Do bug deflectors (hood protector) work?

[howmanyyouneed]

I have never really been a fan of a hoodprotectors other than the soft vinyl ones on my sports cars. but I am so sick of replacing windshields, replaced 3 in our montana minivan. and now our 2 week old 11 tahoe has a chip from a rock. I want to know everyone opinion on if they really deflect.

[RockySierra]

If you get a good one then yes they do indeed work. I don't like the idea of clear bras, I've seen too many chipped up and they look horrible after UV fade and damage after 8 or so years. I've had a hood deflector/bug guard on previous trucks and they did a pretty good job at stopping stones, though not all of them. I will be getting one soon for my current truck.

[Rons05z71]

I think they work on bugs for highway driving mostly, They get that little bit of a lift that takes them up and over

[2010LTZ4x4]

I say they work for the most part, BUT I put one on my current truck the same day I brought it home and sure enough I take the truck out and get a stone chip 6" up from the hood protector

[rockcrusherrevived]

hood protectors or bug deflectors are for just that, not "windshield" protectors. a stone is too heavy to be moved in the wind coming at your truck, but I wouldn't be without one.

[Jackalope]

I don't like the idea of clear bras, I've seen too many chipped up and they look horrible after UV fade and damage after 8 or so years.

 

 

Now let me get this straight...a clear bra looks bad after EIGHT YEARS or so....but you're willing to have a butt-ugly piece of plastic on the front during those eight years?

 

You do know they can take the old clear bras off and put new ones on, right? Every five years or so isn't that big of a deal.

[NHSilverado]

I like the look of them. Really accents the front end. They don't get everything but they sure do protect a LOT more than if you didn't have one

[Jackalope]

Each to their own. As they used to tell me years ago when I sold cars, "There's an ass for every seat!"

 

But personally, I'd just as soon tie a dead chicken on the front.

[wtbrowne]

Bugsheilds are a waste of money unless you like the appearance of them. I've never seen one that actually prevented bugs from hitting the windshield. If you don't believe it - check windshields on cars parked at walmart on a summer day. Those with bugshields have as many critters on them as those without!

[tesnoboy]

They mainly protect the front edge of the hood from getting chipped. They cut down on bugs on the windshield, but not all, especially if you do a lot of highway driving. Bugs use the highway more than us! ;-)

[Zembonez]

Bug shields are pretty much styling accessories and nothing else. They might stop a few rock chips on the leading edge of the hood,but they offer zero protection for a windshield...

 

Plus they are ugly.

[RockySierra]

If you get the right kind of deflector, they look nice. There are some that are for looks only. Those usually look ugly.

 

I don't like the idea of clear bras, I've seen too many chipped up and they look horrible after UV fade and damage after 8 or so years.

 

 

Now let me get this straight...a clear bra looks bad after EIGHT YEARS or so....but you're willing to have a butt-ugly piece of plastic on the front during those eight years?

 

You do know they can take the old clear bras off and put new ones on, right? Every five years or so isn't that big of a deal.

 

 

You obviously don't live up at 6000+ ft where UV causes all sorts of damage. Every clear bra removal I have seen has left paint and fade damage that makes it look horrible, even with a new bra applied.

[NHSilverado]

Well every car that I have owned for the last 10 years or so has had a bug shield (ok maybe name is misleading) and the paint on the hood has been very decent went I went to trade the car in..the 2 cars that I didn't add a bug shield too looked like they had been through a sandblaster after 1 NH winter

 

So yes, I'll agree they may not help in the windshield bug splatter department but as far as protecting the front end from rock chips and other things they do the job (I can wash bug guts off...paint chips another story)

[howmanyyouneed]

thanks for all the advice but I could care less about bug splatter, bugs can be cleaned off rock chips cant

[NHSilverado]

thanks for all the advice but I could care less about bug splatter, bugs can be cleaned off rock chips cant

 

 

Well see my post above, I agree with you and the main reason I got the Bugflector II was protect against rock chips not bugs