Mudflap Problem Solved ?

[William Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close William]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

I actually ordered this one back in November so you're right on the money at 12 weeks. I got a reply back from the dealer today and colour me surprised they hadn't heard of the upgraded flaps but agreed to fit them as soon as they can get them in. I've actually got the salesman onto PradoPoint and he agrees theres a lot more knowledge here than what they get through from Toyota.

I wouldn't expect the average dealer to be updated with what Toyota HQ are up to with minor fixes. I doubt they will chase up the mud flaps for you, so it's probably best to submit a DPR at your first service - at least that way you're on a list to be contacted. Sadly, that's the reality of dealing with such issues.

Cheers,
William

[Ages Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ages]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

well after reporting the mudflap issue at my first service a week ago, the dealer called me back on monday and told me he had some new trial ones that he could fit for me. got this done yesterday. now i just have to take them out on the gravel or mud again to see how they go. He also mentioned that toyota would be willing to repair the panel damage cause on the rear bumber, but as i'm considering a kaymar type rear bar i'm not sure if i'll worry too much about it.
any ways heres some pics. they look like hard plastic but they are fairly rubbery as the last pic shows. meh! the car is dirty too...

[hookedon4wding Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close hookedon4wding]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

Good news, I'm officially on the test program for the new flaps. Spoke to my dealer this morning who hadn't heard anything about the new flaps but he rang Toyota after seeing the photos and got me included in the test. Flaps are on order for me now.

He also offered to repaint any damage on my rear bumper although I don't think I have any as I was quick to put some cheap rubber extensions on before doing too much gravel driving. Nice gesture though.

Re the black insets behind the new flap, these are just for the test program and will be colour coded once the final design is approved.

Very happy.

Cheers, Sam.

[dannyson Member Find all posts View Profile Close dannyson]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

Mmmmmm .... still don't look significantly big enough to make a lot of odds IMO....

[miknik Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close miknik]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

Could someone please let us all know what number to phone because my dealer (and several others in district) know nothing and are no help.
Like everyone else my rear bumper is getting stone damage after a short journey on dirt and with a planned 3 month top end trip planned to commence in 6 weeks I would like to also get on the programme so I don't return with a skeleton as a rewar bumper.
thanks Mike :x

[Richoson Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Richoson]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

Hi Mike

Bite the bullet call Gravel Rush and sort the problem out from the start and save a huge repaint cost.

Regards, Richo.

[roadblock Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close roadblock]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

Hi Mike

Bite the bullet call Gravel Rush and sort the problem out from the start and save a huge repaint cost.

Regards, Richo.

How about suggesting gravelrush to your dealer? If they truly want to help but can't manage to get results through Toyota, they might find the gravelrush product to be a simple solution...

William was dead right too about the MY11 mudflaps... same old toy mudflaps as ever. I took this photo when I found my new machine in Toyota's pre-delivery yard.




Roadblock

[bushwacked Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close bushwacked]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

A bit of an update on the Toyota trial mudflaps.

I have just driven from Melbourne to Kununurra. Stopped at Docker River, which is about 300km west of Yulara. So I have done about 700km on dirt. Much of the Docker River road was more like a river than a road so unfortunately not a great test of protection offered by the new flaps on dirt roads.

I drove local roads here in Kununurra today, and again there was mostly mud along with many river crossings - water everywhere.

The new flaps have certainly provided good protection from the mud. Great accumulations under the wheel arches and on the flaps, but the rear underside was fairly clear. Got a lot of mud and dirt accumulating on top of the sidesteps.

So far not bad, but they appear to offer less protection than some of the aftermarket ones.

One thing I found. I took the car to the carwash in Alice so I could remember the colour after Docker River and after found a bad vibration from wheel balance. Found there was a lot of mud inside the rear wheels, and the high pressure hose took it from the more visible areas, but left it over pRt of the wheel. Took heavy scraping to remove the remainder after it dried on. Lesson learned.

Will post pics of the flaps showing their performance when back to Melb next week.

Bushwacked

[hookedon4wding Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close hookedon4wding]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

Hi Mike

Bite the bullet call Gravel Rush and sort the problem out from the start and save a huge repaint cost.

Regards, Richo.

I think you'd be mad to go and spend $400 on Gravel Rush flaps when Toyota have a replacement flap in testing that will be provided free of charge. On top of that, Toyota are offering to re-spray damaged bumper bars.

If you want increased protection until the new flaps are refined, just put some Clark Rubber extensions on for under $50. I've had some on the rear of my car for over 6 months and have zero damage to my rear bumper.

[Richoson Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Richoson]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

Hi Hookedon4wdriving

'150 GXL V6 Auto. BFG AT 275/65/R17, Firestone Coil-Rite Airbags, Redarc Isolator, ABR Battery Tray, GME TX 3440 UHF, Rhino Sportz Crossrails and Platform Rack, ARB Awning, Toyota Cargo Barrier, Redarc Brake Controller, Toyota Towbar, Drifta Drawer System, Safari Snorkel, Midnight Express Tint.'

I see by your vehicle accessories here that your vehicle wasn't perfect out of the box, should Toyota be asked to pay for these as well? Simple things like window tint $400.00approx, cargo barrier $600.00 approx, when you have a third set of seats?

Regards, Richo,

[William Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close William]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

Hi Hookedon4wdriving

'150 GXL V6 Auto. BFG AT 275/65/R17, Firestone Coil-Rite Airbags, Redarc Isolator, ABR Battery Tray, GME TX 3440 UHF, Rhino Sportz Crossrails and Platform Rack, ARB Awning, Toyota Cargo Barrier, Redarc Brake Controller, Toyota Towbar, Drifta Drawer System, Safari Snorkel, Midnight Express Tint.'

I see by your vehicle accessories here that your vehicle wasn't perfect out of the box, should Toyota be asked to pay for these as well? Simple things like window tint $400.00approx, cargo barrier $600.00 approx, when you have a third set of seats?

Regards, Richo,

Richo,
I think what Hookedon4wding means is that the factory mudflaps don't work, that is, they're defective and unfit for purpose.

Yes, I'd expect the vehicle itself (especially a Toyota) to be perfect out-of-the-box. Toyota have realised this, which is why they have addressed the problem.

What you're suggesting is rather unfair, accessories they are exactally that - accessories. Don't mistake or confuse accessories with what should be expected from factory as they have nothing to do with the car in factory condition. Firstly, the tint and cargo barrier - were they purchased from factory? No, the GXL doesn't come with a tint/privacy glass or cargo barrier so why should he expect either of them? The only things listed in Hookedon4wding's build that replaces factory originals are tyres. Are the tyres what one would expect? Yes, they work okay on road (or some may argue), but offroad? No. However, the mudflaps fail both off-road and on-road. As a test, I washed my car and drove it around town for a week. Come time to wash it again 7 days later; the amount of pebble damage, tar and other crap was very noticable in the rear bumper region as compared to the rest of the vehicle.

Yes, Toyota have accepted responsibility and will replace the mudflaps free of charge as well as repair damage to the rear bumper due to the damage caused by the poor mudflaps. Will Gravel Rush flaps do a better job? possibly, but I'll definitely give Toyota a go before I throw $400 for some mudflaps. It costs us nothing to wait for Toyota, but it will cost us $400 if we rush after some aftermarket mudflaps. I just hope there isn't bitterness from people who have bought Gravel Rush products only to find out that Toyota's new and improved mudflaps perform just as well.

Cheers

[hookedon4wding Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close hookedon4wding]

Mudflap Problem Solved ?

All I'm, saying is that there's no point spending money on something now that Toyota is going to provide for free.

If Toyota came out and said they were going to provide a steel bulbar for free, would you go and buy an aftermarket one?

If they weren't going to update the flaps under warranty then sure, the Gravel Rush ones would be a good idea and up until now we didn't know Toyota were going to replace them so poeople who have already fixed the issue themselves have done the sensible thing. I just wouldn't recommend anybody else spend money they don't have to when there's a fix coming.

Also, as William said. Mudflaps are an aspect of the car that you expect to work properly without having to spend money on upgrading. From
All reports, the vehicles are getting damaged from even on road driving so they're not just an issue for those that like to use their vehicle offroad, they're a defect.

I wasn't trying to have a go at Gravel Rush or those that have bought them.

[lissted Member Find all posts View Profile Close lissted]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

Hi
Got the follow up call in regards to Toyota replacing the mudflaps and rear bar. I was told that it has all arrived and the new rear bar had been colour coded. It is booked in for the 8th April to get it all fitted. A bit of a wait but this is how long you have to wait to get anything done through this dealership, very busy, they sell a lot of cars. I will let you know once it is done.
Peter

[yowie Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close yowie]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

As I stated in an earlier reply, the majority of new 4wd's (most companies) are being fitted with tiny mud flaps. It is the 'in' thing in new vehicle design, and Toyota won't change it because 90% of 4wd's do not go off road to any extent. I've spent about 10 grand on accessories, and the mud flaps need replacing, which I have done.

Yowie.

[BNEGXL Member Find all posts View Profile Close BNEGXL]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

Hi Yowie,

"and Toyota won't change it"

That's a big call given that Toyota have and are fitting an improved version, admittedly it's a prototype but it exists and Toyota appear to have manufactured it.

Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't get your comment.