Inner protective frame for wheel wells

摘要

A protective frame for placement within enlarged wheel wells of motor vehicles having dual wheel rear fenders includes outer and inner frame rails that are attached together using multiple cross-frame supports. Attachment panels extend from the joined frame rails for attachment to the vehicle frame. An additional attachment panel is optionally provided for attachment of the protective frame to a rear hitch frame, where the latter is also attached to the motor vehicle. A rock kick-out plate can be attached to the protective frame and positioned between the two wheels for off-road use in removing wedged rocks, avoiding damage from thrown rocks upon the resumption of on-road use of the vehicle.

主权项

1. An inner protective frame for a dual wheel fender defining an enlarged wheel well in a rear quarter panel of a vehicle, said inner protective frame comprising:
an outer frame rail; an inner frame rail attached to said outer frame rail; a plurality of cross-frame supports extending between and attached to both said outer frame rail and said inner frame rail; a pair of frame attachment panels attached to and inwardly extending from said inner frame rail, a first one of said frame attachment panels extending from a location adjacent a first longitudinal end of said inner frame rail and a second one of said frame attachment panels extending from a location adjacent a second longitudinal end of said inner frame rail, each of said pair of frame attachment panels suited to be attached to a frame of said vehicle adjacent said enlarged wheel well; and a trailer hitch attachment panel attached to and extending from a location on said inner protective frame adjacent said second longitudinal end of said inner frame rail, said trailer hitch attachment panel suited to be attached to a hitch frame that is attached to said vehicle at a location that is rearwardly adjacent said enlarged wheel well.