Bug shield

Hey all, This past September I picked up my 3rd gen TRD off-road, and I'm slowly adding stuff to it. I'm trying to find a bug guard/ Rock guard to go onto the leading edge of the hood, but I'm having a hard time finding one. Does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks in advance for the help. Happy New Year!

 

^Those things deflect bugs and rocks from the hood to your windshield...

 

I tried one but my hood fitment was so bad that it was too close to the top of the grill surround that it would have hit and chipped the paint. It was a weather tech.

 

I have one. It can’t remember manufacture Lund or weathertech I think

 

Totally worthless mod and a complete waste of money. If you want it for the look then that is fine. But don't fool yourself into thinking that they actually deflect anything heavier than a gnats ass.

 

Yeah I’m curious if there’s any evidence that these work but my brain can’t comprehend how they would

 

I like mine. AVS

 

I was just looking at one for my 4Runner - Lund (AVS) and Weathertech were the same product with identical pictures in the instructions:

 

Y'all are being trolled.

Regards, the shield is ugly. Lift the truck instead

 

There are three mfrs offering hood deflectors with LEDs built into them, to complement the Toyota emblem lights

 

Two questions for you:

1) Is this one that is fastened to the underside of the hood using clips/screws?

2) If so, did you have any issues with closing the hood?

Reason I ask is I just installed one today and I feel like the hood is tougher to close than it was before installation. Not sure if I’m imagining it or if it’s true. Can’t tell if the deflector is bumping the top of the headlights.

 

Yes, I have one on my 2013 Tundra. Crushed rock is used for road traction during the winter in Alaska. While the deflector may not always protect the windshield, sometimes it does. But it would certainly protect the leading edge of the hood, with in general get lots of small chips. I already installed wind deflectors on the four doors of my wife's Tacoma, and plan to install a bug deflector like the one you installed on your Tacoma's hood.

The ones on both the windows and hood of my Tundra, and the ones on my wife's Tacoma are AVS brand. A little expensive, but they fit quite well.

 

The leading edge of the hood is flash against the front upper grill.

 

If you want to protect the paint, just spray the leading edge of the hood with a couple layers of Plasti-dip.

If you want to deflect stuff and protect the windshield, you gotta go old-school:

 

Protection of paint. Old school kept some bugs off the windshield. New ones not as much.

 

The whole area at the front edges of the hood and right in front of it, gets peppered with road gravel. The leading edge of the hood on my wife's 2020 RAV4 V6 is in pristine condition (it has a bug deflector), but the 2012 Corolla I sold a couple of moths ago has lots of very small chips in the leading edge of the hood, and also right in front of it. The leading edge of the panel in front of the hood has a curvature that continues a few inches past the leading edge of the hood. You can see how this curvature works in a wind tunnel. Not all rocks being kicked toward you from the traffic ahead will hit the windshield; some travel at an arch and end-up hitting the curvature I have referred to above.

If you drive through a place where there are lots of bugs, you will notice how the entire leading edges or curvatures get covered with bugs, while the rest of the hood does not. But the most bugs hitting the windshield are just above wipers. The bug shield won't deflect all rocks and bugs, just the ones by the front edge of the truck, and maybe 2"-3" above the hood's leading edge. However, some rocks will be deflected up over the windshield. All depends on how fast the rock is moving, and how heavy it is.

One of the local shops in Fairbanks, Alaska installs both deflectors and a plastic film to protect the paint. This is the same acrylic shield used to protect the lower areas of the doors, and the two leading edges (hood and the one in front of the hood). I just install the bug deflectors, and also the wind deflectors-myself. One needs lots of planning and a steady hand to tackle the acrylic film, and I am not good at it

 

I guess your definition of leading edge is different.

 

$77 Auto Ventshade [AVS] Bugflector Hood Shield / Protector | Fits 2016 - 2023 Toyota Tacoma | High Profile Bug Deflector - 1 pc., Dark Smoke | 23681

Amazon.com: Auto Ventshade [AVS] Bugflector/Hood Shield | Fits 2016-2023 Toyota Tacoma, 1 pc. | Dark Smoke - 23681 : Automotive
I got this a year ago. It was the easiest thing I've ever installed on anything...

 

I've wondered about that... Older trucks I've owned had bug deflectors that stick straight up several inches while modern vehicle deflectors match the lines of the hood. I assumed because aerodynamics didn't come out til the 90s lol.