Which aftermarket flares cover the punch holes?

[Clatterman]

Among the various flare kits around, which sets will cover these punch holes, please? This truck is an FX4 L2, with the unpainted flares, which I haven't been about to find.

 

[Josh B]

Who makes the flares? Are those akin to the hood or window rain guards

 

[Danno1985]

I'm sure the Bushwacker Extend-a-Fender flares would cover them, but I haven't tried personally, and they're expensive. You could take some measurements and email them to verify fitment. Apparently those won't require drilling - if it were my truck, I wouldn't want to drill any more holes, personally. Holes (and fender flares in general) = places for crap to get under the paint and start rust IMO, but I guess in SoCal that's probably not a big concern. Apparently the flare punch holes changed to a wider circumference after '06, so if you can find a set of used ones from an < '05, they should work. Check car-part.com. You'll probably pay an arm and a leg for the FX4 ones, though.

Have you thought about having the holes welded and painted to match?

 

[James Morse]

I like flares, like you said just depends where you are, I don't have any rust but I can see it could definitely happen in some climates.
It looks like some bolt on so it'd just be a matter to check are the holes lined up per oem.
To me it'd be easier and probably cheaper to put them back on rather than try to fill holes, smooth, repaint, especially when the paint looks prety good. But I can see it as an option just depending the look a person wants.
Mine are different they attach to the inner rim of the fender with plastic panel retainers. I realize that doesn't help o.p. at all, just, the post make me go look how they were attached. Couldn't determine which models came with them, but it looks like probably XLT 4x4 and STX had them ('97). Again not helpful to o.p. just made me wonder. Maybe the 31" tires (ok, 265/75) triggered them, and those were only available on STX and XLT 4x4.
I think I like the clean look (no bolts showing) and if you look at the '05 brochure I don't see bolts so they must have had a way to attach them without the bolts showing.
Maybe you could get earlier gen flares and attach them to the inner rim, don't know if they'd fit, probably a crazy idea.
2005_ford_ranger_brochure.pdf (therangerstation.com)

 

[Broosedamoose]

I just put the Bushwhacker flares on my truck and they fit perfect. There is no drilling but you do have to screw them on. The screws go through the inside lip of the wheel well. They were expensive but they fit excellent. I tried a cheap set first but they didn't match the contor by the front of the door so they went back.