Mud Flaps

[eedarb]

Today I got my new Goodyear Duratracs installed and they keep wanting to rip the bloody front mudflaps off. For those of you that have removed them have you noticed many rockchips up the sides or is there a good aftermarket mudflap that will work better with bigger tires?

[Stuwy123]

It's illegal to not run mudflaps in alberta.
Your tires can't stick out passed the fender / mudflap and the mudflaps need to go to at least your axle.
It saves everyone else's windshields.

[Jimmytaco]

Today I got my new Goodyear Duratracs installed and they keep wanting to rip the bloody front mudflaps off. For those of you that have removed them have you noticed many rockchips up the sides or is there a good aftermarket mudflap that will work better with bigger tires?

When I run the off-road tires, they do want to destroy the front mud flaps. It doesn't take the actual flap though it is more where the rocker panel meets the mud flap (you can easily see it there is a bump there). i trimed that area down a bit and still run the stock mud flaps on the front with no problem with 33/12.5/16 tires, only a full turn do they rub a bit. Also this is with 1.5" spacers.

So to answer it's not the flap but where the flap connects to the wheel well.

[BeachBoy]

I have removed mine, noticed no problem

but my truck is scratched quite a lot!

I also have removed the rear and I might get into trouble for the rear as my bumper is really high.. throwing mud and rocks back..

[Dante's Taco]

My friend who is a Peace Officer confirmed the mud flaps thing. Having said that though, there are *hundreds* if not thousands of vehicles out there sans flaps. Doesn't look like it is very high on the Laws "to do" list. I personally run my Taco with only the rears on - I ditched the fronts after busting one off. I've been pulled over twice without the fronts - once by a Peace Officer, once by RCMP. Neither one said a thing.

Not sure how the front flaps really save anyone's wind-shield anyway..
(Not being a smart ass, just don't get it)

Geoff


It's illegal to not run mudflaps in alberta.
Your tires can't stick out passed the fender / mudflap and the mudflaps need to go to at least your axle.
It saves everyone else's windshields.

[freeze]

I pulled mine a while ago. Did get some chips near the rockers but looks like the sliders take most of them.

I've run my 81 without flaps for almost 10 years and only got hassled once. No tickets though. It seems as though the larger the voids between the lugs, less likely you'll throw stones as they seem to fall out once the lugs hit the ground at low speed.

I think semi's are the worst as they trap stones in thier treads even at high speed.

[eedarb]

I have trimmed a bit of the fender flares inside the wheel wells already and those are not much problem. Mainly the inside corner of the mudflap curls toward the tire causing it to catch on the lugs. Confusing most likely. Think I'm just going to rip off the fronts and leave the rears on. I know what it's like always replacing windshields.

[Hounddog]

Not too sure if this will help you - I had to cut off about 6" off my front mud flaps and round the shape out a tad so my tires wouldn't catch them when I turn. I just took my tin snips to them and had at 'er.

[Doc McCoy]

My friend who is a Peace Officer confirmed the mud flaps thing. Having said that though, there are *hundreds* if not thousands of vehicles out there sans flaps. Doesn't look like it is very high on the Laws "to do" list. I personally run my Taco with only the rears on - I ditched the fronts after busting one off. I've been pulled over twice without the fronts - once by a Peace Officer, once by RCMP. Neither one said a thing.

Not sure how the front flaps really save anyone's wind-shield anyway..
(Not being a smart ass, just don't get it)

Geoff

It starts moving up the police to do list right around May Two-Four weekend. Can't imagine why ...

[Stuwy123]

I'm sure that my truck will be a magnet to Peace Officers and RCMP now that my new tires are on. About 2 inches of tread stick out. =P

[canadian bum]

I don't think you will ever get dinged for no front flaps. My truck has basically never had flaps and the only time I got hassled was about almost needing fender flares in Mclean other than that never for mud flaps. Just keep a bunch of empty beer bottles and cans in the box and they don't even notice that you don't have mud flaps haha. BTW I don't drink and drive I just pick up a lot of empties on the trail and drink beer while camping.

[Dante's Taco]

Just keep a bunch of empty beer bottles and cans in the box and they don't even notice that you don't have mud flaps

Haahaa http://forums.slipknot1.com/images/style-slipknot/smilies-2/hypnodisk.gif "Nothing to see here. These aren't the one's we're looking for. You can go on your way son." http://forums.slipknot1.com/images/style-slipknot/smilies-2/hypnodisk.gif

[mookie]

I was fined for no front and no rear mud flaps on my Pathy by Calgary Police, Calgary Police Truck unit and the RCMP. I learned my lesson. I now have quick disconnect front and rear mud flaps for trails. RCMP was a check stop outside of Strathmore and CPS and CPS truck unit were traffic stops. This was after daily driving it for close to a few years after my solid axle swap. Flares and mud flaps are needed. As mentioned by Nathan, street tires will throw more rocks at a windshield than a mud tire....but don't bring that up to cps or the RCMP.

CPS also measured my bumper height, headlight heights.

Did ya know not having a license plate light is just cause for a traffic stop.

Now I'm super compliant! It's all good.

[Jimmytaco]

CPS also measured my bumper height, headlight heights.

Did ya know not having a license plate light is just cause for a traffic stop.

Now I'm super compliant! It's all good.

Measured your bumper and headlights?

I didn't know that there where requirements for that. Does anyone know what those might be?

[mookie]

Measured your bumper and headlights?

I didn't know that there where requirements for that. Does anyone know what those might be?


After he did that, (this was traffic division, not marked or truck unit) I went on the weeeb to look it up. I only found info for "passenger cars" but nothing for modified and lifted vehicles as you would say in Ontario for example.

I think he did that for a tactic as I asked him if there were restrictions on heights and I received silence for an answer.

[Doc McCoy]

Measured your bumper and headlights?

I didn't know that there where requirements for that. Does anyone know what those might be?


After he did that, (this was traffic division, not marked or truck unit) I went on the weeeb to look it up. I only found info for "passenger cars" but nothing for modified and lifted vehicles as you would say in Ontario for example.

I think he did that for a tactic as I asked him if there were restrictions on heights and I received silence for an answer.

I'm looking to build a dual purpose buggy eventually and there is a lot of rules and regs in Alberta if you want to hit the street with a custom built offroad vehicle.

ALBERTA REGULATION 122/2009 - Traffic Safety Act - VEHICLE EQUIPMENT REGULATION (http://www.qp.alberta.ca/574.cfm?page=2009_122.cfm&leg_type=Regs&isbncln=9780779741847)

To save you some time for the Headlamps;

Under Part 1, Division 1 ...
(2) A headlamp must be mounted so that the centre of the headlamp is not more than 1.4 metres and not less than 560 millimetres above ground level when the motor vehicle is not loaded.

As for Mudguards;

Under Part 4 (Other Equipment), Rule 6 (Mudguards)
(2) The body part, fender or mudguard referred to in subsection (1) must be above each wheel and
(a) extend downwards at the rear of each axle or axle group to at least the centre line of the axle, or
(b) be a distance away from the ground equivalent to at least 1/3 of the horizontal distance from the bottom edge of the mudguard to the centre line of the axle, but not closer to the ground than 150 millimetres when the vehicle is loaded.

For more information; a "sticky" has been created in the "Member Builds" section of the forum. Access it here here (http://forum.ct4wd.com/showthread.php?t=1143).

[Hounddog]

...I don't think you will ever get dinged for no front flaps...



Only the Canmore RCMP will do this-unless of course that particular officer has been re-assigned to another detatchment.(Grin)

Plus they give you a nifty little form that must be signed and returned stating that you had all infractions resolved. Who signs this form if you do your own work? Your friendly local district pooooa-lice office will do just fine!

[874runnersr5]

here we go


Mudguards

64(1) A motor vehicle or trailer must have a part of its body, a fender or a mudguard that covers the width of each tire.

(2) The body part, fender or mudguard referred to in subsection (1) must be above each wheel and

(a) extend downwards at the rear of each axle or axle group to at least the centre line of the axle, or

(b) be a distance away from the ground equivalent to at least 1/3 of the horizontal distance from the bottom edge of the mudguard to the centre line of the axle, but not closer to the ground than 150 millimetres when the vehicle is loaded.

[Doc McCoy]

...

As for Mudguards;

Under Part 4 (Other Equipment), Rule 6 (Mudguards)
(2) The body part, fender or mudguard referred to in subsection (1) must be above each wheel and
(a) extend downwards at the rear of each axle or axle group to at least the centre line of the axle, or
(b) be a distance away from the ground equivalent to at least 1/3 of the horizontal distance from the bottom edge of the mudguard to the centre line of the axle, but not closer to the ground than 150 millimetres when the vehicle is loaded.

...


here we go

Didn't I already say that? ;)

[Kroll]

Thanks for the link.
I read almost all of it, but I am still looking for any maximum tire regulations.
If you come across anything, can you post it up ?

[Stuwy123]

I don't understand part (b) about the mudflaps. Did they mean vertical distance?

[Dante's Taco]

Thanks for creating the Sticky, and the post, Doc

Good stuff. I like the idea about removable front mudflaps that Mookie mentioned. I still have my fronts in the garage somewhere....

I've also seen them on hinges with braided cable leading back to the rocker panel to keep them from going too far forward.

Either way, looks like I'll have to do something to remove that as an excuse for one of these "special" traffic checks. Too bad they don't spend their time doing something useful (like, oh I dunno, about the drivers that think 140 kph is the speed limit and fly up on your a$$ on QEII). But I guess they're only doing what they're told is the flavour of the month.

PS - I couldn't find in there anything about this question (in sections 97-100): In Alberta, are you allowed to keep the hitch/ball in your receiver when you are just driving around & not towing anything?
I was told NO in Saskatchewan ($300 fine - supposedly). But it sure makes the little ricer cars back off from you once they realize how much damage it'll do to them if they tail-gate too close. (evil grin)

[Doc McCoy]

I'm not sure if that would be covered under the Equipment regulations. Similar to how you need to have turn signals but when to use them is not covered under the equipment regulations ... that constitutes a traffic violation.

The equipment regulations may stipulate the kind of hitch receiver / ball combination but it won't tell you when to use them. I don't think.

*edit* - I was wrong ... as far as I can tell ... you should not have gotten a ticket in Saskatchewan unless the hitch was sticking out more than 22 and a half centimeters past your bumper.

Under Part III, Section 73, Subsection (4)

(4) When not in use, the trailer hitch shall not extend beyond the bumper of the
vehicle more than 225 millimetres.

[Tacorossa]

I now have quick disconnect front and rear mud flaps for trails.

I'm interested in how you made your mud flaps disconnectable. Would you mind sharing? Thanks.

[Dante's Taco]

Thanks Doc!

The Sask reg is here: http://www.qp.gov.sk.ca/documents/English/Regulations/Regulations/V2-1R10.pdf

I actually didn't get the ticket - just was warned by another guy to be careful. This just goes to show your point about go to the source of truth!

cheers