Everytime I drive at night in the mountains, I can almost see the bugs coming out of the bushes and straight for my windshield. I don't like it, and I was wondering if purchasing one of those stick on bug deflectors for the front of the hood help. And if all else fails, the ricer mentality can kick in, and I'll have a faster truck because of the extra down force on the front.

 

It definately helps that's for sure. It's not going to stop all bugs but it will make a difference in the number of bugs that hit your windshield, plus it protects the paint on your hood and on our trucks they look pretty good too (I have one on my truck).

 

not sure if mine helps but it sure makes it look better
clicky

 

I think they help somewhat w/ bugs. Don't eliminate them but it cuts down on the accumulation. They don't do much to keep flying gravel off the glass, but they do protect the front of the hood for sure. I also find the downforce in front does make a difference. Without the deflector, I find I get buffeted by passing big rigs and in heavy crosswinds. With the deflector, the truck is rock solid in the same conditions:

 

yes they help reduce the amount that hit. its funny some days when driving and you can see those big suckers coming toward you and they hit the bug deflector and launch them 90degrees up into the air, fun stuff. ive even launched a bird off of it.

 

Damn 4crawler, that's massive. I was thinking more so along the lines of Elton's "low profile"

 

heres the one i got linky is for your truck http://www.performancecenter.com/pro...or+Accessories

 

Check you local Pepboys or Checker for an AVS one;I got mine for under $40.

 

What I worry more about are the little pepples that slam into your hood at 70 mph and chip the paint. But I just don't like the looks of those plastic things. If I'm going on a trip, I'd rather put on a leather mask. But I guess I have to settle for a plastic job for the time being, since Toyota doesn't make a mask for the new tacos yet.

I noticed the new Tacos seem to be designed so that the painted hood is not curved in front which gives a much smaller target for pepples to hit. Instead, a section of the plastic chrome grill is in place of where the curve would be.

 

Bras for autos are quickly becoming a thing of the past since they have been proven to do more damage than help moslty in part due to owners not properly removign them and cleaning underneath. Realistically a bra must be removed anytime it get's wet which is a pain and anything that's gets stuck under the bra immediatly will start scuffing the paint.

 

Got my vote! They keep the rocks from pitting up the hood!

 

Well, I drive a 15 y/o truck, so she's already got plenty of nicks and chips on the front. All I'm really worried about is the bugs smearing my windshield.

 

Yep. When I had mine for my '95 pickup, I just used it on trips. It came off after the trip or if it got wet. I wish I could get one for my Taco. I did see a cheap vinyl one somewhere for around $20. I'd rather get a good one.

Come to think of it, I still have my old one around here somewhere. I'll sell it for $35 if anybody wants it. I paid something like $80 for it in '95, IIRC.

 

I have been running a bug/wind deflector on my 89 P/U for about the last 9 years. It does change how the wind flows across the hood. In rain I can watch the water go forward on the hood, and it does help keep as much rain from hitting the windshield. The main reason I put it on was to protect the front edge of my hood from the sand on the roads in the winter. Plastic is easier to replace than having the hood painted.

 

They work great, launch bugs at entertaining angles and keep chips off the hood and fenders (if you use stock deflector). Had one on my '96 for the last 180,000 miles. Still doing it's job!

 

I have the factory one on my '98, and it actually seems to work pretty well.

 

i like the wa they look.

i had one on my p/u from a 97 taco, those look awesome.
till someone walked by and broke the end off...then snapped it in half

 

I have one on my 91 and I don't notice it being any better than the amount of bugs that hit the window on my old car. I don't think it helps very much, especially when I am on long trips.

 

i like mine. Installation time is less than five minutes. Cheap too, I paid like twenty five dollars. Gread mod i suppose.

 

You guys expect too much out of a bug guard since if the bugs or rocks come in higher than the guard then there's no way it can stop crap but it does stop some of the stuff and keeps your hood edge in perfect shape.