Mud flaps are required in some places, and popular in others where not required. In GA they are not required nor common. My 07 Tacoma is the only vehicle I've ever owned that had them and they broke off after 3 years. I pulled what was left off, trashed then and haven't missed them. None of my other trucks or SUV's have ever had them nor do 90+% of the other trucks on the road have them. I average about 1000 miles per year since the 1970's on dirt or gravel roads and have never had any body damage from rocks/mud coming from either my truck or other traffic on the road. In my experience as long as your tire/wheel combo keeps the tires inside the fenders mud flaps aren't necessary. If the tires extend outside the fenders then fender extensions or flares are the only thing that will help.
