The 'old school' (vertical / flat) version saved my windshield (and maybe my a$$) twice back in the '80's. I was driving one rainy night through eastern KY (coal country - twisty 2-lanes with no passing opportunities). I came up behind an uncovered coal truck. He hit a pothole and launched a barrage of black missiles back at me (no, I wasn't tailgating). One fist-sized chunk hit the pavement and bounced up straight for my face. Just as I was tensing up to duck, the erect Lexan shield absorbed the full blow and deflected it over the cab. Cost? A 5" hole blown out of the deflector. On the same trip (also in E KY) a dump truck going in the other direction did the same thing (skipping fist-sized rock coming right at me). The damaged deflector took another one for the team (another big hole blasted out).

The old vertical shields _definitely_ deflected bugs as well. I could cruise along watching insects approach, only to get swooshed straight up as they came over the leading Lexan wall.

Since then, I've had the swept-back, more stylish, versions. As stated earlier, they mainly protect the leading edge of the hood.

Does anyone still offer a flat / vertical bug shield that'll fit a Toyota?

 

I have a Lund shield and it sits completly away from the hood so no rubbing and no need for those little rubber bumpstops on your hood.

 

I had the 4Runner for 3 months with no cracks/chips etc. I put on the toyota deflector. Within 2 days, I had 2 large chips in the hood and 2 large cracks in the windshield.

I'm still siding with it being a coincidence. Time will tell.

 

my deflector saved my ass the other day. Van in front of me picked something off the road and threw it at my 4runner it hit the deflector and put a nice mark in it. Im surprised it didnt break, if i wasnt for it my hood would be messed up or my windshield would be cracked. So i vote for yes get one, ive had it for 10k miles and i have no chips on my hood cause of it. The front of my 4runner is another story.

Chris

 

those deflectors are good at making your hood dance around too... i have yet to solve that problem.

speaking of bugs... man, i was driving through florida a few months ago and the bugs were horrible. I think they're called 'love bugs'... really bad on paint.

 

Love bugs, the bain of any car owner's existence. They're like the Alien of bugs, their "blood" will eat right through the car's paint if you don't wash them off quickly.

 

guys, i just noticed a piece of the hardware for mounting my lund bug shield is missing ... is there a way to buy the mounting hardware separately???

 

what kind of hardware?
Are you missing a plastic screw? Or maybe the rubber bump thingies? You really shouldn't have to pay extra for stuff that you didn't get in the first place. Take it back for an exchange if you can...

Dang, your truck must be giving you a little bit of a headache now

 

haha, it's a damn good thing i love working on my truck!!

i've had it for a long time (the bug shield - few months, at least) and i tightened the screws today and had one pop out on me ... it looks like a little rubber piece.

it's a little frustrating ... mine didn't come with plastic screws, mine came with real metal ones, and i do indeed think it is maybe those rubber bump thingies.

i'll keep searching ..

 

I know you can buy the rubber bumps at places like Rite-Aid or Sav-on's. Try going to Ace Hardware and see if they have anything similar. You'll be paying premium if you go straight to the company.

 

i think it helps a lot with the bugs, you still get some splatter, but not nearly as much as without it.

-Russell

 

I had on... I hated it... Didn't look right, I like a clean apperance on the outside...

If anyone wants it.. I have one for-sale, $20 plus shipping. I came off of a 94 4Runner, its one where you have to drill 4 holes or use self tapping screws.