Anybody have a confirmed source for headlight covers or shields?
I haven’t found anything definitive, only one manufacturer who doesn’t even have an accurate pic. I also can’t tell if what they’re selling only snaps over the head lamp or if it covers the entire bezel.

Im looking for ones that cover the entire bezel.

 

Well obviousily those in the 2nd pic are not going to fit. You are looking for a real old school item, that I have not seen for sale in forever. I believe JC Whitney use to carry them 1000 years ago. I bet you will have to make you own with some plexiglass. I also bet they are a great way to get a ticket, if you forget to take them off at night.

 

Curious as to why, but just mildly so. I made a set for my '07, but used the lenses that I cut off the last set of faded / peeling lights, sanded, & covered in a non transparent material, to protect my 3rd / newest set of replacement lights from sun damage when parked here at home. They have whatever plastic they use, the coating breaks down, then is a battle to keep looking good in the UV baths, but it would be easy to forget them. Glass doesn't do that.

Even in daylight here, a good ticket if left on while out on a public roadway .... solid or tinted.

 

I don’t actually want tinted, but clear.
The stock image shows for all their covers.

I am concerned about the potential for producing a star burst effect at night, and am sure over time with weathering and rocks it’ll be an issue.
The real goal is to cover up all the gaps and recessing around the light for the sake of aerodynamics.

Side note hijack my own thread: In that same vein, the bug deflector/ upper air dam drastically reduced wind noise in the cab; however now the quarter windows don’t do much with the rear slider open as far as air movement through the cab.
Yesterday was supposed to be the last 80 something degree day so I’ll leave it for now. Need to take kiddo to get some blaze orange, and my last carb needles showed up, so I’ll probably re-jet one more time and do an A/B run down to Eugene and back this weekend to see its effect on economy.

 

Oh, OK, I forgot who did the air dam ... until now.

My '77 came to me with the bug shield and vents and rear slider but even just a 80+ day was near sweltering due to lack of air flow. Was a couple years before I found out how the deflector affected it, as I had by then put AC in so my Wife and our dog could stand it on a long drive or road trip. I finally realized that the same aero that caused bugs to go over the cab was moving my vent air the same. I thought about those old Ford cars and raising the rear of the hood drawing air into the engine like NASCAR with the cowl induction, how there is a high pressure area at the base of the windshield that pushes air in ... until a bug shield stops it by diverting the air up higher / wider. I have a couple bug shields picked up at "Fort Antique" mall, but memories of sweltering keep me from using one, I effectively "killed" the AC, but still benefit from the added vents. I haven't opened the slider in years, but I will unseal it and give it a try one warm / hot day.

I have a friend that run a long strip of the red / white reflectorized tape on a long near 2" wide aluminum angle that fastens with just 2 thumb screws at the ends on the inside of the tailgate (easy removal & newer truck) so it shows to the rear when the TG is left open (to let air flow out) for a long trip if not hauling, he said was a big improvement, but I forget the figures he showed me. He could turn (flip it over) it down so when TG was open, it "semi" protected the top edge, or he could flip it up for a small wall effect. He wanted to be sure drivers behind see that the TG is down. If I had a long trip to do, might would try it myself. I have a hard bed cover on my '07, but never tried it without to judge effect. I have a 4 piece hard cover for my '77 (DIY) I put together to support a soft cover for parked, but intend to test it for effect on MPG. Might would help (that air diverted by the cab falls into the bed then the shut TG holds it .... watch the trash / leaves come to the cab back in a swirl)?

Anyway, it's been a good cup of coffee, but I'll get off now. Let us know if you test those clear covers. "LEXAN MR-10" is a near unbreakable Lexan sheet that is hard coated that we used for windshields (many race cars use it too), scratch proof too. Easy to cut with a fine tooth saw (hand / coping / sabre or band saw) too, easy drilling, with edges that sand and polish well. First time I bought one (I had more than one GW) was after a demo with steel wool at a Gold Wing Rally, it is tough stuff and it stays clear. You can even fold it and it doesn't break. I know guys that added an accessory single WS wiper to a GW and never a scratch from use.

Regular clear plexiglass or Lexan from a local glass shop, etc might be cheaper, but will scratch easier. Plexiglass might even break if hit by a rock kicked up.

 

Thanks for the Lexan MR10 suggestion. You’d posted a reference to it on another thread, and I looked it up; spendy stuff but still tempting.

As far as dropping the tailgate for aero, it actually disrupts flow over the bed more. With the tailgate up there’s basically a ball of stagnant air that slowly swirls front to back, top to bottom, back to front, and up again. It prevents more air from getting caught up behind the cab, but with the tailgate down there’s basically high pressure air forcing itself into the back of the bed and around the fenders causing more turbulence.
Hence why your friend was getting more air from the back into the cab.

Myth Busters did an episode on it, and even did an A/B test with newer (for the 2000s) F-150s.

This effect is part of why newer pickups have longer lips at the top of the tailgate; it helps give the high pressure air dropping off the back some better direction so it’s less able to swirl behind the truck.

Anyway, I’ll probably bite the bullet and buy the GTS covers and cross my fingers.
I may just end up putting together a whole aero diy explainer when I’m done with this iteration.

 

Please do. I do recall watching the episode of Myth Busters, might be some why Tesla truck looks like it does.

@motorsickle1130 ....I know the hard coated Lexan MR-10 is pricy, but plain Lexan is a good deal cheaper here locally at my glass shop. Plexiglass is stiffer but it will break easier. For a small area supported on all 4 sides like those head light areas, I'm sure either will work as we also used those for windshields at times, they just scratched a little easier. If I took a pattern, my glass shop will cut it to fit about perfect.

 

Copy that, and thanks. A friend mentioned a plastic place up in Portland that’ll cut to size and has a lot of scraps for next to nothing.
I’d figured on going up there at some point and having a few pieces cut for the bug deflector and maybe air dam, and will probably buy extra at that point.

The glass shop down here that I’d used a few times closed down, and the other places are crazy expensive, but it beats driving 1-1/2 hours.

Also, I bit the bullet and ordered the GTS covers yesterday. They say their outa Anaheim CA, and make to order. I’ll post pics when they show up.