Building , copying or making flares

Jongo88 · Post by **Jongo88** » Sun May 03, 2009 4:46 pm

It would be nice if someone with the skids flaires could pop a mold off them then we could have as many as we want????

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun May 03, 2009 4:54 pm

Wish it was that simple. Unfortunately there is more to it than that and the cost for one set would be huge. Many sets is the way to do it and it is a large investment.

Jongo88 · Post by **Jongo88** » Sun May 03, 2009 4:58 pm

Years ago when I worked a a parts store I took one part at a time home from a Baha kit and poped a mold off each part. I made my own kit. I returned the parts cleaner than they were when I took them... I made like 10 kits from them...

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun May 03, 2009 5:00 pm

So if I send you a set you will make ten and send three back to me? You get 80% of that deal.

Jongo88 · Post by **Jongo88** » Sun May 03, 2009 5:16 pm

Are they made out of fiberglass?

fallvitals · Post by **fallvitals** » Sun May 03, 2009 5:18 pm

You have my attention, lol.

Jongo88 · Post by **Jongo88** » Sun May 03, 2009 5:19 pm

I have the know how... It realy won't cost that much..

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun May 03, 2009 5:40 pm

Jongo8 wrote:Are they made out of fiberglass?

No. Plastic. Not going to handle being heated while vacu-forming off them.

Jongo88 · Post by **Jongo88** » Sun May 03, 2009 6:05 pm

Kills that idea...

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun May 03, 2009 6:18 pm

Here is the original thread: Makin' Room....(KCustom's flares)
this covered the Gross Motorsports Pocket Flares and the Skidz Flares
The molds are still out there somewhere? The Skidz flares molds are spent. I have no idea what KCustom's molds might have been. He never returned my PM.

A mold could be made from flares we have . or even an original design. The fiberglass cast could be used to make fiberglass fenders or a plug for vacu-forming.
The investment would be significant.

The option to run flareless is the cheapest solution and the way I will likely go should my reserves be spent. Another option may be to try Diversified Creations - RPO ZR2 Custom Fender Flares?

No one has yet tried using late ninties Ford F-150 Bushwacker flares. I have seen them adapted to other vehicles and it looked GOOD.

I think there are plenty of avenues to try if the motivation is there.

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Sun May 03, 2009 6:43 pm

Thinking out loud here.......... I wonder if, Superlift has info on KC. At least, we could mark those molds as unattainable if, he could confirm it.

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun May 03, 2009 6:58 pm

Contacting Kicker maybe more direct as he was the OE designer for their audio products.
I do have his real name and a five year old cell phone number.

One BIG problem was the size of the molds and the fact that He lives on Oklahoma. The next is the lack of facilities near me. Add to that the cost of materials and you darn well better want to go into production just to recover your costs.
now who in their right mind would begin production on flares for a vehicle that stopped production five years ago?
A smart person would be building a product for those with money buying newer rigs to fix up. Or maybe for Jeeps

Like I said, no real motivation on that front.

MoJoe · Post by **MoJoe** » Tue May 05, 2009 11:37 am

Not to interrupt, but coming from an off-road/Jeep hobby, I have built a few fender/flare setup for my Wranglers. Sure it is a bit easier working with a flat mounting surface, but still doable on our trucks.

With that being said, has anyone attempted to build a flare out of a metal? So you would build a mounting plate that contours the vehicle, and then skeleton the framework onto it. After that you can fill it in with sheet metal or your choice and finish it off with a coating also of your choice. To me this seems like a good possibly easier alternative to plastic/fiberglass for some. This also can serve as additional protection to us off-roaders if done correctly.

Sorry if this has been a topic covered in the past.

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Tue May 05, 2009 3:53 pm

If, your talking tube fenders with flares, it hasn't been discussed before. It would be allot more complicated on our trucks versus The tub on a TJ.

Post by **HenryJ** » Tue May 05, 2009 3:58 pm

I believe he is referring to building flares from steel as an integral part of the fender.
It is labor intensive and mostly faded away back in the "Starsky & Hutch" days.
Not many with "skilz" to do those anymore. They tend to make the fenders very rigid. That can be a problem on a 4x4 that flexes lots.

MoJoe · Post by **MoJoe** » Tue May 05, 2009 3:59 pm

f9k9 wrote:If, your talking tube fenders with flares, it hasn't been discussed before. It would be allot more complicated on our trucks versus The tub on a TJ.

Yes, in a nut shell, and the complication I understand when compared to a "Jeep" platform, just curious if it has been discussed and/or executed. Something I have been thinking about since I bought the truck since there are no real off-the-shelf solutions for enlarging the openings. Not all that practical for a daily driver, but an option none the less.

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Tue May 05, 2009 4:15 pm

Something like a "high line" kit. Would be nice. Most people walk by one without seeing the difference. 37s with 2.5" of lift.

That's odd you bring this up. I got a cal today for AEV. It concerned their updated Nth Degree TT and their outdated install instructions.