Do running boards alone stop rocks from hitting the side body panels?

[TX-Hans]

For those with running boards (but no front mud flaps), do you feel the running boards stop rocks from hitting the side body panels if flung up by the tires? If so, what level of effectiveness would you say...all rocks stopped or most rocks or just some rocks being stopped?

I have the AR Stirrups on order (waiting for shipment) and the Rokbloz front mud flaps arrived last week (sitting in garage waiting for parts). I don't like mud flaps as a general rule but plan has/had been to use the mud flaps to stop rocks that are flung up. But, AR has come out with their Magnum runners that go the full length of the rock rail and look pretty sweet. It got me thinking....can I go with just the full length AR running boards (no front mud flaps) and keep all or most of the rocks away from the side panels so I don't need mud flaps?

Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences in this regard.

Sponsored

 

[Darren13]

I have the raptor style step rails. They seem to keep most everything off bottom side of Bronco. Have another 4k miles. All stock wheels and tires.

 

[‘21OBX]

I have the stock OBX Boards I’d give it a 65-75% there is still quite the gap that debris make it past. Usually lighter weight stuff. I did buy the trail armor rocker guards as the rockers still get some stuff hitting near the pinchweld. Mud and dirt still plasters the doors all the way to the handles.

 

[Darren13]

Opps! Posted Easter photo of in-laws and boys!

 

[Taltyman]

Since we don't have our Bronco yet I can only speak about what we have on our Rubi. We have about a 1,000 ft driveway that is gravel. We have sliders and until we put mud flaps on the rocks and mud would be slung up the sides of the doors and even the windows. I would think that if the gap between the rails you are looking at and fenders is pretty small you may be ok. But it doesn't take much of an opening.

 

[Darren13]

Yeah. I thought about buying the stock mud flaps from ford. Don’t think I want the rear ones.

 

[R.A.N.M.J.]

I took the Rock Rails off my Badlands and installed OEM steps. They do stop rocks from bouncing off the side panels.

 

[D190065]

Although expensive, the stock ones from Ford are really good. Very heavy duty and lower half removes for clearance.

 

[Panmort]

Even on my non-sas OBX with the running boards, debris was being flung up. I ended up adding mud flaps.

 

[Darren13]

Did you put the ford mud flaps on with the running boards? Did they fit ok!?

 

[RhodeIslandRed]

Depends on a few things. What tires do you have? How much poke?

I have wide tires and they have really aggressive tread. The good thing is the voids are so big that they don't pick up as many stones as my stock KO2s did. The bad thing is that the stones they do fling are usually big.

I have the zroadz slider/steps and I would say they stop almost all rocks. I hear when a rock comes up under them with a big clang. I have not seen any new dings or chips since I installed the sliders.

But I am still thinking about mud flaps. The thing is, when you wheeling, you turn the wheels. Even when I drive on a muddy road, I can see the spray pattern on the front door and it concerns me. i don't mind getting muddy, but

I am worried about kicking up a big rock.

 

[Vico]

I have the Ford tube step and front/rear splash guards on my Bronco and it’s super effective at stopping rocks and dirt flinging up onto my sides.
I drove for a month or two with just the tube step and no splash guards. Rocks, mud, and dirt were definitely flinging up onto my doors far more often than I wanted. Like, one drive in the rain and my front doors had dirty water streaks all across them.

I did have to cut an opening in the front splash guards to be able to accommodate the tube step. You can kinda see it in the pic.

The rear guards don’t help much with anything, but there they are. I can see myself removing them sometime down the line.

 

[Wannabe Techie]

I have the raptor style step rails. They seem to keep most everything off bottom side of Bronco. Have another 4k miles. All stock wheels and tires.

A family that Broncos together, stays together

 

[Darren13]

Yep! The front ones look good with the steps. Definitely going to get.

 

[AKBronc49]

Stock Sasquatch with obx steps I put thin universal flaps on the front on day 2. 3200 miles and zero chips on the sides. We have tons of gravel on the roads right now from snow melt. I hear them ping off every time I pull out of a side road or parking lot.

Sponsored