Glenn

Summer is almost here, and I am always having to clean my windshield after driving on the freeway for any time because of the dead bugs.

So I am wondering if bug shields really work. Do they get the airflow to go over the top of the truck better?

Or are they just decoration?

shazaam

you still got bug splatter on your window ... maybe not as much though

kford

No, not at all. they are hood protectors is all, it just saves your hood from paint chips. It hasn't done a thing for me how you're talking about. I have never heard that they were supposed to do it. But for me, my hood was driven unprotected for 200k+ miles and had TONS of chips, so I bought a hood protector more to cover up the chips than to protect against further chips.

Poor A$$ Stock '93

Yeah, I only bought mine as a rock guard. They don't do much for bugs on the windsheild. But my hood is more or less intact.

Scofco

Don't do a damn thing for bugs.
I wish I had one for my hood chips though. My hood is riddled with chips.

bike4miles

Not sure if I get any less bugs but I swear I get less rocks hitting my windshield and it really is the only way to keep paint on the front of the hood during winter (they spread gravel all over the reoads here in Oregon for traction in the snow). If it wasn't for the rock issue in Oregon, I wouldn't bother having one.

Henryv

Yep like everyone else mines mostly is to protect against rock chips on the hood. Works great in that part. Bugs still splatter on your windshield but you do stop the bugs from hitting your hood though.

RagerXS

I passed on an otherwise very sweet used Tacoma because of all the rock chips and ended up buying new. Besides, Toyota calls it a Hood Protector, not a bug shield, so the guys ahead of me here must be on the right track...

~ Fred

User 051420

Sure, my protector has saved my hood from rock chips..but it re-directs the rocks up my freakin windshield and cracks it!!

Flamedx4

Yes, but not on trucks... I had 172,000 miles without one on a lifted 4Runner and only about 4 rock chips. I have an SVT Focus (okay, wife's car...) and in only 18 months has about 500 chips. On a truck you're high enough it doesn really do anything. But for bugs - nope. Doesn't help at all as far as I can tell. (I have one on my F150.)

Tacoma Dude

I pass by the Carlsbad flower fields whenever I go to see my girlfriend. Every spring/summer on a nice day you'll drive by and suddenly hear *thup**thip**thuppity thup* as you drive through a fleet of bees. Ever since I put on the shield I have noticed some less bees. Not a lot, just a noticeable difference.

kford

Yep, on my way to WORK of course, there is a low-lying stretch of back road that continues for about two miles. The bugs LITERALLY sound like rain, it is non-stop. I LOVE KENTUCKY...

cubuff4runner

The old school ones that are about 4" tall and stick strait up help with the bugs. We have one on our Bronco and it will be full of bugs with few on the windshield. Now the molded ones don't. Just my experience.

4RUNR

Yes it does work. I honeslty never have bugs on the windshield. Ever. And it was pretty bad without it.

Fink

Yeah the front of my hood has some pretty good chips on it..I'm hoping to use some of the money I get for my B-Day to get a full detail/buff on the rig and then get a professional waxing.

But yeah I have heard they don't do crap for bugs...

Fink

bike4miles

Only the old school ones that you might find on a mid 80's ford pickup do anythign for bugs. You know, the ones that are a bif falat piece of plastic tha bolt verdically to the hood? Not too good for style poits.

rwmorrisonjr

Stone chips yes, bugs no, and it also affects the way the wipers work and the movement of rain on the windshield. Stone chips yes, but so will a clear bra for little more money. Plus then you won't have the plastic rubbing the finish off the hood and grille.

SD4Runner

I drive that road everyday

Tacoma Dude

So then you must have bees jammed into your radiator

It's a nice stretch of freeway - I sometimes wish I could just have someone else drive so I can enjoy the scenery.

weezy

Just drove through the country-side a few days ago around sunset. When I got home I had a bug bumper, BUT half of my windshield was semi-clear (bottom). The other half was .... well buggy. Either way I had to chisel it off the window so I dont think they are too effective.