Mudflaps: History, Types and Regulations

The mudflap serves a distinct purpose and have not gone through a lot of changes since their invention in 1983. While originally made from tarps, todays mudflaps are commonly made from a poly-rubber material that offers higher-strength and durability. They have become a staple across many industries and are so useful that many states have begun requiring their usage.

Origination of the Mudflap

During World War II, Oklahoman native and inventor, Oscar Glenn March Sr., was stationed at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma. March was a motor pool driver that noticed their trucks were kicking up lots of dirt, rocks and mud, that was damaging their sensitive radar equipment. To combat this continual problem, March fastened tarps being the wheels of his truck to catch the contaminants being thrown at the equipment.

After seeing how successful his tarps were, each truck at Tinker Air Force Base was outfitted with canvas flaps. These tarps and flaps helped reduce both equipment and personnel damage by catching the debris. March is commonly credited with inventing both the mudflap and mudflap backet used to mount the flaps to the trucks.

We still widely use mudflaps today and have adapted the original design to be produced out of better materials like rubber or other composite materials. Additionally, modern mudflaps will utilize the blank space to add in designs like logos or websites.

Different Material Types of Mudflaps

There are three main types of mudflaps that are found on todays markets. Each type has their strengths and weaknesses that make them applicaple for specific jobs.

Rubber Mudflaps

Rubber flaps are the most common type found on modern vehicles. The material offers durability and flexibility, allowing for it to stand up against all sizes of rocks and types of mud thrown it's way. Flexibility is important when dealing with mudflaps so they are not broken upon impact. Rubber also can withstand more exteme tempuratures, making them a solid choice for most industries.

Plastic Mudflaps

Plastic flaps are a cost-effective option for truck drivers on a budget. While plastic is not as flexible as rubber, the thick polymer chains allow for them to be impact resistant. Effectively blocking debris kicked up from the tires. Plastic mudflaps are also easier to clean than rubber.

Metal Mudflaps

Metal flaps are often made from materials such as aluminum or stainless steel. These flaps are designed and built to withstand the toughest conditions. Because of their durability, the metal flaps are going to be the most expensive of the three options.

Mudflap Regulations and Requirements

Mudflaps are not a federally regulated safety item. Meaning that each state can create their own specific regulations for where mudflaps are to be placed and used. Although not federally regulated, most states will follow the similar standard set by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Which are as follows:

• The mudflap is at least the full width of the tire.

• The bottom of the flap is no more than a third the distance from the center of the tire to where the flap is located.

  • Meaning that if the muflap is seated 24" behind the tire, it cannot be more than 8" off of the ground.

As of April 12th 2012, Texas requires that the mudflap is as wide as the tire it is protecting and no more than 12 inches from the roadway. Click here for the complete Texas Administrative Code.

FTSR offers durable poly-rubber mudflaps and anti-sail mudflap brackets that meet all state regulations.