Bug Deflector

[SLC Punk]

Toyota bug shield. Installed myself in 15 min

 

[3wbdriver]

Toyota wants $130 for their deflector and another $60 to install. I ordered the Weathertech bug deflector ...half the price of Toyota and the instructions look simple enough, even for me.

Thanks for all the responses.
spm

It goes on fast and easy (10 minutes?), but read the instructions and look at the pictures. I want to say there are more holes than there are attachment rivets, and if you start on one side and work your way across all the holes you could find yourself embarrassingly short of rivets.

Or was that on my Tundra? Dang old-timer's kicking in again. This thread was about skid plates wasn't it?

SQUIRREL!!!!!

 

[jrandom]

Toyota bug shield. Installed myself in 15 min

It goes on fast and easy (10 minutes?), but read the instructions and look at the pictures. I want to say there are more holes than there are attachment rivets, and if you start on one side and work your way across all the holes you could find yourself embarrassingly short of rivets.

LOL I bet the next person has installed it in 5 minutes and has lost the deflector and the mounting brackets :bolt:

 

[dahorst]

Mine came from the dealer. I actually like the look of it.

 

[raaze14]

Mine came from the dealer. I actually like the look of it.

Damn that is one bada$$ lookin' rig!

 

[jicko]

My factory bug deflector on my 3rd gen actually did something! Did a few testing of it up and down California coast with 4 hours drive, and see a difference (bugs hitting the windshield). Comparable dead bugs in front of grill and headlamp from the multiple runs as control.

I noticed that the geometry of the 5th gen factory bug deflector has changed. My 3rd gen one has an up-draft/lip, but that doesn't seem to be the case, from the pictures that I had seen.

Anyway, is there a side-by-side comparison between the weathertech vs toyota factory version? Is there a consensus which one is better? Is the AVS version *really* the same as weathertech?

Toyota PT427-89100: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0068OFGEM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0068OFGEM&linkCode=as2&tag=jickrevi-20&linkId=UC6YCUWJM2G4YQLD">Genuine Toyota Accessories PT427-89100 Hood Protector</a><img src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=jickrevi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0068OFGEM" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

Weathertech 50216: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BO3UEQ2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00BO3UEQ2&linkCode=as2&tag=jickrevi-20&linkId=DMD5PRD5SLSX52MX">WeatherTech (50216) Stone and Bug Deflector, Dark Smoke</a><img src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=jickrevi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00BO3UEQ2" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

AVS: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ZJ2HMM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003ZJ2HMM&linkCode=as2&tag=jickrevi-20&linkId=2OTVVME2AVVFLSZW">Auto Ventshade 25053 Bugflector II Hood Shield</a><img src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=jickrevi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B003ZJ2HMM" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

 

[K9trainer]

Here is mine w/ the Toyota Brand, I liked the way it looked but hated that it mounted with clips that slid onto the hood it self. I removed it after a couple weeks and returned it. I think over time the clips would damage the hood. I may try one of the off brand.

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

Here is mine w/ the Toyota Brand, I liked the way it looked but hated that it mounted with clips that slid onto the hood it self. I removed it after a couple weeks and returned it. I think over time the clips would damage the hood. I may try one of the off brand.

Hmmmm, looks like Kailua Beach Park!

 

[K9trainer]

Hmmmm, looks like Kailua Beach Park!

Yup, boat ramp

 

[DesertCanyons]

hood deflector

Toyota wants $130 for their deflector and another $60 to install. I ordered the Weathertech bug deflector ...half the price of Toyota and the instructions look simple enough, even for me.

Thanks for all the responses.
spm

Good choice. My 20 year old Jeep has paint chips all across the front of the hood where it dips down forward into the wind. Not sure if it's from pebbles and rocks or hard a-- bugs. :usa:

 

[NoOneBetter]

Here is mine w/ the Toyota Brand, I liked the way it looked but hated that it mounted with clips that slid onto the hood it self. I removed it after a couple weeks and returned it. I think over time the clips would damage the hood. I may try one of the off brand.

I have the AVS one and there are no clips that touch the hood at all.

 

[darrylj]

Does anyone notice if they seem to make a difference as far as bugs, and perhaps rock chips on the hood as well?

I don't have one on the 4runner, but we have one on my wife's RAV4. After the 1st and 2nd windshields cracked from tiny rocks, we had a Toyota hood deflector put on and haven't had a problem since. Something about the rav4 windflow brought those rocks right on up and something about the rav4 windshield made it as brittle as a Faberge egg at a rodeo.

 

[K9trainer]

I have the AVS one and there are no clips that touch the hood at all.

Does the AVS hood protector have writing or branding on the protector itself?

 

[NoOneBetter]

Does the AVS hood protector have writing or branding on the protector itself?

There is "AVS" etched into the plastic on one the the edges but it is not noticeable at all. Heres a photo of mine.

 

[JLM3rd]

There is "AVS" etched into the plastic on one the the edges but it is not noticeable at all. Heres a photo of mine.

Thanks. I need a B-Day present idea.!

 

[BigBluePile]

Has anyone had an issue where the deflector prevented the hood from closing??? My 2015 TE doesn't have the clearance for a Weather Tech deflector.....

 

[Hook 'Em Horns!]

Go for it! I love mine..

 

[JayceeP]

Here is mine w/ the Toyota Brand, I liked the way it looked but hated that it mounted with clips that slid onto the hood it self. I removed it after a couple weeks and returned it. I think over time the clips would damage the hood. I may try one of the off brand.

OEM ones look the best IMO. I have seen this comment about hood damage a few times and you are wrong. The Mylar strips hold up just fine. They do look distressed after 6-12months of road rash, but they hold up! I remove my hood protector after every winter, and usually in the fall before winter, so I can wash that area of the hood + apply some fresh wax. I end up taking off the Mylar strips and putting new ones on (have to anyway if you want to wash and wax that area). Been doing this for over 2 years and 28,000+ miles and my hood is pristine . Long story short, if you like it, put it on.

 

[kaatahdin]

+1 for AVS, on the 5th Gen it seems to be a better rated option than the Weathertec, no problems in 6 months or so.

 

[Toyota4runnerguy]

Definitely prevents bugs and rocks from chipping hood paint, does nothing to prevent bugs from hitting windshield. Piece of cake to install, super easy.

I like the way it looks..