I have to drive a few miles on gravel road in my 2006. Had my dealer put Chevy mud guards on to protect painted surfacesat rear of front fenders. Beware! I slowly rolled over a driveway lip and the mud guard hung and levered up into the lower panel of the car doing quite a bit of damage. The mud guard didn't break but the car did!

 

OUCH! Dang that sucks. [&o]
I'veread of a plasstic film that you can use to protect the paint. I think I saw it in the Ecklers cat.

 

Oh geez, that's terrible! I am sorry to hear of this.