Do those things really work? I'm guessing they create an updraft to push bugs away when travelling at speed. Do they keep them off the windshield or just off the hood?

 

Well, no. They do not keep bugs off the windshield. Perhaps they reduce the bug hits, but it really seems the same to me. They do seem to make a huge difference in rock chips though. I think they tend to make a bit of turbulence that upsets a rock's trajectory enough to take some energy out of it before it hits. I have only 1 or 2 chips on the hood in 80,000 miles on my F150, compared to 1 or 2 a week on the other vehicles driven to the same places over the same time span.

 

It pretty much will keep the hood from getting any more chips and a few less chips on my scoop.

 

i got mine so i wouldnt get all the chips in the hood, thats bout it..

 

It is a HOOD deflector...

Ever see one of those things in the dead of summer? how many nasty critters are all over that? They could be sitting on your hood damaging your paint instead!

As for the bugs that hit your windshield, most are likely to be hanging out at the windshield level before they are turned into goo.

 

Isn't hard to get your hand in the crevase during washing?

 

From what I can tell on mine, it's really good and not working that well

 

I am also looking for a bug/rock shield for my 98. I don't want a tall one but it's hard to find one at a reasonable price.
I like the Lund but $$.
Where's a good place to get one?

 

Not hard. Impossible.

 

Mine seemed to work all winter long. Not a single bug!
Hope it works that well in the summer!

Actually, I did notice a big difference between a runner with one, and one without. I think they work and they are GREAT for preventing stone chips.

 

I can wash under my hood protector by gently pulling it out and sliding a soapy wash mit between each cone bump stop.

Oh and I agree with what's been said, they seem to protect from rock dings more than anything. I can tell you this, it did not help with the bird I tagged at 80 MPH on the way home from CA!

 

they are a bit of a pain to wash under... but it's worth it..

 

hmmm....... bugs in winter yikes...im gettin me a bug deflector and ray gun too !!!!! lol

 

The AVS I bought doesn't touch the hood but it still sits low and conforms nice but it did come with 4 bumpstops just to protect from wind possibly pushing it back at highway speeds or from vibration. I didn't want a deflector that rests on the bumpstops since if you do lose one the deflector will be rubbing the paint before you realize it.

 

As already mentioned - the current crop of 'aerodynamic' deflectors mainly protect the leading edge of the hood. My experience is that they may raise the average 'strike point' for incoming bugs to the upper half of the windshield (at best).

The older 'vertical' ones *really* created an updraft with dramatic effects. You could see incoming butterflies get elevatored up over the cab, etc. On 2 occasions, I had a (vertical / old school) deflector save my windshield from fist-sized stones thrown off a dump truck and coming straight for me. Smashed chunks out of the deflector, mind you, but bounced the stones up to where they didn't get the windshield.

 

I've got an 'aerodynamic' hood scoop and it does an excellent job protecting both the hood, and deflecting bugs from the windshield. I can see butterflies, bees, and all sorts of other bugs coming at me and then pushed up over the cab. I don't think I'd want an SUV/Truck without one now, they make a HUGE difference.

 

Lance in cinci, if the hoods are close enough between 97 and 98, then I have a spare.

If you are gonna be in the dayton area sometime PM and I'll give you one of them for cheap.

 

Lance in cinci, do you have a runner or a taco? If its a taco and the hoods are close enough between 97 and 98, then I have a spare.

If you are gonna be in the dayton area sometime PM and I'll give you one of them for cheap.

 

It's a 98 4Runner Limited. I don't know if the hoods are close. Maybe somebody who knows can stay for sure.

 

The one I have uses NO BUMPERS or cones that attach to the hood. Nothing mounts on the hood and you can fit a full fist under it when washing - - it stands high up off the hood and doesn't "lay" on it.

I don't have any chips from rocks due to this guard. I have it for sale on my site as well. It has worked out great over the years.