[RockStarYJ95]

I'm caught between the two flares. Here's my current comparison:

Xenon TJ style:
Pro-
6" width may look better than the RR's 7" width.(?)
Requires no cutting. Tires hit stock flares, not actual fender.
Con-
Don't know if bigger tires would hit actual fender. (as no trimming is required)
$350, and concerned about replacing if broken.
6" width doesn't stop quite as much crap from being thrown onto the side of my jeep.

Rugged Ridge:
Pro-
$150, maintains YJ characterstic reflectors.
Trimming needed would give more fender clearance.
7" width stops a little more crap from being thrown all over the side of my jeep.
Con-
Lack of tools and experience with stuff like that on my part.
Trimming supposedly only required at back of rear fender. (I rub on the FRONT of the rear fender flares)
Thinking 7" flares would look akwardly wide. Don't want a mantle on the side. It's a jeep, not a fireplace.

If anyone has any knowledge on this, please gimme your thoughts. Am I missing anything obvious?

[mean90yj]

not sure if you know...there is a difference between TJ flares, and TJ STYLE flares. the TJ flares require you to cut your fender, simple grinding wheel...sawzall makes it a better looking job though, and it widens your rear fender gap giving you more wheel space...TJ STYLE flares just look like TJ flares but w/o the added clearence. You could probably do it pretty simply. If you get the TJ flares, just take off your old fender, line them up with the FRONT OF THE REAR fender, and then basically take a marker or tape or something and draw the outline of the fender...it will go higher and further back the the stock TJ flares...basically that line is what you want to cut on. should eliminate rubbing, you can't go too much forward b/c then you are cutting into the tub itself, the TJ flares normally just require you to cut off the overlapping sheetmetal but you don't cut into the inside of the jeep...sorry for the long post, hope it answered your question.

[stump buster]

Bling Bling.....

[RockStarYJ95]

I know the TJ stly Xenons don't add any clearance, but I hit the flares not the fenders. I also saw that you cut the rear of the fender to add actual TJ flares. That was what I was saying. When you trim it out, are there any problems with the exposed metal rusting?

[mean90yj]

POR15 the exposed metal and you should be good. since you wont see the exposted metal color doesn't really matter, either find a good protective rattle can paint for cars at like autozone or napa, or go POR15, it stops from getting in and if there already is some in there it will stop it from spreading.

[Jeeples]

I put on the Rugged Ridge flares a couple months ago because Johnny Law gave me crap for runnin' 31's on a 15x8 wheel with 3.75" of Backspacing, with my factory flares.

They don't look too bad, but considering the amount of lift I have, they would look much better if I had some 33's on there:









As for the install, most definitely use an angle grinder with a cut off wheel or a dremel. I used a Sawzall and it's not the cleanest unfortunately (can't tell since the flares are on, but I'm pretty anal about that stuff).

The only thing I would suggest is that you cut some of the front of the rear wheel well also. I went strictly by the directions and they're not 100% centered over the wheels, I plan on moving them forward about an inch in the next few days.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask

[Songman]

Looks good! Can those be used with stock side steps like on my Sahara? It looks like the extension is separate in the picture but I can't tell for sure.

[RockWoRM]

Jeeples, do U have a link to those rugged ridge's, or a place ya got 'em? I know I could google it, but I'm basicly lazy. Is that $150.oo for all four?

btw... nice looking rims ... same ones I have!



WoRM

[RockStarYJ95]

I saw them on quadratec for $150. I actually have 31's on 15x8's right now and thats why I was wondering would 7" flares like that stick out too far. I know what you mean about the flares not centering over the wheel. That was a big concern of mine too. So no one actually uses the xenon flares or... what?

[Tom95YJ]

Ive been looking at the rugged ridge flares cause im running a 10" wide rim and cops are really bad about tires sticking out of wheel wells around my way from what alot if my friends are telling me since I just moved back into the area, and im tired of getting coal dust and mud flung all over me when wheelin.

[Jeeples]

Originally Posted by Songman

Looks good! Can those be used with stock side steps like on my Sahara? It looks like the extension is separate in the picture but I can't tell for sure.

Yeah, using your stock steps would not be a problem, as you can see, I had them at one point, but I had a close encounter with a rock, so I just pulled them most of the way off until I pick up some sliders.

As for where I bought them:

http://www.quadratec.com/products/12510_501_07.htm


Also, I got bored yesterday, so I went out and bought some 33's :

[RockStarYJ95]

Okay that looks really good. I have 10.5 width tires right now but not a lot of lift so maybe it will take away from the huge-flare-little-tire effect. Thanks for the pix though! Tires I was wanting to compare and everything. No xenons, no xenons, waste of money?