Do bug shields work?

[Bob Camarena]

I'm not interested in putting anything on my truck just for looks and I was wondering exactly how effective bug shields are.

[D'sT]

In my opinion they dont work for keeping the bugs off your windshield completely, it seems to direct them just a hair higher on the windshield when they splat! In fact I once had a rock hit the deflector and guide it perfectly into the center of my windshield and chip. They do a good job of protecting the hood face behind it though. My wife has one on her van, but it doesnt do a good job either.

[Titan Critter]

i had a bug shield on my previous vehicle for 5 years. the beauty is not so much keeping bugs from the windshield, but it keeps them on the hood which helps protect the paint. also, i ended up with chips in the bug shield from rocks...... those would have ended up chipping the paint without the bugshield.

my $0.02. critter

[IMADOGMAN]

I had my truck for 1 week and had two rock chips in the paint. None since I added the bug shield. I went for a drive today, and the mayflies were in abundance...the bug shield might have helped, but I still got lots of splatters on the windshield.

[ensclark]

I have one, I didn't on my old truck and wished I did. It's easy to clean the window but I could do with out the chiped paint again. So far with it I haven't had a problem. My .02, they do work.

[caltitan]

I agree, it's not a cure-all device, but it does help some. I think they add something to the look of the Titan, IMO. If you get one you'll find a small soft brush to wash underneath it very handy.

[titanwild]

Yep, they work. Dramatic difference on two trips through Arkansas/Missouri Ozarks (big time bug country), first without and second trip with the OEM bug deflector. Some bugs will splat on windshied with the deflector, just a lot less.

And as EnsClark and Imadogman (me too) note, I don't want rock chips on my Titan's nose. Hood on my 95 Chevy (traded on Titan) without a bug deflector looked like a moonscape.

[mwheat]

Pretty much the same sentiments here. It does help about 50-60% with the bugs, but the main benefit to me is reduction in paint chips. This the the first car I have put a bug shield on and all the others had their noses dinged up pretty good in a few years. Hoping to avoid that fate with my new truck.

[D'sT]

ensclark, is that deflector on yours screw mounted or does it have the two sided tape? I'm thinking of getting one myself just for the sake of keeping the lovebugs of my hood. If its taped, does it hold well? The one on my wifes van was not holding well at all, in fact I had to screw mount not long after I put it on it before it fell off.

[mick3643]

I just put one on mine today due to paint chips . I counted at least 8 on the nose since april. At that rate i wouldn't have any paint left in 4 years. If it helps bugs then thats a plus

[mlica_7]

If you get one, may I suggest getting a clear one, taking it to a paint shop and having them paint the back of it using the color code of your truck. Cost's me about $25 more, but you barely notice it since it matches the truck. When people do notice it, they always ask where I got it done becuase they want to do the same.

[garo1]

Yeah it definitely protects the paint on the hood. That's my main reason for having one.

[PolarisTitan]

I had one on my van it definetly worked it relocated about half of them to the roof (it was a conversion van with a raised roof), still got splats but alot less, the bug guard met its demise from a large rock, kept it off the paint, but lost the guard, a small price to pay to avoid a dreaded body shop paint job!

[lcbrownz]

I wish my bug shield would protect the hood from the cloth cash washes. They seem to scratch the hell out of my hood.

[htn123]

Same conclusion here. It works most of the time. I still get splatter all over my windshield. But no more paint chips.

Also I added a product call Xpel ... http://www.xpel.com/. A little expensive but it cover almost half of the hood and works amazingly well.