When I purchased my Explorer it didn't come with a bug shield. But I tend to see them on quite alot of trucks/SUVs. Are they really that effective in keeping them from hitting the windshield? Lovebug season is about ready to start here and I don't want them all over the windshield. How do they work?

 

Thay are not that effective, in my opinion, on keeping bugs off the windshield. They do help a little. They are very effective on keeping bugs and stone chips from the front edge of the hood.
Hood protection is my main reason for having one.

 

bugsheilds are not meant to keep bugs off windsheilds, they are supposed to help protect bugs from chipping the paint on your hood, if you have a black truck you can really notice the difference with and without a sheild. i have a burgundy truck and i noticed the chipped paint from bugs, i thought about a sheild but it is already chipped up so i may wait and see if i get my truck painted.

 

Keeps the stone chips off the leading edge of the hood. Works very well for this.

 

Then the bumpers between the hood and the shield wear down or fall off. Flapping in the wind bug shield screws up the paint on the front of the hood. Now the hood needs to be painted and you have the bumper residue to remove. Damn POS bug sheilds.

 

In the 6+ years I have used a bugshield on my truck, I sure don't notice any effect in reducing the frequency of bug splats on my windshield. However, it does confer protection against rock chips.

A newer and better alternative to protecting the paint is to use a "clear bra" type product, in which a clear film is applied to vulnurable areas on your vehicle. There are many versions out there, most of them requiring professional installation. Here is a link to a DIY product...
http://www.invinca-shield.com/main.htm
I have never any such products so I can't comment on their appearance or effectiveness, but I've always heard good things about them.

 

as i said before bugsheilds are not made to keep bugs off your windsheild they are to help protect your hood, now they do make wiper cowls to help protect your wipers although they do have a stlyish look they make it difficult to change wipers.

 

One of the rubber bumpers on the back of my bug shield wore the paint down to the metal already. But it sure does looks cool and mean with it on since my truck is white. Only bad thing is my cat can get on my hood now by jumping up and holding onto the bugshield to pull himself up onto my hood. He sleeps between the windshield wipers now.

 

Most newer bug shields don't use bumpers anymore.

 

I looked at the invinca-shield website--you can get rolls of clear film for a lot less and cut them to fit yourself. JC Whitney sells rolls in 4" wide and 8"wide.

 

Bug sheild I purchased used existing hole in the hood and has no bumpers. It sure has saved the leading edge of my hood and fenders.

 

I have a 92 Bronco that I purchased used in 98 and it probably has had a bug shield the entire time, and when I get it repainted I will not be putting one back on. Yes it protects the hood (I will use the clear plastic) but what I don't like what it does is the long term markings on the grill and trim from water runoff coming out the sides. I have tried and tried but cannot remove these stains. I will be replacing all of the trim and grill when I repaint. Also I hate the fact that leaves get caught under the shields, and then have the stems scratch my paint.

 

What one did you buy?

Thanks --

 

Any input on the new stainless steel bug deflectors,I think the look awsome---they should for the price though!

 

I haven't installed one yet. It's on my todo list. Anyway, some of the feedback I've heard/read from other Superduty owners is that they may not completely deflect bugs from the windshield (primarily for hood protection as mentioned above), but they offer enough wind deflection that at highway speeds you can actually spray your washer fluid and have it get high enough up the windshield to be effective. At highway speed, my washer fluid just barely gets the lower 1/4 of the windshield. That'd be great if I was 4'11".