Are bug deflectors stupid? or are all the cool kids doing it?

i understand the truck isnt aerodynamic, its an F-ing truck... but i dont know what kind of rocks you have where youre at, but little pebbles really dont weigh a whole lot...go outside and find an average pebble off your road and you can probably blow it off your hand...therefore driving at 40+ mph, im sure theres enough wind coming off the deflector to lift that little pebble enough...

 

Sorry but that is absolutely Impossible! Imagine a bee hovering at windshield level just above your hood, as your truck comes hurling down the road at 60 mph. The force it would take to shoot it upward like a bullet fast enough so it clears you roof, Within the short distance from the front of your hood to your windshield, would be astronomical!

Your vehicle/bug deflector doesn't generate any force. it is merely displacing air as it moves through it. So technically the air all around your truck is NOT moving. It is your truck that is moving through the air.

The smaller the lip the less it will disturb any air.

Not to mention that the substance it is moving is mere air. Unlike a wind tunnel, where the air is moving over the stationary vehicle.
In the real world the vehicle is moving through the air.
But in both cases the smoke, (which way lighter than a bug or a rock) is still smashing into the windshield.

Now a particle of smoke has a weight on an atomic scale! And the deflector still can't keep it from smashing into the windshield. So it would have absolutely NO chance of moving a bug, or a rock.

The only thing deflector protects is the leading edge of your hood.
BUT! The deflector (Any Brand!!) will eventually cause damage to your hood due to the fact that the gap between the grill and the hood is too tight to have a ridgid plastic or metal piece wedged between it!
The pressure and the vibration of the deflector moving in that gap will eventually cause the leading edge of the paint to wear or chip.

Sorry! No disrespect intended!

The laws of Physics can't be changed. The best it could do is move the bug impact site a fraction of an inch upwards.

 

My new truck has one that was installed by the dealer. It's the factory Toyota one that fits very flush and I rather like it. I lost a windshield on my last truck and if there's even a small chance of this making a difference I'm all for it.

 

welp...i will keep my opinion, and leave it at that cause im not getting much satisfaction from arguing about a peace of plastic... i just know that its been working great for me!

 

My guess is that in following posts, some imbecile will tell you that the rusted chips in the leading edge of your hood give the truck 'character'.

Not sure of the bug protection, or for that matter that bug shields are intended to be taken literally as such, but they without question protect the hood from rock chips.

...They do look goofy on sports though. Something about them doesn't jive with the fake scoop. Bad look when combined.

 

That's great! It is your truck, and you should make it the way you like it! I actually like the look of the deflector.
My truck had one on, and I loved it! (Even if it was just "Snake Oil")

Just keep checking to see if it is doing damage. (The oly way is to actually remove it from time to time.

Mine eventually chipped the paint of the leading. Cost me about $200 to get it fixed. That's why I gave it away.

I rather take my chance with possible damage. then eventual damage.

Here's my truck with one on:

 

this is exactly what I was trying to get at...without going into great details...

I wasn't trying to argue at all...just stating facts...

 

I think the 01-04 1st gens look good with one but 2nd gens, not so much.

 

Mine is so low profile I kind of forget it's there. I don't see it changing the nose lines much at all.

 

Who cares if it works! You're exchanging damage caused by pebbles for damage caused by the acctual deflector. Might as well take your chance with road debries cause the damage rate with bug defflectors is 100%

 

Nonsense.

My 87' had 2 different shields over the course of 13 years and my 2000 had one on for 8 years without damage.

...or do i assume the "100%" is just an unedjamacated guess of gross exaggeration?

Honestly, i wouldn't be surprised if the Toyota shileds with the stupid clip on hood design would hit 100% over a short time of using that 'system', but i also can't see how anyone capable of thought falls for that concept in the first place.

I ridiculed that idiotic design to the saleman immediately upon passing my first one when i was in the lost shopping for my 09. He didn't seem to get it. That was when i knew he was just a pawn to play against the other salesmen for the best deal.

 

I would say just install the 3M clear bra. I got the clear bra on the entire grill, bumper, almost half the hood, mirrors, and the fender flares. Its the best

 

If you have one take it off and see for your self. Don't know why you are talking about your 87 and 00? different trucks guy. My 04 (same design as 2000) didn't recieve any damage from its deflector. The 05+ deflector presses the area around each screw up against the paint. You drive fast and the shield vibrates rubbing the paint off.

 

Apples and oranges! 2 Totally different designed trucks!

100% it's not IF it will cause damage? It's WHEN!! Just a matter of time!

Get the 3M clear bra and be done with it!

 

I had the OEM one on my '05 to protect it from rock chips to the leading edge of the hood, it did more harm than good when the five mounting clips wore through the 2 layers of vinyl and down to the metal.



I went with a clear AVS one on my '06 cause I'm not a fan of shieds for the most part, however, it's been on my hood for several years and there is still NO paint damage.



Marc M

 

OK Sport, because it happened to you but not many others, we're all doomed if we use any shield on 05's or after because you said so.

Got it.

 

Yes! And you're right! The world is Flat! And snake oil cures anything!

Read my earlier post I went into why by design of the truck it will eventually cause damage.

Mine did it rather quickly because I am always opening and closing the hood. If you rarely open and close the hood it could go for years without any issues!

But it's still worthless! The 3M is 100% better!

But hey do what you want! It's your truck!

Oh? Yeah I had the Bugflector II just like you! So good Luck!

 

Neat smilies scooter.

Now go wash behind your ears before bed.

K?

 

Oh? Yes sir! I see I'm dealing with the wise-est! guru here on TW.
My bad! Carry on with your extensive expertise! (I checked your post history)
I should have known you had good sound data, and facts to support your moronic notions!

Now I need to find some soap to wash behind my ears.