Hood Guard Recommendation/Thoughts

I’m looking to buy a hood/bug guard for my ‘01 Limited. Was wondering if anyone has any recommendations for one that won’t ruin the paint.

I’ve read that some people say they don’t really do much, but I do a lot of freeway driving while commuting and traveling and have noticed more and more chips popping up on my hood from rocks. Just trying to minimize damage as much as possible

 

Mine had one of the big-name bug deflectors on it as you see below. It's sitting on my garage floor right now, it was one of the first things I pulled off, and, no surprise, there was no paint where the hardware was fastened down, so I had a lot of acid-etch and touchup to do on the hood after removing.

What I'd say is, since removing it, I've definitely seen at least half a dozen new chips on the hood of the truck, most pinhole sized, easy to fill. Makes me think the shields actually work, but I think a tinted one looks terrible on a white truck, and I can't seem to find one that looks halfway decent or has hardware which doesn't damage the paint. So I'm raw doggin'.

I'll be watching this in case anyone posts something worthwhile. I wouldn't mind getting something back on the truck, but I think they look horrible in most cases, none of them would've prevented any glass impact in the years I've owned the truck, and the cost isn't far off from what I'd pay for a single-stage repaint - something I can get away with because the solid-color, non-metallic trucks were all single-stage paint.

 

Where are you located? I just took mine off and would be willing to give it to you. EGR brand. I'm in SoCal/Central Coast area.

 

I’m up in the Bay Area and Sacramento region. Seems like a bit of a stretch

 

Ah bummer. If you're ever passing through Santa Barbara, let me know and it's yours if I still have it!

 

Good to know! Actually was just down there in December on a little road trip down the coast. Definitely see myself coming back!

 

Another side effect of the bug shield is just that, it redirects the air flow in front of the truck which diverts the airborne bugs up and sometimes over the windshield so your windshield stays a little cleaner. They look like ass in my opinion, but sometimes function over form.

 

I had a ton of chips on my hood before painting my truck. Since then, I had PPF (Paint Protection Film) installed on my hood, bumper and lights. I've had zero issues and its self healing. May be a better route, IMO.

 

I've been tempted to get this one.
I forget what vendor makes it, but I contacted them a few months back and they are still available.
The 1st fuzzy screen grab I think is a members truck from here (my memory is getting crap, I apologize to who ever it is, I think it was @abcinv )
The company is based out of Canada, and I think it was right at $100.

 

I'm lucky in that my 20 year old Tundra still has a Toyota bug deflector on it. I actually don't mind the way it looks and my hood still looks great after all this time. I seem to get fewer bugs on my windshield also.


I wrote this about mine in 2020

 

Still have my original too. I think it looks good, but not as good as yours with that bumper

 

Yep, it’s mine (the top pic).
Formfit is the name of the company.

 

Hey @FirstGenVol I think this looks pretty sharp. Which brand? I've got my eye on AVS or Weathertech. Solid black would be ideal on my white truck. Might just paint it if not.

 

I wonder if this is the one @abcinv has . . . I never pulled the trigger.
It says it's made in Canada, and it does say 'Formfit' which is the website I was re-directed from.
But the image, or lack of doesn't show much detail.
. . . I still like that his has the drop down protection area.

Link.
https://www.parttera.com/detail/581/HD20P01/

 

I think they have been discontinued but they may have old stock. I'd ask for a picture of the actual product if you're set on this particular style.

 

Mine says Toyota on it so I'm not sure they make it anymore. The original owner put it on. I put a Weathertech guard on our RAV4 that is holding up well.

 

Actually - believe it or not, it may not have anything to do with the deflector.

I don't use one on any of our vehicles, and I can't tell you the last time I hit a swarm of bugs driving backroads at night, or long vacant stretches of interstate during the heat of summer, I-16 was especially loaded. Has to've been at least 10, maybe 15 years ago since the last case?

Either the aerodynamics of our vehicles have improved drastically in the last 15 years or so, or ... that Wikipedia article points to the reason.

Now I come to think of it, I can't remember the last time I've seen a 'lovebug'... huh. I had to scrape boatloads of these off my car every year for the first 15-20 years I was driving...

​

 

I sent an email asking if they could send an image.
Will report back.

 

Thanks, I may want to get a backup for down the road!

 

@abcinv

I got a reply back from customer service at parttera dot com

The item # is HD20P01 and here is the pic. she sent me of the item in stock . . . .

 

Man, if they had that in lightly smoked, and the hardware they use to fasten it won't chip away the paint like the deflecta-shield my truck had on it during purchase which required me to do paint repair, I'd probably be down to buy it.

I really wish I'd have taken pics of the damage before/after I repaired it. I still need to go clean it up some, but from 5ft away, you'd never know it had 1/2" round paint chips from the fasteners.

 

Seems like @abcinv is happy with his as he is considering buying a back up.
Maybe he'll chime in if he's had damage from the fasteners.

 

This protector mount underneath the hood on the grill mounts and has two clear stick down rubber stoppers that keep the shield from hitting the hood. No problems at all thru 5 years.
That said if one decides to remove the clear stoppers it could cause a little paint damage I'd imagine.

 

Can you share the shipping price with us?
Thanks for doing the legwork!

 

Sure will.
I'll place my order this evening.
I'm assuming it comes with the mounting hardware, as I saw a kit listed separately.

 

Update: - Tried to place the order but the website wouldn't allow me to complete the purchase.
It also mentioned that, 'This item is a special order, and may incur an additional charge'.
I tried several times to complete the order with no success.
I sent an email to 'support' letting them know the deal.
I'll give an update (prob. monday) as it happens.

 

I know the 100 series Landcruiser of the same era as our trucks OEM bug guard's were made by AVS. Obviously you can't order them Toyota branded anymore, but I would bet the AVS is the same. I ordered one, but have yet to put it on.

 

FWIW, I had no issue getting one from this site. Bought it back in January and it arrived within a week. (Just been sitting in my garage while I tried to find time to get it installed). I am driving a ton of highway in the Tundra now and I am def seeing chips etc where this could have been helping if I got it on sooner. So, it's going on now. Better late than never.

 

Quite a color contrast on my silver truck. I think honestly a much better solution would be like a clear-bra or vinyl wrap type solution. I may end up going that route eventually, but I'll have to have all the chips touched up as well. This will will be good for now.

(Yes, I need to clear up those headlights!--it's on my to-do list....)

 

AVS makes them that only get secured by double stick tape (They offer screws with it but they’re not needed). Had mine for years makes a huge difference in stone chips on my hood.