Bushwacker flares

backwash · 11-06-2005, 10:09 PM

I have the 6" Bushwacker flares on my LJ. Out wheelin I broke the drivers rear. Anyone know where to get a single flare at a decent price. I found 1 place that wants $155.00 delivered, but thats it. The whole set was only $330.00. I know they are brittle but this was caught on a fallen tree limb and ripped off.

got4-Lo · 11-06-2005, 10:51 PM

i cant help ya getting another one...

i say leave it...

U.S.MarineLJ · 11-06-2005, 10:55 PM

Can't help you either but your pic coupled with reviews of bushwacker flares have dissuaded me from purchasing them. Thanks.

**Jerry Bransford** · 11-06-2005, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by backwash

I know they are brittle but this was caught on a fallen tree limb and ripped off.

Someone shot a video of one of my rear Warn flares as it was snagged by a big boulder as my TJ crawled around a sharp turn. I didn't even know it happened until I saw the video later that evening around the campfire (modern technology... ain't it great). The flare was pulled so far out we were all laughing and groaning at the same time. It looked like a rubber band and by all counts, looked like it should have been at least torn, if not torn off. I walked over to the Jeep to look at the damage and I could barely see a scratch. A good fender flare like Warn makes will resist a lot of abuse so the above photo is a great example of why so many of us recommend against Bushwacker's overly-brittle flares.

I'd contact Bushwacker via email and include that photo. At the least, they might sell you a single replacement. Who knows, maybe they'll send a replacement to you at no cost out of customer satisfaction.

MR.CLIFFORD · 11-06-2005, 11:04 PM

flares suck

ProfessorCRX · 11-06-2005, 11:17 PM

Those things are brittle as shyt. I love the look of them and wanted to get them until everyone here said how weak they were. Just 2 nights ago I went to a dealer and saw a tomb raider edition with the bushwhackers. My first time seeing them in person and I thought to myself "I wonder if they're as weak as everyone says." so I grabbed one with two fingers just to see how much they flexed and I guess I wasn't surprised to see that they were already broken where they bolt on to the tub, so it pulled halfway off when I tugged on it.

Scoobert · 11-06-2005, 11:23 PM

I wish other vender's would figure out that a lot of people like the looks of them and will buy them even knowing how brittle they are.

Could you imagine how many sales Warn or Xenon would have if they made a quality flare that looked like the Bushwhacker

TEEJAY · 11-07-2005, 04:39 AM

$155 might seem like alot of money, but at least you didnt pay $400 for a complete set like i did!

Baas · 11-07-2005, 07:23 AM

Does anyone know if Bushwacker has a patent on the design in the U.S?
They don't in South Africa so we made a mould and copied them with a couple of changes so we can't get sued.

The material they used is a material used for water piping in the U.S until it was found that the pipes were disintegrating into the water. It was then banned for use in pipes.
The material is also recycled. So they probably just bought up a whole lot of pipes and melted them down and made flares from them.

We used ABS plastic mixed with low density poly-ethylene and a U.V stabiliser. The finish is a lot better. As for flexibility: I had them make 10 samples before I was happy with it. Now you can't break it by hand or by hitting it with a hammer. You can break it by clamping it in a bench vice though.
It is a compromise between flex, finish and rigidity - oh yes and cost of material as well. We could spend a bit more on material because we didn't need to import them and pay import duties and other taxes.

Anyway just some useless info!

kappaknight · 11-07-2005, 12:24 PM

So are you going to make some or what?

TQ_xvi · 11-07-2005, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baas

Does anyone know if Bushwacker has a patent on the design in the U.S?
They don't in South Africa so we made a mould and copied them with a couple of changes so we can't get sued.

The material they used is a material used for water piping in the U.S until it was found that the pipes were disintegrating into the water. It was then banned for use in pipes.
The material is also recycled. So they probably just bought up a whole lot of pipes and melted them down and made flares from them.

We used ABS plastic mixed with low density poly-ethylene and a U.V stabiliser. The finish is a lot better. As for flexibility: I had them make 10 samples before I was happy with it. Now you can't break it by hand or by hitting it with a hammer. You can break it by clamping it in a bench vice though.
It is a compromise between flex, finish and rigidity - oh yes and cost of material as well. We could spend a bit more on material because we didn't need to import them and pay import duties and other taxes.

Anyway just some useless info!

sounds lekker.

I'd say you'd have a huge market if you made ABS versions of them... get working on it, mate!!

JBXdudeTJ · 11-07-2005, 02:23 PM

Would rhino lining the bushwhacker flare help from making it so brittle? It's just such a good looking flare....

jonster · 11-07-2005, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baas

Does anyone know if Bushwacker has a patent on the design in the U.S?
They don't in South Africa so we made a mould and copied them with a couple of changes so we can't get sued.

The material they used is a material used for water piping in the U.S until it was found that the pipes were disintegrating into the water. It was then banned for use in pipes.
The material is also recycled. So they probably just bought up a whole lot of pipes and melted them down and made flares from them.

We used ABS plastic mixed with low density poly-ethylene and a U.V stabiliser. The finish is a lot better. As for flexibility: I had them make 10 samples before I was happy with it. Now you can't break it by hand or by hitting it with a hammer. You can break it by clamping it in a bench vice though.
It is a compromise between flex, finish and rigidity - oh yes and cost of material as well. We could spend a bit more on material because we didn't need to import them and pay import duties and other taxes.

Anyway just some useless info!

How much you selling them for? Got PICS?

meanmp70 · 11-07-2005, 03:17 PM

Baas,

I'd buy a set of those in a heart beat....

I have wanted a set of Bushwhacker flares since forever. The stories of the crap material they are made with has kept me from getting them.

VisitorJim · 11-07-2005, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scoobert

I wish other vender's would figure out that a lot of people like the looks of them and will buy them even knowing how brittle they are.

Could you imagine how many sales Warn or Xenon would have if they made a quality flare that looked like the Bushwhacker

have you ever tried washing a jeep with bushwackers on it?? when you hit one of those little pocket thingys they shoot water in every direction!

i have the Xenon flares and i love them, when i bought them the guy had the bushwacker in stock also and there was a difference of about 15+ pounds!! the xenon ones are about a 1/4" thick polyurathane. the bushwacker is a 1/16" ABS plastic. i haven't seen the warn ones, but i hear they are just as good too.

in the winter it's real nice to be able to kick the flares real hard to get the ice out of them. i've never worried about breaking them.

i've also never heard anyone say "i'm glad i bought my bushwacker flares!" i'd call the company and demand a replacement, then throw them on ebay.

11-06-2005, 10:51 PM	#2
got4-Lo Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Flemington NJ / Boone NC Posts: 2,497 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	i cant help ya getting another one... i say leave it... __________________ stretched *** tj [URL]webwheeling.com[/URL]

11-06-2005, 10:55 PM	#3
U.S.MarineLJ Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,294 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Can't help you either but your pic coupled with reviews of bushwacker flares have dissuaded me from purchasing them. Thanks. __________________ Great site to read about and review Jeep related products. [URL=http://www.jeepreviews.com]JeepReviews.com[/URL] Awesome site with writeups. [url]http://www.4x4xplor.com/tj.html[/url] Another awesome site for writeups. [url]www.stu-offroad.com[/url]

11-07-2005, 07:23 AM	#9
Baas Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Jo'burg South Africa Posts: 464 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Does anyone know if Bushwacker has a patent on the design in the U.S? They don't in South Africa so we made a mould and copied them with a couple of changes so we can't get sued. The material they used is a material used for water piping in the U.S until it was found that the pipes were disintegrating into the water. It was then banned for use in pipes. The material is also recycled. So they probably just bought up a whole lot of pipes and melted them down and made flares from them. We used ABS plastic mixed with low density poly-ethylene and a U.V stabiliser. The finish is a lot better. As for flexibility: I had them make 10 samples before I was happy with it. Now you can't break it by hand or by hitting it with a hammer. You can break it by clamping it in a bench vice though. It is a compromise between flex, finish and rigidity - oh yes and cost of material as well. We could spend a bit more on material because we didn't need to import them and pay import duties and other taxes. Anyway just some useless info! __________________ [FONT=Verdana]04 Sport 4" Currie lift with Anti-Rock Rock Krawler 4 link rear Skyjacker 2" body lift Safari Snorkel 35" Procomp X-terrain Mickey Thompson Classic lock Aussie locker front & rear 4.88 gears CV Drive shaft 4WD SYE 215 Ponies I6[/FONT]

11-06-2005, 11:17 PM	#6
ProfessorCRX Web Wheeler Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: New York Posts: 1,295 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Those things are brittle as shyt. I love the look of them and wanted to get them until everyone here said how weak they were. Just 2 nights ago I went to a dealer and saw a tomb raider edition with the bushwhackers. My first time seeing them in person and I thought to myself "I wonder if they're as weak as everyone says." so I grabbed one with two fingers just to see how much they flexed and I guess I wasn't surprised to see that they were already broken where they bolt on to the tub, so it pulled halfway off when I tugged on it.

11-06-2005, 11:23 PM	#7
Scoobert Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 412 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	I wish other vender's would figure out that a lot of people like the looks of them and will buy them even knowing how brittle they are. Could you imagine how many sales Warn or Xenon would have if they made a quality flare that looked like the Bushwhacker

11-07-2005, 04:39 AM	#8
TEEJAY Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 47 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	$155 might seem like alot of money, but at least you didnt pay $400 for a complete set like i did!

11-07-2005, 03:17 PM	#14
meanmp70 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 148 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Baas, I'd buy a set of those in a heart beat.... I have wanted a set of Bushwhacker flares since forever. The stories of the crap material they are made with has kept me from getting them.