Has anybody made their own rock guard portection flap? Checked out cabela's and tow tector, the problem with tow tector is that I would have to buy another receiver hitch to have the 1 3/4" of extra length for mounting.

I made my own, but still had to buy a new receiver. I used three semi mud flaps, square aluminum tubing to go around the receiver with two pieces of aluminum angle welded on to attatch the aluminum to. You could use steel, but it would be heavier. I have about forty dollars invested in everything.

I made my own, but still had to buy a new receiver. I used three semi mud flaps, square aluminum tubing to go around the receiver with two pieces of aluminum angle welded on to attatch the aluminum to. You could use steel, but it would be heavier. I have about forty dollars invested in everything.

Same here basically.

A length of aluminum square tubing, 1 u-bolt, and 4 large mudflaps, about $75 in total, and that's buying everything new.

Cut the tubing to the length you want, I made made mine a couple inches wider than the truck, then center it, on the receiver. Put the u-bolt underneath the reciver and mark the spots. Drill the two holes, slide the ubolt through from the bottom around the reciever and tighten it down. Simple.

Take it off and install the mudflaps. I bolted mine through, but you could probably get away with self-tapping screws and fender washers. The key is getting the length right with the trailer and truck loaded as would have it for a typical day, you don't want it to be too long. I also connected all my mudflaps together with thin strips of aluminum on the back side to keep them from flapping as much.

It took me about 1/2hr to make mine.

It's nice and light, goes on and off with 2 nuts in about 5 mins, and it works great.

Sorry, I don't think I have any pics of it.

Waxy

We travel on 26 miles of gravel each way to our cabin. In a rush to make a rock gurad, I bolted a length of snowmobile track to a pressure treated 2 X 2, cut out a hole for the reciver hitch, and attached it to the bumper with rubber snubbers. I made it a little wider than the truck width to catch all the rocks kicked up from the tires. It is a little redneck in appearance but works great and was made from materials laying around. (Do you think my neighbor will notice the track missing from his snowmobile????????????) Just kidding.

We travel on 26 miles of gravel each way to our cabin. In a rush to make a rock gurad, I bolted a length of snowmobile track to a pressure treated 2 X 2, cut out a hole for the reciver hitch, and attached it to the bumper with rubber snubbers. I made it a little wider than the truck width to catch all the rocks kicked up from the tires. It is a little redneck in appearance but works great and was made from materials laying around. (Do you think my neighbor will notice the track missing from his snowmobile????????????) Just kidding.!!!

Thanks Waxy: How could something as simple as a "U" bolt slip my mind? The winter must be getting long up here in N. WI if I can't even sifer using a "U" bolt to hold on square tubing.

Thanks, Duarn

I didn't have as good luck as the other guys w/ homemade... I made mine out of conveyer belting. The solid rubber seemed to kick up more stone than w/o it. On gravel the rock guard would pick up stones that the tires threw up and launch them even higher. Then they bounced off the trailer into the rear doors of my suburban... After a few hundred miles of that, Not pretty = as in a paint job. I ran the guard about 2" from the road surface. This was on an elk hunt years ago and I now run a Tow Tector w/ no problems. If you're not carefull this might be one of those "get what you pay for" things! The brushes on the T.T. seem to stop stones kicked up by the tires. Good luck.

I didn't have as good luck as the other guys w/ homemade... I made mine out of conveyer belting. The solid rubber seemed to kick up more stone than w/o it. On gravel the rock guard would pick up stones that the tires threw up and launch them even higher. Then they bounced off the trailer into the rear doors of my suburban... After a few hundred miles of that, Not pretty = as in a paint job. I ran the guard about 2" from the road surface. This was on an elk hunt years ago and I now run a Tow Tector w/ no problems. If you're not carefull this might be one of those "get what you pay for" things! The brushes on the T.T. seem to stop stones kicked up by the tires. Good luck.

That's why you can't make them too long!

If the guard contacts the road when the suspension is moving up and down or due to ridges in the gravel, you've got big problems. I think the rule of thumb is 4" of clearance when loaded, I believe that's what Towtector recommends as well. I also think you need a flexible rubber like what most mudflaps are made of for best results.

Mine fit's quite tight to the bumper, so there's no worries about stones deflecting back at the tailgate.

Waxy

I ended up making my rock gaurd flap out of 1" alum. tubing, a few inches wider than the truck and having a machine shop weld a 2"X2" alum. riser on the bottom dead center in the middle. (this riser rases the rock gaurd flap up to the bumper). I also used a 1"x1" alum. angle iron piece facing back towards the boat for extra support and a fancy washer. Between these two alum. pieces I picked up a used rubber truck bed liner and cut it to specs. I have not used this yet, but I have less than $40 in this, (except for the beers I have to buy the guy who gave me the rubber bed liner). When the "U" bolt is tightened down, the unit is "rock" solid and doesn't sway back and forth like some of the cheeper rock gaurd flaps.

Thanks for all of everyones input, this was a fun winter poject to make.

Duran

http://www.walleyecentral.com/forums/album.php?albumid=139

protect your rig against all kinds of flying crap.

i have about $110 in it.

Reelman, what did you use to make this? I have thinking of trying this, but don't know where to start.

I ended up making my rock gaurd flap out of 1" alum. tubing, a few inches wider than the truck and having a machine shop weld a 2"X2" alum. riser on the bottom dead center in the middle. (this riser rases the rock gaurd flap up to the bumper). I also used a 1"x1" alum. angle iron piece facing back towards the boat for extra support and a fancy washer. Between these two alum. pieces I picked up a used rubber truck bed liner and cut it to specs. I have not used this yet, but I have less than $40 in this, (except for the beers I have to buy the guy who gave me the rubber bed liner). When the "U" bolt is tightened down, the unit is "rock" solid and doesn't sway back and forth like some of the cheeper rock gaurd flaps.

Thanks for all of everyones input, this was a fun winter poject to make.

Duran

I forgot about the 2" riser I installed. That was a major oversight on my part, because it is critical to have it high enough for a tight fit against the bumper.

Nice work on "improving" my design lol. I hope if works as well for you as it does for me.

Waxy

Try this out for size

http://www.coloradofisherman.com/forum/index.php?topic=41432.0

Morton

Waxy or WalleyeDuran - Do either of you have pictures you can share? Sounds like you have it figured out! Thanks,

Waxy or WalleyeDuran - Do either of you have pictures you can share? Sounds like you have it figured out! Thanks,

No, sorry.

I'll have to snap a couple when I dig it out this spring.

Waxy

Sounds good. Thanks.

You need mudflaps, of course. But you also need a boat guard on gravel.
like this: www.mtrockguard.com

If you see a tire mark going up hill, and gravel is thrown out behind it (or downhill) how do you know if the vehicle was going uphill or down hill. This is very important and I hope someone can give me a very through explaination.

Thank you.

read somewhere that gluing carpet on truck side of flaps creates a soft surface for stones to deflect
into and will cause same to fall to road.. Tried it and feel it worked due to lack of hull paint chips.

Spoonman