Bug deflector opinions, do they work?

[LV426]

I wiped the entire underside of my deflector with alcohol, then just eyed it with the screws and installed the rubber bumpers, was the easiest part of the install. I have no idea why they suggest sticking them to the hood...

 

[ChadT]

I wiped the entire underside of my deflector with alcohol, then just eyed it with the screws and installed the rubber bumpers, was the easiest part of the install. I have no idea why they suggest sticking them to the hood...

Saw on a guy's youtube video, his opinion was that putting them upside down would drill/tab/rub the cones into the hood as they flapped into the wind. That was his theory.

I went and found it, it's near the end of this video:

I'll be honest, I found that compelling! I stuck with the factory install on my truck.
For me I honestly like the bug deflector look! Kinda changed the fascia's look a smidge, at least to my eyes.

For a rebel, IMHO the mopar unit is the one to get. The plastic is the same sheen, color, etc.
If you have a chrome grille, i'd go with a chrome looking deflector.
If you have a sport or night model with glossy grille? I'd go with a weathertech.



For me I didn't want a totally level truck, I wanted to keep rake. But, with the mopar deflector, it changes the lines on the front of the truck, moves it upward a smidge, the front of the truck almost looks a little taller, and a little more level. Makes the front look more square, less round. Optical illusion.



I haven't been able to roadtrip it yet, so I can't comment on bug deflection performance - but I do feel good about some degree of hood protection.

 

[Kicker0927]

I've been looking at adding a bugshield and window vents too. For what it's worth, my local shop is a WeatherTech carrier, but they only recommend installing AVS now, because they had a lot of repeat complaints regarding the WeatherTech in-channel install. They said some customers had their window visors fly off at higher speeds and they said some people were complaining about the in-channel design rattling, no complaints regarding the bug shield though. They recommended AVS for bugshield and visors. AVS is much more affordable too. Personally, I like the low profile look of the AVS compared to the WT. I don't know about the Mopar stuff though, that looks nice as well, but I'm going to pay somewhere to install it in case if have any issues. The total for AVS Bugflector 2 and AVS Ventvisors on my crew cab= $200 which includes install.

 

[vincentw56]

I've been looking at adding a bugshield and window vents too. For what it's worth, my local shop is a WeatherTech carrier, but they only recommend installing AVS now, because they had a lot of repeat complaints regarding the WeatherTech in-channel install. They said some customers had their window visors fly off at higher speeds and they said some people were complaining about the in-channel design rattling, no complaints regarding the bug shield though. They recommended AVS for bugshield and visors. AVS is much more affordable too. Personally, I like the low profile look of the AVS compared to the WT. I don't know about the Mopar stuff though, that looks nice as well, but I'm going to pay somewhere to install it in case if have any issues. The total for AVS Bugflector 2 and AVS Ventvisors on my crew cab= $200 which includes install.

You can also get them paint matched directly from AVS for some vehicles. That's what I'm doing.

 

[Kicker0927]

Has anyone noticed a drop in MPG since installing a deflector and shades?

 

[19BlueStreakSport]

Ordered the AVS bugflector 2 a few days ago from Amazon and got it today. Was either this or Weathertech and both looks the same. I had a $20 gift card from Amazon so it made sense.

Not usually a huge fan of these things because they can look "grampy" and snow/ice gets stuck behind them. But I am tired of rock chips on my hood and windshield.

Turn out it doesn't look so bad after all. I thought it would have taken away the looks from the Sport hood but I think it floors good. Nice lower profile.

We will see how well it performs over the next coming weeks.

Now I just need to figure out how to remove the AVS sticker without marking up the defector. I know Weathertech and EGR is some kind of flat logo that can be wiped away. But AVS is an actual thick sticker. Any suggestions? Or just leave it?

 

[834k3r]

Ordered the AVS bugflector 2 a few days ago from Amazon and got it today. Was either this or Weathertech and both looks the same. I had a $20 gift card from Amazon so it made sense.

Not usually a huge fan of these things because they can look "grampy" and snow/ice gets stuck behind them. But I am tired of rock chips on my hood and windshield.

Turn out it doesn't look so bad after all. I thought it would have taken away the looks from the Sport hood but I think it floors good. Nice lower profile.

We will see how well it performs over the next coming weeks.

Now I just need to figure out how to remove the AVS sticker without marking up the defector. I know Weathertech and EGR is some kind of flat logo that can be wiped away. But AVS is an actual thick sticker. Any suggestions? Or just leave it?

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The AVS decal appears to be very similar to the WeatherTech one; I just used a bit of heat (hair dryer), peeled it up with my fingernail, then removed the residue with Goo-Gone (thought briefly about acetone, but didn't want to ruin the deflector).

Should be pretty easy.

 

[LV426]

I wiped the entire underside of my deflector with alcohol, then just eyed it with the screws and installed the rubber bumpers, was the easiest part of the install. I have no idea why they suggest sticking them to the hood...

* To clarify, I put them in snug so there would be no space to vibrate/rattle. My thought was as long as the truck is not going 300 mph, there would probably be no movement with the deflector. At highway speeds (90's) it does not move, can confirm. I figured it would adhere to the plastic better than the hot, black hood thats getting roasted all day in the sun.

 

[19BlueStreakSport]

The AVS decal appears to be very similar to the WeatherTech one; I just used a bit of heat (hair dryer), peeled it up with my fingernail, then removed the residue with Goo-Gone (thought briefly about acetone, but didn't want to ruin the deflector).

Should be pretty easy.

Thanks I'll give that a shot this weekend.

I was worried about heat ruining the plastic. I'll just keep my hear gun away and maybe use some fishing line. I don't have long fingernails, I'm a bitter eeek!! LOL

 

[834k3r]

Thanks I'll give that a shot this weekend.

I was worried about heat ruining the plastic. I'll just keep my hear gun away and maybe use some fishing line. I don't have long fingernails, I'm a bitter eeek!!

It was warm enough when I did it I didn't use heat at all; I just suggested a hair dryer because it probably won't take much.

Of course, YMMV...

 

[19BlueStreakSport]

It was warm enough when I did it I didn't use heat at all; I just suggested a hair dryer because it probably won't take much.

Of course, YMMV...

I've got a heat gun and air dryer.

Maybe I'll use the air dryer first as it wouldn't put as much heat out.

I tried to pick it off the day I put it on (it was hot) but wouldn't come off

 

[Rsorrell2]

That is what I did, I put them on the deflector but honestly it is not even close as I mentioned I can get behind mine to clean so I doubt that the deflector will ever touch the hood

 

[19BlueStreakSport]

That is what I did, I put them on the deflector but honestly it is not even close as I mentioned I can get behind mine to clean so I doubt that the deflector will ever touch the hood

That's what I did as well, I put the bumper things on the deflecror. Didn't want them on the paint.

I put 1 on each corner where it goes over the fender as I figure if anything was going to flex/move it would be that area as there are no clips there. The other 2 I put where the hood scoop body lines are.

As far as I am concerned, they are not even needed. The thing doesn't move at all, I can see the corners at the fenders and they don't move at all going 120-130km/hr.

Also, it sits high enough to be able to clean the hood under it.

After closer inspection I had a little rubbing on the driver side where the hood curves down. So I adjusted my hood stop on the side and it's fine. But as I was looking, I noticed the deflector is more on the passenger side , so once I adjust it everything should be fine. The hood stop adjustment is just a temporary fix to stop rubbing until I can readjust the deflector. (Long work hours and it's been raining)

 

[MikeyHo808]

Ordered the AVS bugflector 2 a few days ago from Amazon and got it today. Was either this or Weathertech and both looks the same. I had a $20 gift card from Amazon so it made sense.

Not usually a huge fan of these things because they can look "grampy" and snow/ice gets stuck behind them. But I am tired of rock chips on my hood and windshield.

Turn out it doesn't look so bad after all. I thought it would have taken away the looks from the Sport hood but I think it floors good. Nice lower profile.

We will see how well it performs over the next coming weeks.

Now I just need to figure out how to remove the AVS sticker without marking up the defector. I know Weathertech and EGR is some kind of flat logo that can be wiped away. But AVS is an actual thick sticker. Any suggestions? Or just leave it?

View attachment 99061
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Looks good. Love that blue!....miss my 04 Patriot Blue Laramie...
Anyways,
Have had my OEM one on since about a week after truck purchase, had em on my 04, did its job...i can honestly say they do work, but my daily drive to work is over the hill through the mountains, and the carnage on my windshield is inevitable.
It was a small chore to install, but the screws dont contact the body, as said in an earlier post...at least not mines.
(See pic)
First white truck, and I thought about the chrome, but opted for the matte black, and am happy with my choice. Also, parts dept had it in stock, and i got 15% off, so paid like 89 bucks for it. Cool!

 

[19BlueStreakSport]

Looks good. Love that blue!....miss my 04 Patriot Blue Laramie...
Anyways,
Have had my OEM one on since about a week after truck purchase, had em on my 04, did its job...i can honestly say they do work, but my daily drive to work is over the hill through the mountains, and the carnage on my windshield is inevitable.
It was a small chore to install, but the screws dont contact the body, as said in an earlier post...at least not mines.
(See pic)
First white truck, and I thought about the chrome, but opted for the matte black, and am happy with my choice. Also, parts dept had it in stock, and i got 15% off, so paid like 89 bucks for it. Cool!

Thanks, I like the blue as well. Looks really nice in the sun with the pearl in the paint. I also like the Hydro Blue as well.

I like the little orange marker lights you have in the grill. Is that custom made or did you buy it somewhere? What did you hook into, the parking lights? Any night time pictures with them on?

Ya I debated between factory Mopar and AVS, I chose AVS mostly because it protects the fenders and I already had a paint chip on them. I do like the matte black or the Mopar deflector. Not a fan of chrome at all, unless it's on a Harley cruiser or transport truck.

 

[MikeyHo808]

Thanks, I like the blue as well. Looks really nice in the sun with the pearl in the paint. I also like the Hydro Blue as well.

I like the little orange marker lights you have in the grill. Is that custom made or did you buy it somewhere? What did you hook into, the parking lights? Any night time pictures with them on?

Ya I debated between factory Mopar and AVS, I chose AVS mostly because it protects the fenders and I already had a paint chip on them. I do like the matte black or the Mopar deflector. Not a fan of chrome at all, unless it's on a Harley cruiser or transport truck.

Thanks. Those light were custom made to fit in the cavity.
Used some modeling abs plastic sheets, cut and shaped to size, drilled the 3 holes, used fat weather stripping and 2 way tape to mount it in there. Have it wired to the engine fuse block (trailer running light).
Sorry, dont have better pics, but these were taken right after the install.

 

[Walstib52]

I have a new 21 RAM 2500 HD Cummins pickup. I got an AVS BugFlector Smoke for the truck for my birthday. I encountered numerous problems with it. First, the installation instructions that came in the box were an essentially unreadable 50th generation photocopy. I was able to download a legible version from the web. When I attempted to install it, the black plastic rivets that came in the package were too short to go through the rubber hood seal and the flanges. I tried everything, but couldn't get even one of the rivets to hold no matter what. Assuming another shield from AVS would be this way, I put the rivets through the flange only and they held. I had to silicone the rubber seal over the flanges to keep it located. Next, after installation, I notice 2 pinch points, where the plastic shield was going to contact the top of the painted top grill cover. There was no way to tell in advance that this would be the case. I could have raised the hood stops, but then the gaps along sides of the hood would be out of line. After all that effort, rather than remove it and put it back in the box, I took a Dremel tool to it to thin the key places. I think it’ll be ok now but we'll see. All in all, I spent about 4 hours jacking around with it. I am not at all pleased with the hardware (rivets) nor the fit. Hope it doesn't crack where I had to thin it. I sent this complaint to AVS. We'll see if they offer to make it right.

 

[Klicht87]

I have a new 21 RAM 2500 HD Cummins pickup. I got an AVS BugFlector Smoke for the truck for my birthday. I encountered numerous problems with it. First, the installation instructions that came in the box were an essentially unreadable 50th generation photocopy. I was able to download a legible version from the web. When I attempted to install it, the black plastic rivets that came in the package were too short to go through the rubber hood seal and the flanges. I tried everything, but couldn't get even one of the rivets to hold no matter what. Assuming another shield from AVS would be this way, I put the rivets through the flange only and they held. I had to silicone the rubber seal over the flanges to keep it located. Next, after installation, I notice 2 pinch points, where the plastic shield was going to contact the top of the painted top grill cover. There was no way to tell in advance that this would be the case. I could have raised the hood stops, but then the gaps along sides of the hood would be out of line. After all that effort, rather than remove it and put it back in the box, I took a Dremel tool to it to thin the key places. I think it’ll be ok now but we'll see. All in all, I spent about 4 hours jacking around with it. I am not at all pleased with the hardware (rivets) nor the fit. Hope it doesn't crack where I had to thin it. I sent this complaint to AVS. We'll see if they offer to make it right.

I had the weathertech bug deflector installed and it wasn't a good fit and it chipped my top grill piece like you were talking about. I ended up taking it off. I bought it off CARID and they opened a case but never followed up so I said screw it. I've always had the AVS aeroskins on my last few trucks and wish I went that route.

 

[SaintlySins]

I have always had bug deflectors on all my 30 years of trucks.

My experience is the best "Deflectors" are the ones that stick up the highest ... yet they're also the ones that crack every couple years from car washes and/or other random things that happen when you're not there to witness it

At the same time, the difference between the taller deflectors and the more sculpted/aero deflectors are subtle when it comes to bugs at 55 to 65 MPH, they work and they do a decent job of minimizing the bugs impacting the windshield ... but at 80 MPH, neither is doing much to deflect a bug up and over the windshield. However, they are both doing a great job of preventing paint chips and pinholes from road debris.

As for the cushions/pads between the deflector and the hood, it's there primarily for the Car Wash Equipment that pounds the edges or flex point into your paint ... AND THEY WORK! The other factor they serve is to keep a profile at speed ( or headwinds) so the deflector doesn't flex downward and have less of an effect of redirecting the air over the windshield. We've all experienced the headwind passing a Tractor Trailer moving the truck with all the wind it's displacing and that same wind certainly affects the thin plastic of these shields.

I looked at all the different Bug Shields/Deflectors on the market and decided to go with the "AVS Bugflector II". I like the styling, I prefer the coverage it gives the front edge of the fenders and it blends in with the curves and design details of the hood and fenders giving it cleaner look.

I drove from Chicagoland to Denverland without any Bug Deflector ... then back a week later with the AVS Bugflector II installed (easy install BTW), and the difference at "legal" speed limits was significant. At 75, less significant and in some spot through Nebraska at higher speeds than that, it only kept the lower third of the windshield 'mostly' free from being a bug swatter. After a wash, the defector certainly took a few 'hits' that would've chipped or pinholed the paint on the hood or blasted the windshield.

I'm not endorsing any product here ... just sharing my lifetime of "Bug Deflector" experience and the results of what I just experienced using this make and model deflector.

BTW: As for the AVS sticker, the truck sat in the Denver sun at 92 degrees for most of the day, that afternoon, I was able to peel it off and wiped off the adhesive residue. Wouldn't ya know it, AVS had Lazer Engraved their logo under that sticker too ... but it's barely visible.

Hope this helps.

 

[securityguy]

I really like the WeatherTech deflectors too. The AVS and WT are nearly twins.