Rock Tamer Mud Flap System

[JandC]

Wanted the best protection I could find to protect the new Monte from road debris while towing. The "Rock Tamer" system sure wasn't the cheapest but it looked like about the highest quality of removable system out there. They were marked down slightly on CW so I ordered them today. I had a couple chips on the front of my old Monte and it was always dirty after a day on the road pulling. Anyone else out there utilizing these?

[mach111]

JC-

I did the same recently. I was afraid of RT striking the fifth wheel while turning since our TV is a dually. Got the DW to look for me while I made a 90 degree turn and nowhere close to fifth wheel. After our last trip of 2k miles the front of the Monty had some chips. I have decided since we no longer use the rear hitch on the Monty for the bike rack I will simply remove RT from TV after setup and place in Monty hitch. After Bingo's recommendation I figured this was a good mod.

[Rondo]

Joe, I put the Rock Tamer on my 2012 Chevy 3500 when I got it to protect our Monte even though it is an older 2004. You can cut the Rock Tamer to length of the rubber hanging down. I cut ours so it just sits above the ground when we are hooked up to the Monte. It could be a bit shorter because it somewhat drags on the ground but I don't get any throe back at all to the Monte. I wouldn't do without it.

[DQDick]

Rondo sold me on them and we got a set last summer. Been on gravel roads in Kansas, Michigan, Indiana, New Mexico and Arizona since and frankly I love them. We do tend to get off the hard roads a lot and so they really are a necessity.

[JandC]

Glad to hear they work as advertised. I was telling a buddy of mine about ordering them and he said he got them for pulling his SOB Toy Hauler after running through a construction zone with oil and tar getting slung all over the front of his unit. Rondo, I think I will either cut or space mine so they are within a inch of the pavement. Don't want anything coming back on Monte.

[1retired06]

Dually trucks in particular are pigs, much worse than my SRWs. Even with mud guards, we still use a rock-tamer configuration.

[JandC]

Received the Rock Tamers late today. I only got the top brace mounted before it got dark, but the rest of the install looks extremely easy and should only take another 30 minutes or so tomorrow. I am very impressed with the quality. A lot of stainless parts and a lot of stainless nuts/bolts.

[cdaniels]

$199 at 4x4 Auto works free shipping FYI

[MDL]

I've been looking at a 6 mil film application for the Monty, but this option is really expensive ($240 for material and up to $300 for installation), so I think I'm switching the the Rock Tamer for the truck. Seems like everyone that's tried it, loves it, so I'm sold!

[MDL]

OK, so they're on order. Next 2 question are when they come it, are there good options to connect them to something other than a drop hitch? Is there some sort of plug that can be used? I'd hate to crack a shin bone on the hitch! Second, how far from the ground is reasonable? Joe is going with 1" or so, but won't that drag if you go up an include or over speed bumps? Not sure if it will damage the flap or maybe kick up more rocks?

[JandC]

Mark, after reading directions on Rock Tamers and thinking about it some more, I think I will space mine about 3" off the ground. The manual suggested 3" to 4" clearance when the load was on the truck. With my Firestone bags (I see you have the same) I bring the truck back close to normal height in the back after hooking up, so I am comfortable with doing the 3". I agree with the issue of cracking your shin bone on the receiver sticking out. I am just using a regular receiver/ball that I had. I generally have it in place anyway because I pull a 24' enclosed car hauler at times so I am used to avoiding it when walking around the back of the truck. I am not sure if there is a short stub receiver out there or not.

[bncinwv]

All of the reasons you listed contributed to my decision to go with the Towtector bristle-type flap approach rather than the solid flaps. I do not have enough mileage on them to assess them other than there are no chips on the Big Sky currently and we have towed to South Carolina and back. Any are better than none, but I really like the full rear coverage of the Towtector.
Bingo

[richfaa]

We have the rock tamer system on out 2013 Big Sky. They will reduce but not come close to eliminating the chips on the front of the Big Sky. A rock hitting the front of the painted surface of the big sky at 60mph plus is going to chip the paint off. Note that the front overhang is NOT painted on the so called new and improved Big Sky. At least they got that right.

[MDL]

Thanks for the input Joe. Based on Bingo's comments, I looked at the towtector. I really considered these too, but thought if the rock or road debris was large enough the mass would push it through the bristles, so went with the solid flaps. Now I was lucky in that Bingo's comment lead me to a plug that will work with the rock tamer too, I think. Here's the link and my shins will be safe! http://www.realtruck.com/towtector-m...p-accessories/. Oh one more PS, I'm still a little concerned something could come through the middle, but if it does, I hope it doesn't do any damage.

[JandC]

Thanks, I may pick up one of those to use just when I have the Rock Tamer in place. Finished the install and I love these things. Or at least I think they look really cool, and I hope they work really good.

[richfaa]

Things will come through the middle and there will be chips in the paint. There will be chips no matter what.

[MDL]

Joe, I found the plug for $30 for 4x4autoworks.com including shipping.

Rich, you're such a kill joy! Unfortunately I agree, there will be chips, but I'm going to do everything I can to prevent it. This seems like a good start. With any luck the trailer will be delivered by the end of the month and I can pick it up and complete this setup as one of my first test drives. I sure hope they protect it on the drive out from the factory.

[richfaa]

By not painting the front overhang on the new improved Big Sky the chip problem is solved. There will be chips like we had on the 06 3400 but they will not be glaringly noticeable. The problem is the additional cost involved for me as we do have the paint on the overhang and must correct the problem on our dime.It Was our fault as we were blinded by what we thought was a improvement over the graphics and did not give the issue the proper thought.

[JandC]

I found one little thing that bugs me about my new Rock Tamers. It is probably a common issue with anything that is bolted to a receiver hitch. They rock up and down about an inch or so because of a little play built into the receiver sleeve. I am thinking about securing them perfectly straight and then drilling two 1/4" holes through the receiver sleeve and driving self tapping screws through the holes to keep them from moving at all. Anyone else experience this, and if so have you done anything to correct it?

[richfaa]

I used a muffler clamp.