Factory-fitted fenders might do a half decent job of keeping your tractor clean, but they offer implements little protection against being pebble-dashed with mud, road grime and stones.

This is where link arm- or chassis-mounted mudguard extensions come in. With full-coverage flaps that extend to the ground, they keep crud contained and allow work to continue in less-than-ideal conditions.

Biblically wet weather of the past season has resulted in booming sales of these products and created sufficient demand for some new manufacturers to get in on the action.

See also: 16 must-have tractor accessories and upgrades

Link arm-mounted versions are by far the most common, offering a simple method of shielding trailed implements, such as sprayers, trailers and tankers.

However, there are some bolt-on alternatives that extend the same privileges to mounted machinery by leaving the link arms free.

S Duffus Fabrication

Yorkshire engineer Sam Duffus has been making link arm-mounted mudguards for about five years.

They’re built around an adjustable box-section frame that allows them to work with varying wheel tracks and link arm lengths, with laser cut steel plates to hold the guards themselves.

Rigid stock board top sections are used to bridge the gap between the frame and tractor fenders, while flexible rubber flaps cover the bulk of the area.

These are reinforced with stainless steel bars and are fitted with chains so that they can be lifted out of the way when not required.

They’re priced at £420, with all fixings, custom paint colours and laser-cut logos included.

Custom bolt-on versions are available for those that want to use them with mounted equipment, and Sam also makes bespoke front storage and weight boxes.

© S Duffus Fabrication

Agriweld

Agriweld has seen surging demand for its mudguard extensions, which are available in a selection of link arm-mounted and bolt-on guises.

The former are universal and can be adjusted to fit almost any tractor, while the latter are currently limited to a few models. 

These include 6Rs and 6Ms from John Deere and Fendt 700-1000 series machines from Tier 4 onwards.

There’s an adjustable steel frame on both link arm and bolt-on variants to which the mud flaps are attached.

Height and width can be altered to suit different tractor and tyre combinations, and the bottom section can be raised and lowered on a chain.

Various colours are available to match most brands of tractor, each priced at £749. For an extra £35, buyers can have a custom laser-cut logo.

© Agriweld

GT Agricultural Engineering

Like most products from Lincolnshire-based GT Agricultural Engineering, there’s no shortage of metal in its link arm-mounted mud flaps.

Heavy-duty box-section is used for the main part of the frame, with reinforced steel top sections to cover the gap to the tractor’s mudguards.

They also come with bolt-in spacers for adapting them to suit different track widths.

Flexible rubber is used for the lower section, with adjustable chains for height adjustment.

They cost £750 and can be painted in a colour of the customer’s choosing.

© GT Agricultural Engineering

Chafer

With scores of trailed sprayer customers complaining of mud caking their machines, Chafer came up with a link arm-mounted guard kit.

The simple design consists of a metal frame that hooks to the three-point linkage with large rubber flaps that almost reach to the ground. They cost £771, and can be adjusted to suit different track widths.

© Chafer

Larrington Trailers

Another simple setup comes courtesy of Lincolnshire outfit Larrington Trailers.

Its linkage-mounted mudguards come with an adjustable central frame to suit 800mm to 1m link-arm centres, with steel supports to hold the full height flaps.

These tuck neatly under the tractor’s fenders to give trailers maximum protection against mud, road grime and stone chips.

Purchase price is £595, and the firm sends them out as standard with all of its hire trailers.

© Larrington Trailers