Bug shield/wind deflector: worth it?

I've been driving on the highway a lot for my new job, plus more highway travel in general, and feel like I'm taking out entire populations of bugs during round trips. Do aftermarket bug shields on the front of the hood work well? Or just minimal help? Hoping to get one if they really help. Advice?

 

I dunno.... I had one on my previous tacoma. Never knew if it helped or not. Looked cool....

I don't have one on my 07 tacoma. I get more bugs below my hood than anywhere else (on grill, on lights, on front bumper, etc).

I've heard a lot of people complaining about some brands (can't remember) because they don't like the way they mount and some of them rest on the paint & scratch it. Primarily why I haven't bought one - cuz I haven't seen one that the majority of people were happy with.

 

I know this is my 1st post, but decided to respond to your question. Prior to installing the bug shield/wind deflector, I had to scrub my windshield every other day. Getting off work late in the night and driving in the back road doesn't help. After the install, very few bugs target the windshield. The big and heavy ones still hit it, but the small ones (like mosquitos) are deflected over the cabin. I purchased the Stampede brand. It does not "damage" the paint like the previous post mentioned. It performs as intended. I cannot speak for other brands. My experience lies with Stampede bud/wind deflector.

 

After driving a few times home from college I noticed miniscule chips on my paint on my hood, and near my headlights. These chips aren't huge but they are still annoying none the less. Has anyone experienced the same problem and what do you do to prevent it?
I'm thinking about either an "invisible bra" or one of the bug/wind deflectors.
Thanks alot

 

I had the dealer put one on my 06 when I bought it. It's a Toyota factory deflector. I chose this one because compared to many of the others, it seemed to match the contour of the hood the best. I think it deflects bugs directly into the windshield at my line-of-sight but does a good job of keeping stuff off the hood. I like it for the looks mostly. My avatar shows a decent picture of it... The more vertical of an angle on a deflector the better job it does of pushing bugs etc. up over the cab.

 

What does it mount to? How long have you had it?

Got any pictures? How much did it cost?

 

Same questions for you... What does it mount to?

Did you get factory color matched one? or no?

How much did that all run ya?

 

It's mounted to the hood--brackets & sheet metal screws rather than the cheepo adhesive I've seen with others. I don't know how much it would have cost as I bargained with the dealer. I told him when I was trying to decide on what color Tacoma to buy from him (Hanlees Toyota Davis, CA) I'd buy this 2006 Prerunner from you right now if you throw in a bug deflector for free." He went for it and their service department had one on the shelf. It's "smoke" color. They installed it for free and I drove it off the lot in October of 2005. It's been on it ever since. They sent me a DUE BILL for it a week later in the amount of $0.00. It's Very durable & mounted extremely well. You can see it on my truck in my gallery here on TW. Sorry about the long distance pictures. My old camera really wasn't that good. I've got a new one now and will be adding pics. soon.

 

You will still take out a fair number of bugs with the grill and window- It might be a bit better but not a TON. It does help protect from chipping on the hood.

I got an ERG LoProfile version and love how it looks. (Photos in my gallery...)

 

Janster, The brackets extend the deflector out away from the hood and are screwed into the underside. Here's a few newer pics. of the deflector:

 

Ditto but mine is an ERG. Mounts under the hood so no metal eating into and scratching the paint. Works well. Buy it again in a heartbeat.

^What he said.

 

Well, I do plenty of driving here in the Northwest and splat some pretty gross bugs all over my front end. I've driven my Tacoma for years with no bug gaurd and got lots of paint chips on the front edge of the hood from rocks kicked up on dirt roads from tailing the 4x4 in front ofd me too closely.. Plus they use lava cinders on the roads out here in winter months so springtime you get pummeled with rocks even on city streets! Didn't anyone tell you the paint on the new 05+ Tacomas is crap. Mine is, look at it wrong and you've got a new paint chip.

So, now I have a new hood and many new front end panels (due to an accident) and bought a bug shield. I still seem to have a similar volume of splat on my windshield so I surmise that the bug deflector is ineffective at best.

But, it does a great job keeping paint chips from peppering my hood.. so I propose we rename it a rock deflector.

 

Thanks!
That's not too bad. I might call and ask them for a price on a color matched one - I'll still probably faint. Otherwise, I'd probably look at aftermarket ones.

Brunes - I looked through 4 pages of your photos and didn't see any picts of a bug deflector. What did I miss?

 

If you were closer to me I'd just give you mine. It came with my truck and I took it off within a week.

 

nice truck, what brand of vent visors are those?

 

Do you speak from experience on the Toyota version?

If you look at the pictures, there's a clear film underneath the brackets. That probably helps protect the paint. Just a guess from looking at the pictures.

I actually called Toyota today for a price on one. I wanted a price quote on a color matched one, but apparently they don't make them. Only 'smoke'.
$99 - but I get an additional break because I bought the truck there ($80).

I'm really surprised they don't offer a color matched version. Unless, that guy is just a retard and doesn't know how to look stuff up.

 

Well, that answers my question. Thanks!

 

Yes, you're right Janster. When they installed it they put some real thick clear tape under the brackets. It's actually protecting the paint very well. I can't think of any reason why I would take it the deflector off anyway so I'm not concerned about paint damage in the slightest. Wow, this new camera I got takes pretty clear pictures. I didn't notice you could see the tape before. Good eye.

 

my deflector made my hood shake, and my drivers side mirror too.

 

Is this the EGR Aerowrap XE? I've been looking for one to fit my '07 but can't seem to find the right one. It's either standard height or super high, not the real low profile one. Where'd ya find it??