Hood Deflector
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,866
Likes: 515
From: WNY
No matter what most say, for the users, the hood deflector thing is 99% style, and 1% function.
Paint protection is extremely important if you have a painted bumper. They chip and rust, and generally look like crap after the first year.
My advice, pay the labor and have it professionally applied with accompanying warranty.
Paint protection is extremely important if you have a painted bumper. They chip and rust, and generally look like crap after the first year.
My advice, pay the labor and have it professionally applied with accompanying warranty.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,890
Likes: 779
From: SoCal/Wyoming
Products like Xpel help with the "peppering" you might get with very small debris that comes in contact with it but if it's a decent size pebble, it will tear the Xpel and chip/ding the paint underneath. While small scratches may self-heal, a spot that is torn will not. My car has a few spots that took a small rock and left a mark and I did not even hear the impact so they are rather small strikes. If the debris is large enough to crack a windshield, it can get through the PPF and damage the paint and those are the types of strikes I am trying to address with a deflector.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 352
Likes: 69
Damn.I found the plain chrome ones,but I really like the ones with the Super Duty embossing on them.Sooooo......who wants to sell me theirs?
7th Gear
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 7
Likes: 3
I'm 60 with 2 sons near 30 years old. I've been into Trucks and Cars long before they were ever born. What I like, they don't and what they like, I don't. I just smile to myself when they show up with something I pointed out or done to my own Truck and they talk trash until they realize the 'Ol Man knows what he is talking about!
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,350
Likes: 371
From: Burlington, ma
I just ran the roller of Bed Liner over the area where the bug deflector would be.. while I was adding it to the lower portion on my 2020... Now it is a 2 Tone 
and no rubbing
and no rubbing
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 141
Likes: 62
From: Kaysville Utah
Mask off the area around the hood front and spray some Plasti-Dip peel away rubberized paint! It'll protect the area, and if it gets gooey or gross, just peel it off and do it again. Change your colors with every application, including clear(ish).
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 122
Likes: 8
From: Ohio
I drive the express ways a lot, along the lake and rivers. Early mornings, evenings and nights are terrible times for bugs at 75 mph.
I use rain-x and Aquapel on the windshield.
And my apologies if I missed comments, but I was asking as to the effectiveness of actually deflecting bugs?
I use rain-x and Aquapel on the windshield.
And my apologies if I missed comments, but I was asking as to the effectiveness of actually deflecting bugs?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 856
Likes: 270
From: SoCal
Bug Shield Smug Shield - just post another picture of your truck. I think it's my fav so far!
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,866
Likes: 515
From: WNY
I drive the express ways a lot, along the lake and rivers. Early mornings, evenings and nights are terrible times for bugs at 75 mph.
I use rain-x and Aquapel on the windshield.
And my apologies if I missed comments, but I was asking as to the effectiveness of actually deflecting bugs?
I use rain-x and Aquapel on the windshield.
And my apologies if I missed comments, but I was asking as to the effectiveness of actually deflecting bugs?
There is no scenario where a bug shield can create enough lift for bugs, or anything at any speed.