Any suggestions on bug shield/hood protector?

Does anyone have any suggestions on what kind of bug shield to purchase?
I am normally not a bug shield kind of guy but rocks and such are really doing a number of the front of the hood on my tacoma.
Anyone have any suggestions on a nice looking bug shield?

These are the two I am looking at:

AVS ($45)

$80 Auto Ventshade [AVS] Bugflector II Hood Shield / Protector | Fits 2001 - 2004 Toyota Tacoma | High Profile Bug Deflector - 1 pc., Dark Smoke | 25027

https://www.amazon.com/Auto-Ventshade-25027-Bugflector-2001-2004/dp/B0001EVRT8

Wade ($55)

WESTIN Wade 72-97146 Smoke Tint Platinum Bug Shield

https://www.amazon.com/Westin-72-97146-Smoke-Platinum-Shield/dp/B002HXUFPI
Anyone have either of these or have any additional suggestions.

 

I went with WeatherTech.
https://www.weathertech.com/toyota/2001/tacoma/stone-and-bug-deflector/

I installed mine because of all the damn stone chips I found along the front of the hood; really bugged me!

So, 2 years and a LOT of off-roading and drive-thru car washes, it's still holding tight! Installed it in about 10 minutes.

 

I bought a Genuine Toyota Bug Shield right after I bought my Tacoma in 1998. No rock damage to the hood. Bug shield still scratch-free. However, after I mounted it, the back edge of the hood would vibrate a little at highway speeds.

 

i did too in 97, it fit perfect! it got smashed though last year and was not able to find a genuine one at the time so went with a Lund brand which was not an exact fit at all, it had to be modified to fit the holes properly. I drive a lot of highway miles where there is tons of sand in the winters thrown up by truck traffic ahead or passing.

Recently I found some TW info that the Toyota hood protectors might throw up an abnormal amount of small debris onto the windshield!
have you ever experienced a ton of small chips all over the windshield over the years? I finally had a new windshield put in at the beginning of the year but was aftermarket glass

 

I’ve got a WeatherTech on my truck and I love it! Paid $60 for it I believe.

 

The WeatherTech one is probably out for me. Its $85 shipped. I am not interested in paying that much for a bug shield.
Honestly $50 was about all I wanted to dedicate to the purchase.

 

I had a bug shield on mine, but I got tired of cleaning the bugs off of my windshield. I no longer see the value in a bug shield.

 

bugs show NO mercy, i got attacked by a low lying swarm hanging out in the valley up north

 

it may also be possible to get some kind of protective film applied?
but that is most likely a 'permanent' adherence to the paint

 

The windshield won't chip and scratch when you clean it vs. the paint on the hood.

 

You might be cleaning the hood a bit too aggressively...

 

it doesn't take much to swirl paint. The chips happen from road grime not from cleaning.

 

Bought mine from EGR, also don't make the mistake and buy thin or lite version not sure what's called it's a been a few years. It does fit better but it will crack on a long drive. I had mine and crack replaced it under warranty after I sent them pics on the tabs broke after a 320 mile mile . When they send me the replacement bug sheild I received their heavy duty shield much thicker a little tough to fit perfectly but had no issue since and it's been about 4 years now.

Also I paid 72 dollars with taxes, free shipping

Good luck.

 

This^...not only sends bugs to the windshield,but rocks too.

 

I bought the original genuine Toyota bug shield protector in 1999 and installed on it on my truck. After 19 years, I had an incident that broke off the Toyota bug shield. I did some research, couldn’t find an original Toyota bug shield, found that the Toyota bug shield are no longer made for 1995-2004 Tacomas, and bought the Lund Interceptor bug shield instead. It requires drilling into the edge of the hood so be sure to line it up correctly before you drill it for installation.

 

I just took the one off my dads 08. Been on for years, had a ton of caked up dirt under it. After cleaning we realised that the dirt actually stained the paint, as at certain angles you can see a definite line. I would avoid using one personally. His was a Weathertech too.

 

I usually wash that area of the hood when I wash my truck. I have no paint issues caused by dirt accumulating under the bug shield.

 

I'm not a fan of the bug shield either. My last truck was black and the previous owner didn't wash under the shield, leaving a cake of dirt that destroyed the paint.

My current truck has one now, but I'm going to be taking it off since it reduces my Aquapel wicking efficiency. Hopefully the paint is still good.

 

do you usually remove the entire hood protector occasionally to clean, shoot some water underneath it, or have a special brush/sponge that goes underneath without removing the hood protecter?

 

I use a small brush to get under the Lund hood protector since there is enough space to get under it compared to the stock Toyota hood protector that I originally installed.