Hood Deflectors

[Wizard]

Ok boys, short story long, I have hail damage to my truck and will be getting a new hood soon. My last couple trucks have had the smoked plastic deflectors on the hood. This truck had one too (bought it 6 months used) and I took it off after the hail storm to see if I liked running without to try and decide if I wanted one back on after the hood gets replaced. I guess at this point, other than rock chips if you follow too closely, I dont see the point of them. The downsides are that the one that was on it scuffed the hood some, enough that if I wasn't getting a new hood anyway, I would be irritated about it. Also, they make it harder to brush snow off in the winter, and leaves and what not get stuck behind them. If I put one back on it, it will be a polished stainless one :wink, not a cheapo plastic. This may be one of those things that like those side window things, I used to think they were cool, until I realize that they are of little benefit and the wind noise annoys me... So feel free to vote and give you're feedback, I'm seriously on the fence on this one...

[crashz]

Two years ago I was traveling down the Mass turnpike and caught a chunk of ice that fell from the roof of a tractor trailer. Busted my headlight and hood protector (aka bug sheild). I attribute the lack of damage to the hood, to the bug guard taking the brunt of the impact.

For all other instances I feel that they are pretty much useless. I bought it thinking it would keep the lip of the hood from getting damaged from sand and stones (which it does), but it seems to kick the stuff up and now chip the windsheild and top of the cab.

So my vote is for the molded stainless hood guard. This should protect the hood without sending crap flying into your windsheild.

[EZSnow]

Remember when a bugshield actually kept bug off the windshield? They were ugly, but they worked!

[Wizard]

We're even... You guys aren't helping me... :popcorn2

[Pickering Snow]

Ok the reverse spin they suck from a bodymans stand point , the little titty bumpers fall off and the delfector rubs paint off the hood, the leaves and debris get caught down the backside and rust out the hood by trapping water . And the part i hate the most is they make opening some truck hoods a pain in the ass once on.

Still want one. Has for the sill gaurds i wouldnt be without them i dont use the SS ones because of noise the smoked plastic is what i use and it keeps the dam water out of the truck since i like running the window cracked even in the winter.

[Wizard]

Guess it's damned if you do, damned if you dont, 'eh Fred... Rock chips or rubbed paint and rust from moisture getting trapped... Maybe I'll look into that clear film stuff they put on hoods... :beatsme

[Joey D]

I don't like the looks of them, bug shield or window vents. but I have them anyways because they work. The one on my van works for bugs better than the pickups as the hood is so short it keeps everything off the hood and most of the windshield.
I have broken a few of them from ice coming off the roof of the truck when you stop, other than that no issues.
One thing to look into is getting a clear one and having it painted to match, they paint the back of it to keep it from chipping and does look better than the tinted one.

[JD Dave]

Weathertech make really good window vents that don't stick to your paint, they go inside the window frame, I'm on my third truck with them and love them. The newer bug guards seem to be made better and I find they don't rub your paint like they use to, all my trucks have buggers.

[wpd519]

I have had one on my truck for 5 years and never had a problem with it. Works great. I have the smoked three piece set for the front of the truck.

[Plow Babe]

Some of our vehicles have them and some don't. We don't put any on if they don't come that way. We don't have too many bugs here so that's not an issue. I hate them because they make it hard to get the snow off. I can't say if it helps with windshield chips - we seem to get those either way . . . . The clear protective coating on the front seems to work good for paint chip protection.

[Alan]

First, and last, one I had made a noticeable drop in gas mileage and totally screwed up airflow around the cab. Don't remember what brand it was. Somehow it caused the air to dam up against the windshield, washers wouldn't squirt more than halfway up at highway speeds and the door mirrors would shake so bad you could barely see anything in them. Fuel mileage dropped more than 1 mpg when I put it on and came right back up when I removed it.

Never again for me.

[Lawntender1]

I think you should see your local Line-X dealer and have it Line-Xed. The Line-X dealer here will spray them from the lip of the hood up about 6 inches and paint it to match the color of your truck. Looks pretty good. I think I will get mine done in the spring. I figure I can't break that off! I think he charges around $100- $125 for it.