Durability Test - Fiberglass Fenders vs Steel Fenders
Torture-Testing Replacement Fenders
Say you live in the rust belt, you like to play eyesies- closies on the trail, or you just plain like to hit shopping carts in the local mall parking lot. The point is, when choosing replacement fenders you generally have two choices—fiberglass or steel. But how easy is each to install, how does each fit, and what is the survivability of each?In an effort to bring you some answers we contacted Eagle Equipment and ordered up a pair of replacement fenders for a ’77 CJ-7. We photographed the installation of the steel fender on the passenger side and the fiberglass fender on the driver’s side, then took them out and bashed them for all they were worth. Here’s what we found.
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Christian Hazel is Editor In Chief of Jp Magazine, the world's largest and oldest Jeep-only publication. He's a life-long gearhead whose interest in anything mechanical or automotive took hold when he was just a little brat and hasgrown in interest and scope ever since.
His career as an automotive journalist began in the late 1990s when he joined the staff of Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazine, eventually becoming Technical Editor before transitioning over as Technical Editor and then Editor In Chief of Jp magazine. He has written for numerous Source Interlink Media titles including Four Wheeler, Diesel Power, 4x4 Garage, and others as well as contributing to SEMA newsletters and serving as industry and marketing consultant to various OE and aftermarket manufacturers.
His body of written work is as vast and varied as his list of project vehicles, with editorial stories ranging from full throwdown shootouts, new product and vehicle reviews, entertainment pieces, competition articles and videos, and in-depth technical reviews, installations, and how-to stories.
You're more likely to find Christian behind the wheel of a vintage Willys, Kaiser, or AMC-era Jeep than a brand-new, shiny modern model. For Christian, form follows function, patina trumps paint, and Jeep is more a lifestyle than a brand name.
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