I recently read a meme on Instagram that said… “A lift kit, tires and wheels do not qualify as a build.” For the hardcore off-roader, that may be true. But we’ve all got to start somewhere. So what was the first thing I did to my F-150 Super Crew when I got it? Lift kit. Tires. And wheels. Oh, and a new intake, exhaust, and some custom step bars.
With that said, I’ve been considering my next upgrade. At the top of my list are some paint-matched, rivet-style fender flares, so when I heard that we were doing a product review on EGR USA’s family of truck accessory products, I was the first to raise my hand as the donor vehicle. Sadly, they did not have all of the parts in stock for my truck model and paint color, so another vehicle was found as our test subject.
Our subject vehicle, a brand new 2018 Ford F350 4×4.
For those that don’t know, EGR USA has been around for over 40 years. Since 1973, the company has been manufacturing aftermarket automotive accessories such as hood shields, cab spoilers, window visors, and of course, fender flares. They even manufacture metal products such as side steps and bull bars, but we’re going to stick with the extruded and molded plastic parts for this review.
Our subject vehicle was a 2018 Ford F-350 4×4. It just had a new set of custom wheels and tires installed, which gave it a wider stance, so it was the perfect candidate for this project – which, incidentally, was to install the EGR hood protector (PN 303911), window visors (PN 643491) and paint-matched, pocket-style fender flares (PN 793914-UX).
Fender flares, visors, and hood protector are laid out for inspection.
We started our installation with the fender flares. The first thing we noticed while unpacking was that all the parts here are well-packed, and come with protective materials to keep them safe from scratches. Since these were supposed to be painted to match the paint code of the silver truck, we were anxious to hold them up and see how close of a match they really were. We were happy to find that the fender color matched the factory paint perfectly.
Next, we mocked up the flares to ensure we had each of them on the correct wheel well. We were impressed to see how tight the fitment of each fender was to the body. Each flare butted up perfectly with the OEM body molds, and once mounted, created a factory look with zero gaps or visible misalignment.
Made from high-impact acrylic, EGR USA uses only virgin materials for the production of their flares, which are manufactured here in the USA. This vertical integration from raw materials to finished goods, they claim, is the only way to ensure total quality control of the final product.
Installation was easy and completed by just our single technician. While it may have been easier for a second set of hands to hold them in place while being secured, it wasn’t necessary. These flares were designed to install with no cutting or drilling, and the mounting clips and tack screws that were provided did more than enough to hold them in their permanently installed position.
Once in place, the flares appeared as if they were part of the original body molds, yet provided an additional two inches of tire coverage. This protected the side of the truck by containing rocks and road debris that may get flung up by the wide tires extending outside of the stock wheel wells. And of course, the tough, rugged appearance they offer is hard to overlook.
Mounting clips are provided to hold fasten the flares in place. Screws are then used to secure the fenders permanently to the inside fender flange.
Next up was the EGR hood shield. Made from high-impact acrylic, this accessory is helpful to prevent chips and dings to the front of the hood, while also adding an aggressive look to the front of the truck. Like the fender flares, there was no cutting or drilling necessary to install the EGR hood shield. It was fastened to the hood by utilizing plastic grommets that receive the mounting screws and make use of the factory fabrication holes under the hood. But unlike the fender flares, installing this piece was not a one-person job. The sheer length and flexibility of the visor made it difficult to hold in place while aligning the brackets with the holes and getting the screws started. But once the first screw was started, it became easier to manage.
Getting the rest of the visor in place took some finesse. There was an awkward point where we felt as if the shield would break as we forced the holes to align. However, what we discovered is that the forced contour gave it the rigidity needed to maintain its position around the shape of the hood, as well as provide the strength necessary to act as a true deflector.
Two sets of hands were helpful with this installation.
A tight, contoured fit marked the end of the hood protector installation.
One piece of the mounting hardware we particularly appreciated was the clear plastic sticker tabs that were designed to wrap around the front edge of the hood and protect the paint from the mounting clips. Should you ever decide to remove your hood visor, your paint would be less likely to have rubbed off under the clips. Overall, we felt that the product was well engineered.
Finally, it was time to install the window visors. EGR window visors are custom-molded to fit a vehicle’s year, make and model using precise computer design and thermoform technology. Made from high-strength, impact-resistant acrylic, these visors are made to mount directly into the window channel, offering a clean fit without any drilling, cutting or fabricating. The rear visors did utilize a peel-off adhesive to help maintain its position within the window frame, but it was invisible once mounted into the rear window channel.
Once installed, these visors offer reduced wind noise and less turbulence with the windows rolled partially down, as well as protection from wet weather. We’re sure anyone who’s ever been through a drive-thru while it was raining can relate. Plus, as you can see, they look tough and sleek, and add additional style that complements the other EGR accessories.
EGR has been manufacturing custom automotive accessories since 1973 and it’s clear that they have set a high standard in the truck market. And with these high-quality accessories from EGR, it’s clear that the owner of this F-350 will be turning heads for years to come.
The finished product – a fully armored F-350.
