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Fender Flares

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Keke

Fender Flares
« on: December 19, 2007, 02:18:43 PM »
OK, so I've got an '03 Chevy Tracker (4 door) with OME springs/shocks/struts, plus coil spacers. I've decided (with some advice from this forum) that a 2" body lift would be a good next step, as this would allow me to run 31" tires. The 235/75-15's I have on now already stick out past the body (due to the 1" wheels spacers) so I'm pretty sure that a 31" x 10.5" x 15" tire on a 15x7 wheel has just gotta stick out past the body (despite backspacing and offset being dialed in properly). So I guess the next think to take a look at is fender flares.

Now I know that the truly hard-core members of this site will  ??? roll their eyes...since the fender flares are just something else to rip off when off roading, but I'd like to explore the idea anyway.

I've seen things like this...


that would do the trick, but these "Arctic Truck" kits don't seem to be available for GV's/XL7's/Trackers anymore. I think they were, but not anymore. I can't read Icelandic or Norwegian so your guess is as good as mine as to what the article here http://www.dinside.no/php/art.php?id=33855&versjon=utskrift is saying.

So other than Pcer Flexy Flares from Canadian Tire (or Pep Boys or whatever they call it in your neighbourhood) where can I find flares for a 4 door Tracker?
« Last Edit: December 21, 2007, 03:48:10 PM by Keke »
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Offline Davyboy

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Re: Fender Flares
« Reply #1 on: December 21, 2007, 09:12:35 AM »
There doesn't seem to be any sort of fender flare fix out there for us.  I'm real close to going to a body shop with some universal rubber flare and saying "make it work."  Tracker's are a little easier.....the GV has more square shaped holes in the sheetmetal to either fill in or cover up.  Here's the universal flare material that I would buy (GSX178, $4.50 per foot):

http://www.roadlessgear.com/page/RGL/PROD/B/GSX

I've included a picture of what the front quarter panel looks like under the plastic trim.  You can see the square holes that would have to be dealt with.  Most of them go along the contour of the wheel well, but there's one near the front door that would be tricky.  The plastic trim is yet another achilles heel of these trucks, although I hear that the CALMINI lift kit moves the wheels a little forward.  That would certainly help with my rubbing issues.  I don't care about the front bumper, as it's getting replaced with plate steel or tube.  I just want to stop the rubbing behind the front wheels.



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1999 Grand Vitara w/CALMINI Suspension and RRO Body Lift, 31" Goodyear MTR tires, Skidplates, 5.12 Diffs with a Lock-Right in the rear.
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Offline toofaroffroad

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Re: Fender Flares
« Reply #2 on: December 21, 2007, 09:25:15 AM »
Try getting creative and go to a used parts place. Maybe something like a Ford Ranger pick up or a smaller Chevy pick up truck would work. you might even be abel to find something from Bush Wacker.
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Keke

Re: Fender Flares
« Reply #3 on: December 21, 2007, 01:22:21 PM »
I was really hoping that someone would post a reply saying that a set of bushwacker fender flares for a TJ would fit, with a little massaging. Toofaroffroad said get creative and try parts from a wreckers, and he's right. I was kinda hoping that before I try that, I would post here and see if anyone else had success with the same modification, to save me some R&D (or walking around the wreckers yard in the middle of winter).

I remember there wer elots of kits available in the old days for the previous generation Tracker/Vitaras. Some of the "fatboy" or "widebody" kits that were meant for on-road, street-trucks also looked really friggen good when you lifted the truck, plus they covered up the wheels.

For example:

This:

...might look like "ricer" garbage to some, but if you lift the truck, and put a set of 31" mudders on it first, then the truck looks absolutely wicked. Take a look at this...


See what I mean?
« Last Edit: December 21, 2007, 01:29:10 PM by Keke »
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Keke

Re: Fender Flares
« Reply #4 on: December 21, 2007, 03:45:17 PM »
Now I will open up and tell you bunch of internet strangers  >:D a little story about my childhood and why I like widebody kits.

When I was 10 years old I went to the 1984 Toronto International Auto Show and when we came up he escalator (underneath the big semicircular giant Dunlop tires display, like the one at LeMans) the first thing I saw was a Braubus wide-body BMW, and I was totally stunned by the super-wide, flat top fenders that looked something like this:


When I bought my '96 Tracker, the same style (flat top fenders) were there. Here's an old style tracker with bushwacker super-wide flat-top fender flares.


So now that I've got a 2003 Tracker 4 Door, I want to keep that same early-80's flat top fender look, and cover up the wider wheels. Hopefully someone has an idea about where to buy, or which flares to customize that would do the trick.

I would like to avoid this look...


I am aiming for this...

But I woud like to avoid the exteme cost of buying custom made Icelandic fender flares.

Any advice is appreciated.
« Last Edit: December 21, 2007, 03:49:05 PM by Keke »
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Keke

Re: Fender Flares
« Reply #5 on: December 21, 2007, 03:54:41 PM »
And this...
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Offline bzzr2

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Re: Fender Flares
« Reply #6 on: December 21, 2007, 07:18:29 PM »
i'm sure if you do a search on google for fender flares you'll find something that comes in a length in various widths that can be cut to fit and easily mount to each fender.
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03-ZR2, 2dr, 31x10.5 SSR's & stuff...--sold :-(
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Offline beercheck

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Re: Fender Flares
« Reply #7 on: December 21, 2007, 09:06:43 PM »
I've never been able to track these down, and lord have I tried.  I asked the guy about them a year ago, he responded he got them locally (Europe) from a shop that imported a few sets from Japan.  No further details available.





http://www.cardomain.com/ride/843731
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'03 ZR2 2dr Tracker, '02 XL-7 drivetrain and electrcs
XL-7 front coils
1.5" rear coil spacers
Monroe 32316 shocks w/2" extenders
235/70-16 Bridgestone Destination A/Ts on stock XL-7 Alloys RRO Rock Rails (Presently removed, as they rusted to all hell; all the bolts were rusted to dust.  Real nice, RRO...) http://www.trivia-nights.com
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Offline gv1600

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Re: Fender Flares
« Reply #8 on: December 21, 2007, 11:18:23 PM »
Is there anyone that used Bushwacker flares into his GV/tracker?
Do they fit clearly?
Those that many guys use in Sami's, Jeep's, Toy's......u know...

I would like to get a pair of them.
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Offline bzzr2

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Re: Fender Flares
« Reply #9 on: December 22, 2007, 09:57:03 AM »
i didn't realize you were trying to avoid the look i suggested.  the thing is are you really gonna wheel your tracker in trails or just put around and maybe get a little mud on the tires.  if you are really gonna wheel and get into tight areas nice pretty plastic parts sticking out will not be your friend cause they're gonna scratch and crack.  just something to consider.
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03-ZR2, 2dr, 31x10.5 SSR's & stuff...--sold :-(
03 xl7, jeff's 2inch spacer lift, 225/75/16's; sold
09 taco reg cab short box 4x4
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Offline JDMCRX

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Re: Fender Flares
« Reply #10 on: December 22, 2007, 02:58:03 PM »
I love the fender flares on that flat black 4 door i would love to get a set of those. Anyone over seas see any fender flares at all ??


josh
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01 GRAND VITARA

JBAUTO LONGTUBE HEADERS AND 2.5" JBAUTO EXHAUST

New project H27 in the GV goal 200 Wheel Horse Power  JPB 1.75"front 2" rear Grand Vitra lifts  www.jbauto.ca[/url]
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Keke

Re: Fender Flares
« Reply #11 on: December 23, 2007, 03:52:18 PM »
Hey beercheck, I looked at that cardomain picture you posted and it looks a lot like this...

Which was from a site called 4x4x4.com. The exact page of the dicontinued fender flares is http://www.4x4x4.com/accessories/grandvitara_accessories_flares.htm. Too bad.

ANy other thoughts? Anything from Asia? I know these rigs are real popular in Indonesia.

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Offline Icelandic

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Re: Fender Flares
« Reply #12 on: December 25, 2007, 12:11:29 AM »
If you want a stock looking fender flares you come to iceland ;) Its amazing how some of our best guys are getting cars on 44 inch tires looking "factory"

But Iceland is not a cheap country. I was looking for a sett of fender flares for blacknight  that are like mine (see picture) and I found out that they would never cost less than 800 dollars. Thats just for the fender flares primed. Than theres shipping, painting and fitting...

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Offline IanL

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Re: Fender Flares
« Reply #13 on: December 25, 2007, 01:02:08 AM »
Quote from: Icelandic on December 25, 2007, 12:11:29 AM
If you want a stock looking fender flares you come to iceland ;) Its amazing how some of our best guys are getting cars on 44 inch tires looking "factory"

A bit off-topic, but what do you do about gearing in Iceland with 44 inch tires?
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'98 GV V6, '96 X-90 with RRO 2.5" lift and 195/80 R15, '93 Cappuccino.
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Offline Icelandic

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Re: Fender Flares
« Reply #14 on: December 25, 2007, 06:37:05 AM »
That depends on the car. We dont have vitaras here on 44 inch but we have a few on 38 inch if you want pics. Also we had a Samurai on 44.

I will take two cars as an example. The first one is an extreme Vitara thats actually for sale now.

Its got air suspension, lockers, two gearboxes, dana 20 transfers case 1:175 radio to the wheels. 5:38 diffs, dana 44 rear and dana 30 front, disc brakes all around, extra gas tank, gasheater. Volvo B21 turbo intercooler engine. Weighs 1680kg full of gas.








The next one is a Nissan Patrol

It has 5.42 radio diffs, lower transfer case gear, electric lock in the rear and air lock in the front, extra electric system, 2 gas tanks, and many radios and extras





And dont think that all the antennas  and lights are just for show. These are the cars that are going over glaciers weekend after weekend and belive me, the things that can happen to you make these things very usefull :D





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