FridgeFreezer Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 I need to fit extended wheel arches on the 109 and am caught in a dilemma - do I fit Defender arches, Series aftermarket extensions, or the Tomcat/QT rubber strip? Defender arches are the cheapest option, Series ones I'm not entirely sure of and the Tomcat ones seem to be the most rufty-tufty. Basically I don't want to end up with something that looks horrible. Has anyone got any piccies of vehicles fitted with the various options? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon White Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 John, I'm running 4x defender rear arches on mine. Easy enough to fit on the front, but on the back the horizontal bit of the seat box is in the way and needs to be cut out and raised up a bit to suit. Pic of mine :- Theres Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted March 23, 2007 Author Share Posted March 23, 2007 Cheers Jon - which bit of the seat box are you on about, I'm struggling to visualise what you mean, or is it because I have a proper wheelbase that I don't have the offending bit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPR Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 These chaps are UK based and were showing off their new cut-away wheel arch extensions on Pirate: The following was a response to some of the questions about the flares: "They are 4 inches wide from the bodywork.You can trim 1 inch off the bodywork by attaching these.The angle the flare comes out from the bodywork is more acute therefore giving a greater cavity. These flares are designed to be cut out flares.By trimming away the lip on the bodywork where normal flares attach leaves no real mounting solution other than side mounted fixings. They cover the wheel At the top which makes them uk legal. We say that 36x12.5 is the largest size because we have tested this with long travel suspension setups that allow the axle to move backward and forward." I've never heard of them before but this appears to be their website. 222 quid for a set of wheel arches seems pretty steep! Roccia Arches Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon White Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Cheers Jon - which bit of the seat box are you on about, I'm struggling to visualise what you mean, or is it because I have a proper wheelbase that I don't have the offending bit? Sorry - my use of english - the tops of the rear wheel boxes is what i mean. Ie if you were sitting in the rear tub you'd normally be sitting on what is the rear wheel arch box. The top of this is about 2" higher up on a 90 than on a series so the top of the plastic arch ends up above where the wheel box is if you try and fit em to a series rear tub. Those of us who have proper axles usually cut them out for rear wheel clearance but you might not have done. like this - (shamelessly nicked from Tonk's website!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPR Posted March 24, 2007 Share Posted March 24, 2007 These were cheap and cheerful generic off the internet jobbies. They come as a long roll and you cut to fit. Easy to fit and about 60 quid in total as I recall. Their flexible and about 4" as I recall. I think they are "Pacer" as I recall. If you want me to I'll try to dig up the name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted March 24, 2007 Author Share Posted March 24, 2007 If you could dig up the name that'd be cool - I quite like those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPR Posted March 24, 2007 Share Posted March 24, 2007 Pacer "flexy flares": Felxy Flares I was wrong about the price. The extra wides that I have, 4.5", were USD 48! The Heavy Duty version, that run up to 3" wide, are USD 75 and have a steel reinforcing rod along the outer to maintain better rigidity. Can buy them here: Autobarn JC Whitney LV Custom Trucks You may be able to find them that side of the pond but not for 20 - 40 quid. Even with shipping they should be well under 100 Stirling. The fact that they are flexible has been quite helpful on the trail. Even thhough they are flexible, they have held their shape as well. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuggaman Posted March 24, 2007 Share Posted March 24, 2007 If you could dig up the name that'd be cool - I quite like those. Flexi flares http://www.pacerperformance.com/pages/products.asp?id=2 http://www.roccia.co.uk/acatalog/Universal__flares.html we only sell it in 3 inch You have the option of inserting steel into the rubber but to be honest its not needed mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted March 24, 2007 Author Share Posted March 24, 2007 Cheers RPR/Chugga. Hmm we seem to pay through the nose over here then will have to investigate getting some sent over Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPR Posted March 24, 2007 Share Posted March 24, 2007 I seem to recall that I got 20 feet. At Roccia's prices that's GBP 80.80 which is expensive compared to US prices, but you have to factor in shipping costs. My guess is that it will be fairly close delivered from the US vs. delivered from Roccia. Add in the fact that purchasing from over here can be tricky as many US based retailers cannot conceive of international commerce..... On the other hand, if you can find someone willing to bring them back from the States for you as checked baggage (20 feet is fairly heavy), it's a considerable savings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Hiatt Posted March 24, 2007 Share Posted March 24, 2007 If Defender ones will cover the wheels, I would go with that. Paddock sell them fairly cheap and they look right on a Landy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon White Posted March 25, 2007 Share Posted March 25, 2007 they're even cheaper at sodbury!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corrode Finger Posted March 25, 2007 Share Posted March 25, 2007 Well you have seen the arches on my hybrid, remember it has a 109 rear tub. There was abit of 'adjustment' needed to make them fit but that is covered by the arch, so it looks tidy. And to be a right pain, the rear tub is an ex military one, so has the boxes in it too, which meant that the plastic arch had to have a small amount trimmed out of it, about 3inches, where there was no lip to allow for the arch to mounting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corrode Finger Posted March 25, 2007 Share Posted March 25, 2007 could always get some mk 1 escort bubble arches? Hat, coat, gone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrdoiron Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 These were cheap and cheerful generic off the internet jobbies. They come as a long roll and you cut to fit. Easy to fit and about 60 quid in total as I recall. Their flexible and about 4" as I recall. I think they are "Pacer" as I recall. If you want me to I'll try to dig up the name. RPR - can I ask what you have for wheels in this pic, and any spacers ? Assuming you have std axles also, perhaps you could clarify... thx mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Personally, I think the Series arches look horrible. They do have the advantage of being the easiest to fit, though, with no trimming of the panels, and should be removable with the screw holes being on the underside of the arches rather than in the flat panels. I think Defender arches look the best, but you would have to cut the panels to fit them. I have them on my 109, pictured below. The aftermarket arches can look cheap or amateur in some cases, while other look of higher quality, but they all seem to scream for attention, which makes them a bit "bling-like" to me. I can see the need for them is some cases, but I don't like them. If Defender arches are wide enough for your tyres and axles, Id recommend that route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MECCANO Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 "bling-like" Bet you don't like mine then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 Bet you don't like mine then I'm not a fan of plastic wheel arches on Lightweights, but they are at least in keeping with their non-nonsense angular form. Anyway, you have little choice with the narrow body and wide RR axles. What I really dislike is floppy, untidy conveyor belt strips nailed to the wings, big wheel arches where not required (like most RRCs and Discoverys) or huge wheels and tyres (I dislike those anyway) left exposed by standard spats. It's simply a matter of choosing what is appropriate to the situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted November 22, 2009 Author Share Posted November 22, 2009 Forgot I started this thread, in the end I bought some extended Defender style ones from eBay and IMHO they're about the best solution - the flexi stuff never seems to look quite right, or it sags and loses its shape. Anyway, compare and contrast... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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