Mud Can Damage Your Truck’s Paint - Get Protection with Bushwacker Fender Flares
mud rustIt’s a fact. Mud can cause rust!
There is an ongoing debate on online truck forums about whether or not leaving mud on a truck will cause any damage. The answer is plain and simple: YES.

Mud= Rust

Even though many hardcore off-road enthusiasts would prefer to leave the mud on their truck for style, it isn’t exactly the best idea if you care about your truck. Obviously, mud is a combination of dirt and water, and water is one of the key contributing factors to rust.

If you don’t believe me, we’ll get a little scientific. Rust is caused by a combination of 3 elements: iron, water, and oxygen. When water mixes with carbon dioxide (one of the elements found in oxygen and the air around us), an acid is formed that begins to eat away at the iron- aka your truck. So, leaving rust on your truck for extended periods of time is never a good idea.

Need Further Convincing… Take a Look at Ice

mud wrestlingI guess mud isn’t always a bad thing.
In northern states, salt is often sprinkled across roads during the wintertime. This is done to melt the snow, so it doesn’t cling to a vehicle’s body and form rust. Like ice, mud shouldn’t be allowed to cling to the vehicle’s body because both contain water that causes rusting.

What’s the Problem with Rust?

 A true truck fanatic would get offended by this question, but believe it or not, it often comes up. Spotting rust on your car is a sign that your truck is literally disintegrating in front of you. The body is becoming weaker and is more likely to fall apart. Not only will the body of your truck be disintegrating, but so will the amount of money in your pocket. Rust depreciates the value of a truck, which is one of the biggest investments that a person could make.

Unfortunately once rust appears, it’s near impossible to get rid of. So, the key is to prevent it from ever happening.

How Do I Prevent Rust If I Love to Go Mudding?

There are a few tips to keep in mind if you want to prevent rusting and like to go off-roading.

  1. Wash Your Car- Washing your truck after you go mudding or off-roading will keep the mud off and eliminate the corrosion process.
  2. Wax Your Car- Before you take your truck off-road, give it an extra wax job. Wax provides another layer of protection to the body of your truck that will keep the mud from causing rust and corrosion.
  3. Use a Fender Flare- When you’re a foot deep in mud, your tires are going to kick mud (not to mention rocks and other debris) back onto the body of your truck. If you hookup a fender flare, you’re going to keep the mud from piling up and sitting on your truck body.
What Are the Best Fender Flares?

bushwackerThe Bushwacker Cut-Out is great for serious off-roading.
Currently, the best fender flares on the market today are being produced by Bushwacker. Bushwacker products are made from Dura Flex 2000 ABS and TPO, which are high impact materials that are flexible and rigid. These fender flares are also designed with 100% UV protection that ensures no chalking, cracking, or warping.

Bushwacker has been a part of the industry for over 40 years and has a wide range of product variations. Some of these include:
 Each of these offers a different kind of protection from the elements. Personally, I would go with the Extend-A-Fender or Cut-Out designs if you’re a hardcore off-roader because they offer the most protection. Bushwacker fender flares are designed to fit nearly every kind of truck and are sure to offer you the protection you need from the mud and its adverse effects.

By: Tim Snyder
Posted on September 19th, 2013
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