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Bugflector / Hood Protector - yeh or neh?

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by Veccster, Mar 12, 2009.

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Bugflector / Hood Protector - yeh or neh?

  1. Yes, looks good

    496 vote(s)
    45.3%
  2. No, ditch it

    600 vote(s)
    54.7%
  1. Jan 23, 2013 at 6:22 AM
    #161
    tacotruck 2.7

    tacotruck 2.7 Well-Known Member

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    forget how it looks it offers some protection for da hood and most of your windshield. condoms dont look cool niether but most times theyll keep u out of the doctors office. scratch scratch.
     
  2. Mar 28, 2013 at 10:29 AM
    #162
    NCTaco09

    NCTaco09 Well-Known Member

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    Mine came with the truck. Seems to work. I don't think it looks bad either. I kind of like it.

    IMG_2610.jpg
     
  3. Mar 28, 2013 at 11:59 AM
    #163
    T@co_Pr3runn3r

    T@co_Pr3runn3r XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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    Never mind that, I like the bumper that came with the truck, and the color, and yeah the deflector too. Nice.
     
  4. Mar 30, 2013 at 7:04 AM
    #164
    NCTaco09

    NCTaco09 Well-Known Member

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    Thanks. Yeah the bumper works good too......bugs just don't stand a chance.
     
  5. Mar 30, 2013 at 9:05 PM
    #165
    asuchemist

    asuchemist My Hamstrings Hurt!

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    Took mine off...made it look like an old man's truck. hood lines look best naked. The deflector is just for show just like the hood scoop!
     
  6. Mar 30, 2013 at 9:21 PM
    #166
    TnRedNeck721

    TnRedNeck721 Nick Namer

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    No mud flaps, plasti dipped emblems, and rear bumper, Weather tech digital fit, Bed mat from tractor supply. Pioneer 4400BH head unit. B.A.M.F bed rail tie downs. AVS vent visors.
    X2 clear bra is much nicer! I have some pic in my build of it n mine. I take my tire brush to clean the bugs off of it. also it covers the bumper and the little trim under the head lights. Also if you have color matched grill or mirrors they cover them as well.
     
  7. Mar 30, 2013 at 9:29 PM
    #167
    toyotatacomaTRD

    toyotatacomaTRD Senior Member

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    I can tell this is an old thread, but i'll throw in my two cents.

    I had a bug shield on for 3 years, and have had it off for about 3 years. I noticed zero difference between having it on and having it off. I wouldn't use one again. My hood looks terrible where the clips used to be. Not a fan. Not sure how they continue to sell these things...
     
  8. Apr 3, 2013 at 3:27 AM
    #168
    T@co_Pr3runn3r

    T@co_Pr3runn3r XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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    Installed like shit will cause shit.
     
  9. Apr 3, 2013 at 5:58 AM
    #169
    toyotatacomaTRD

    toyotatacomaTRD Senior Member

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    Not in my case. It was installed correctly but the rubber pads to protect the hood wore out over time...
     
  10. Apr 3, 2013 at 2:24 PM
    #170
    T@co_Pr3runn3r

    T@co_Pr3runn3r XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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    on the 05 whoever installed it just used the clear stick on tape looking things but on the 08 I used strips of bicycle tubes and seems much more sturdy than the one on the 05. It doesn't move even on frwy but I will have to keep eye on it I guess but it is staying. I got a coupla chips on the 08 windshield before putting it on and never had chip on the 05. Could just be coincidence but good enough reason for me. Looks much more out of place on a street truck like xrunner than on prerunner or 4x4 IMO.
     
  11. Apr 20, 2013 at 9:38 AM
    #171
    mattmyster

    mattmyster Well-Known Member

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    reinforce the plastic pieces before installing the hood deflector the good two way tape...saves the hood paint, thats what i did
     
  12. Apr 20, 2013 at 12:21 PM
    #172
    Deercamp

    Deercamp Well-Known Member

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    Had them in past, no longer - example of effective marketing, sort of like the snake oil salesman - went through 2 (4Runner and Sierra) before I realized they were useless appendage- if you like the looks fine, buy one and look at it.
     
  13. Apr 20, 2013 at 5:30 PM
    #173
    ee1284

    ee1284 Well-Known Member

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    This is the reason I kept mine as well.
     
  14. Apr 25, 2013 at 1:10 PM
    #174
    woodygg

    woodygg Well-Known Member

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    same argument as insurance... didn't seem to use it... so it's a waste of money. problem is, you don't know that it didn't help since you did have it on - meaning it could have deflected some debris over time that would've caused damage.
     
  15. Apr 26, 2013 at 4:15 AM
    #175
    Deercamp

    Deercamp Well-Known Member

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    Perhaps; however have owned 4 4Runners since 1985, bug shield installed on my 3rd (1998 model). Didn't notice any difference in bug splatter/pebble damage, however did notice that area under shield tends to collect debris and more difficult to clean/wax. (Vehicle parked outside - leaves, acorns and pine needles tended to get trapped under deflector). Averaged 100,000 plus mileage on each 4Runner under basically same driving conditions (highway and timber company logging roads). Based on previous comments here, if I was concerned about bugs/pebbles, the clear plastic bra appears to be the way to go. Too bad an outfit like Consumer Reports hasn't done an objective evaluation on the effectiveness of the various hood deflectors.
     
  16. Apr 26, 2013 at 5:33 PM
    #176
    woodygg

    woodygg Well-Known Member

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    I think there's many variables - IF I did a lot of freeway driving where there was a of debris, i'd be more inclined to have one. I have one on my 1st gen - there's no issues with rubbing, etc., but I also park inside so I don't stuff falling on my truck and rolling underneath it. to me it's irrelevant (to a point of course) how it looks (the poll was poorly written) - it's a matter of functionality. if it works, i'm in. if not, waste of money. it may be one of those things we never find out for sure - but better to have it and have it not work than the other way around.
     
  17. Apr 26, 2013 at 5:47 PM
    #177
    907Feuerwehr

    907Feuerwehr Member

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    I like how they look with the correct setup, for example with a roof rack, camper shell, black sidesteps etc, they flow nice that way.
     
  18. Apr 26, 2013 at 6:26 PM
    #178
    slvrbullet13

    slvrbullet13 User 'n at

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    Just an FYI...

    I bought my taco in November '12 and put a factory bug guard on myself a couple weeks after. I put the 3M strips in place and made sure the brackets fit snug and secure.

    After reading this post as well as others, I decided I'll just run it in the wintertime to help with the salt, road debris, etc. I removed it about a week ago and immediately threw it in the trash. The tabs, after only being on the vehicle 5 months almost wore through the strips into the hood.

    Very disappointed and decided it looks great without.

    P.S.
    RIP George Jones, I will continue to always play "Finally Friday" at the end of the work week.
     
  19. Apr 26, 2013 at 6:48 PM
    #179
    FATPUBUS

    FATPUBUS Well-Known Member

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    Nah, tacky
     
  20. Apr 27, 2013 at 12:03 PM
    #180
    El Chip

    El Chip Well-Known Member

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    x3 on Clearshield or whatever it is called. I think the clear laminate product is made by 3M.

    I had it on my civic, and had numerous rubs and marks on it from where it took hits, including one big rub on the bottom where I had rubbed against a cement barrier, and when I pulled it off, all the marks were gone and the car looked like new, not a scratch.
     

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