ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: wildgoody on September 24, 2003, 09:49:07 AM
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I am interested who would like to put
widened flaired fenders on their Sidekick?
I have a target range price of $300-350 per pair
They would bolt on and be 3" wider and 2"
Higher at the top of the fender well, fit the
factory clearance lamps, and attach at the
stock bolt locations. All interested reply
to this post so I can get a count of how
popular an item this might be.
As of right now I know of nobody who makes
these, I have a company that will build them
and is right here in California. They use the
stock fender as a base to start from so the fit
is as good as factory steel fenders, but with flair.
;) Quality constructed hand laid glass fibre with
a gel coat ready for painting to match your body.
If we can get some pre production orders that will
offset the cost of producing the molds the fenders
are putup in, I would make special pricing available
to those who are willing to bring this part to the
SideKick Market. 8 to 10 pre orders will make this
a reality, I'm offering a pre-order price of $275 Pr.
Please Reply to this post with posative or negative
reply as to the like or dislike of replacement fenders.
For a view of an example of the fenders click here.
http://wildcatent.freeyellow.com/zookmods/flaired.jpg
Mind you this is not the actual fender, but an example of the
style the fenders are, the design for the Sidekick will flow like
the stock fenders but on steroids!
Thanks
Darrin
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link no work :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
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How far out? 1 inch 2? Im asumung that the wheel opening would be larger 33s :-/ 35s ;D 37s :P What would you plan to do with the rear? Fronts only may look silly if it went too far and nothing was done to the rear.
I may be interested. Need more info.
Mike
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Just to clarify, is it a replacement fender or a fender flair, if the fender will there be something for the rear as well???
Thanks
Mac
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This would be a whole replacement fender, 3" wider and
2" higher. I did consider the fact that the rear would look
different but there is not much that can be replaced on the
rear as the body inner and outer are welded together there.
I checked the link with 2 different browsers and it worked,
could be a server side glich, let me know if it still no work.
The design is open to change, Mike your input please, do
you want to see 37" available openings??? I considered 35s
as the biggest tire, but I could be wrong, Mike has 35s as
a street set, so ???
I do know to run 35s you need to do the front A-arm relocate
or you stuff the tire into the fender\wheel opening.
Personally I don't like the look of the older style dually rear
with a fiberglass fender extension bolted to it, so a set of the
rubber J##P type flairs might be needed to even out the look.
Remember this is not set in stone (or fiberglass) so lets design
something that is perfect for our application.
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I think a wheel opening for 33s is respectible but 35s leaves room for growth. :-/
Mike
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i say 33's would be a great improvement and just think no cutting and banging on the fender to clear, ithink it would look awsome.
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Great Idea. Actually, I'm having a member of our club make some as soon as he gets finished with his Heep rock crawler hood. We've also got a good idea on the front but are still trying to come up with something to balance out the rear ??? :-/
Zig
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If your custom fenders dont work, Jamesduff.com carries a 4" polymer urethane fender flare. Its a two piece flare. One part bolts to the fender to provide a mounting lip and the flare screws to that. You can also trim the flare to suit your taste.
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fiberglass + pre-running = good fenders
fiberglass + rockcrawling = shattered fenders and pist off customers.
I had the original RRO fiberglass flares for the Sammy. BAD idea for crawling.
If the market you are shooting for is the rock crowd, I don't see them as a long lasting product. But that's my opinion.
Better bet, HDPE or similar plastic that is a cut-out flare. Xenon use to make a somewhat cool flare kit, but covered little.
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I had not considered the impact portion
of the fender, I hope the users would
understand that putting a fender up against
a rock could cause some damage, tho glass
pops back into shape and is easier to fix than
steel, that or I have a good customer base
from all the crawling and replacement fenders.
Could see if I could have them made from a
more flexable type of resin, as it is the resin
that holds the shape of the finished fender.
Also how well would a steel fender hold up on
the rocks, I know they dent and crush
:D
I put a dent in the "cheek" of my passengers side
when I bumped up against some sand in a hole I
fell into.
besides getting POed at glass fenders for breaking
is like getting mad at tires when you run over sharp
rocks and cut the sidewall, I mean I can't help the
abuse portion of the use, we all break stuff when
we wheel hard, that's part of the fun
;)
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One more thing to consider. New fender from Certifit= $28. Having the body shop next door paint it... nothing ;D But for most I suppose a carry in part probabaly would cost around $40. You could dent a lot of fenders. :-/ I learned a neat trick on how to properly trim a fender from Hawk in Moab. He retained the inner plastic and everything. It was sweet! Were doing Chunks new ride this week. Ill take pics. ;)
Mike
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$28 for a fender, Dang, best price I can get here is
about $75, and it needs preped and paint.
You notice the fenders on my Kick are dented and
bent, well why put on new fenders to re-bend, I just
keep em on to hold the clearance lamp in place ;)
So are you saying this project may not be worth the
pricetag? I mean if nobody is going to want flaired
fenders I won't bother with this. I want to widen the
front A-arms and need more coverage, so I'll do a
one off set for my use, I though they would look
really butch tho and others might like the way
they look.
I'm still fishing here to see if this is somthing
worth while, or am I wasteing my time???
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The more I think about it Id probabaly pass. I cant speak for everyone though.
Mike
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Update, I have found a manufacturer in San Diego who will
build the "plugs" which is used to make the molds that the
fenders are molded from. If we put together 10 sets of
ordered fenders he will do the work for no charge, the fenders
would be $300/Pr which is the going rate for Ford Pre-Runner
fenders, so now the call goes out, who wants a set for their
SideKick/Tracker??
This is a roll call for willing buyers and this will determine if
this fender project will ever happen, so send in your vote, post
it here in this forum.
Thanks,
Darrin
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I like it, I love my Tracker, I dont do much off orad but love the sport. I really like the prerunner look, road rally look. But it seems that u woulw need a rear flair to balance it out. just my thought!!!! ;D ;D ;D
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who do i write the check out to?  lol  lata stu
P.S.  make some rear ones
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Check......Did I hear Check ???
That makes 2 pair do I hear 3 ??
I basicly put this on hold due to lack of
interest, perhaps if there were a pair on
my Kick you all would get a better idea
of how it would look, I understand not
wanting to buy somthing sight unseen,
and being dis-appointed when it arrives.
Problem is I don't have an extra 2 Grand
to throw into a pair of fender molds, tho
they would become my property and I
could commission production and profit
from them. I need to call Cal-Mini and
see if they want some, problem is last time
I called them, back in '90 I asked about
lifted springs for the SideKick, they said they
didn't have any, at that time they were realy into
lowering trucks.
My idea perhaps was planted, I can't say stolen as
I have no copyright or anything, so it was fair game
as an idea, but the though of did I start this kick lift
thing has always made me wonder if my idea was an
inspiration to them to build their lift kits ???
Ya just never know !!!
Darrin
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Hey just wondering if you are still doing the fender flairs sorry I haven't been around for a wile. To much going on at work. But I would defenetly be interested in some front fender flairs