower body looks pristine due to the mud flaps/flares/running boards. How does it look? Who cares? I value protection over looks.

 

mud flaps on dualies is one thing...

mud flaps on a single wheel truck is an AARP thing

 

So what do you think of the flares? I'm leaning towards those. I think I've got some fresh dings on the door from rally style driving on gravel.

 

Ya know what? Whatever trips your trigger and protects your truck is just fine. Who gives a flip what other folks think.