Woodbert

I've done a search on hood protectors but didn't find what I'm looking for.

Any one with a 4th Gen 4Runner have the Toyota hood protector?

If so, I'd like to know how it is connected to the grile/hood. I don't want to have to drill, glue or use grommets if possible. I think I can get one for my Surf from Jay Marks Toyota for about $65. I just want to make sure installing it isn't going to be counter productive.

An alternative to the Toyota protector may work as well, as long as it doesn't require drills, glue, grommets etc

A picture would be really great.

Thanks in advance.

momo.75

I have a hood protector for mine, but took it off. The installation is really easy. First you take the eight nuts holding the grill off and there are four brackets that go on the grill studs. If you lift the hood and look at the corners, you should see a hole just about at the corner. The install kit gives you these little rubber inserts with threaded studs in them. When you insert the rubber part and the add the bracket and screw, the rubber part expands inside the hole. There was no drilling and the install took about 20 minutes.

The reason I took it off was because of the shape. It is almost like a boomerang. On the other generations, the hood protectors have a nice clean line and are relatively close to the hood. This one stuck out from the hood at least 4 inches. From the front it didn't look so bad, but from the side, it looked like a bad nose job. Don't get me wrong, it worked really good, but asthetically, it just didn't work for me. Since I workd out of my house and we take my wife's company car out of town, I don't really need it.

impulsebrklyn

i dont have a toyota but i have the LUND one its just as nice. you can find pictures in the link in my sig. Chris

Woodbert

That looks good Chris. Where did you get it from?

sistercrystin

momo.75: was it a Toyota hood protector that you originally had on? (I picked one up the other day from my dealer, as the woman behind the counter gave me her employee discount on it.) Haven't yet had a chance to put it on, but was a little curious as to what it would look like, given the rather unique curves and dips o' the '03 hoods. Bad nose job from the side, eh? Gads...guess I'll just have to put mine on and see how badly it tweaks me.

impuse: if it turns out I ain't happy with the Toyota protector, I guess lund's got a website where I can find it?

By the way, how do I include info on my 'Runner in my signature?

Thanks in advance,
Sis Crys

momo.75

It isn't completely bad. I just wasn't a big fan of it. You might get it on there and think it looks fine, which a lot of people have. You should put it on.

Woodbert

Click the User CP button on the top of the page and you'll see you can set your preferences, option etc from there.

impulsebrklyn

i got it from a local auto shop I just called around to find it. I would just do a search on the web for a store to find it shouldnt be hard. I paid 80 including tax for it. Chris

Woodbert

I think I'm going to get ths one: EGR Superguard 3D Carbon Fiber Deflector

What do you guys/gal think?

impulsebrklyn

i wanted to get one of the carbon fiber ones but they didnt have them when i purchased mine. It was a last minute purchase i was going on my first road trip and wanted some pertection. I say go for it if they make them for the 03 4runner. Chris

4Runner2003

I installed the Toyota hood protector on y 03 4Runner. You have to remove the grill and use the existing holes that the grill attaches too. It took like 15 - 20 minutes to install.

It is also well worth it. I took my 4Runner to Orlando from Atlanta, and most of the bugs flew off the hood, not the windshield though. I paid $79 from www. toyotaparts4u.com.

If I can find where I put the install instructions, I will scan them in and post them.

Scott

Woodbert

Do you have any pictures of the bug guard from the front and side? If so, can you post them?

Thanks.

4Runner2003

Here is picture 1

Woodbert

That looks pretty good from the side.

4Runner2003

http://community.webshots.com/user/4runner2003

Hmmm, it was easier to upload them on the webshot's web site. When I started to resize the pictures, well they started looking pretty nasty

Woodbert

Thank you.

I think that looks really good. I'm going to see if they have the EGR carbon fiber one for the 03. If they don't, I'll get the Toyota.

Thanks again 4Runner2003!