Does The Toyota Tacoma Hood Deflector Really Work

[@NorthPaddle]

My deflector causes a weird effect. It creates a little back eddy of turbulence which traps snowballs sometimes in the winter. They move up and down the hood even at highway speeds. They creep toward the windshield, get caught in the vortex and get sucked back toward the bug deflector. 😂

[@RobMotive]

Lol! Weird😬

[@somebb]

I have a tacoma that's 2 years old. It came with a hood deflector. I noticed trapped dirt along the entire lip. I removed it and it ate through some of the clear coat. I was able to save the paint with some compound and polish. I won't put this on my truck again.

[@RobMotive]

That’s a bummer!

[@MPGunther1]

I took a drive to the mountains and can attest that it does NOT keep bugs from hitting the windshield and FYI, I don't have any rock chips either 🤷‍♂️

[@RobMotive]

So no to the bugs and yes to the rocks?

[@glennpace9783]

According to the Mythbusters episode on Tailgates, it's actually LESS efficient to drive with the tailgate down or removed...as per their findings: The Result: Driving with the tailgate down increases the drag and thus is less fuel efficient than driving with the tailgate up. The closed tailgate creates a vortex in the bed of the truck that allows for smoother flow of air than when the tailgate is down and the vortex is dispersed.

[@Talishar]

Tailgate removed, bed cover and tailgate up all had the exact same fuel consumption. Tailgate down was the worst with mesh replacement the best.

[@michaelbrinks8089]

I remember watching that video. Removing the tailgate was better mpg than it being up or down and oddly, using a tailgste net. Gave the best mpgs of everything. Bettet than with just no tailgate. At first they thought it was error. So they tested it again & the tailgate net once again, provided the best mpgs of everything.

[@marksullivan8200]

I had one on my truck it was there when i bought it it looked cool so i left it there the truck also had rainguards on the windows from the same company & they looked cool too so i left them i think most of us like how it adds some flair & dont worry how functional it is

[@franktags136]

I’ve had a bug deflector on my same vehicle for 10 years now. There are some minor Rock chips on the hood and just so happens none on my windshield. In these 10 years I’ve had no rubbing of the paint, I also didn’t install the 2 plastic stoppers on the hood that was recommended by AVS and thankfully it appears to be a good choice. Not sure how much it stops these chips or bugs but peace of mind is worth the purchase. I’ll purchase another when buying a new vehicle

[@RobMotive]

Yeah those two bumpers didn’t make much sense to me? It would take a lot of down force on the ends before they’d ever contact the hood🤔

[@haroldharwell7078]

Last March , I was headed home to Texas, somewhere around Shreveport , La. I caught 2 stone chips , on my new 2021 Taco. When I did get home I lined up a new windshield, then ordered a Weather Tech bug&stone deflector. If it works one time it pays for itself. At the present time there is a large bug splattered right in the middle of the driver's side ... Who knows... LoL.

[@RobMotive]

Lol! Can’t stop them all I guess😬

[@carolinebinet5148]

I had a jeep compass for 14 years with a bug, rock defectlor, I never had to replace the windshield. I have a Mitsubushi 2022, and I had to replace the windshield a few months after. I think it helps, but I can’t confirm. Does windshield glass are no as good quality than before? Do they break more easily? I am comtemplating buying a buy delfector again. I got a huge chip righ away after replacing the windshield.

[@RobMotive]

Who knows? Seems to keep the stones away from my Tacoma windshield🤔

[@RichardStageJr-tt6qs]

Had one on my 01 taco sincd i bouhht it new ,it does work i can see some bugs get deflectdd and if i go between 45-65 in snow,depends on how big and wet the flakes are but i can see them get deflected up and over the windshield hardly use the wipers🙂

[@marksullivan8200]

Tornado thats funny i remember that it reminds me of some guys on internet hooking up an electric leaf blower to air intake

[@db9230]

Great video Rob! Effective or not, it looks cool!

[@RobMotive]

Thanks 👍

[@ryannewazada2102]

Aloha and good afternoon Rob. The stone and bug deflector must have done some good for the Tacoma from having any stone chips on the hood and prevented on the windshield as well. For now, your current Tacoma is blemish free of these stone or pebble with insects being stuck on your windshield. Your Tacoma looks great and the video is fantastic too.

[@RobMotive]

Thanks Ryannew 👍

[@Pokka676]

Friend of mine have this on his nissan truck. When we remove it we can see rust forming on the paint.

[@RobMotive]

He must have installed it incorrectly 🤔

[@somebb]

I have a 2 year old truck with the deflector and I caught this in time. The trapped dirt was eating through my clear coat.

[@samfromalbuquerque7235]

I'm certain I've had to to clean much less bugs from my windshield since the day I put it on. Rocks, I have to agree, it's not going to do anything for rocks.

[@xenofonmoniodis5408]

Thanks for the video, Rob. As a new, first-time Tacoma owner and new subscriber to your channel, I really appreciate what you do. By the way, what brand deflector are you using? It looks good on your truck.

[@RobMotive]

Thanks and welcome to the channel. Have a look: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eH_GeoR-m82HqJY

[@markaguda8963]

I have the AVS deflector for 5 years and only 2 small chips . The AVS has a different design and made with a different material check it out.

[@nathanfrisby3133]

I recently installed it on my 22 Tacoma and love it.

[@jonathanguzmanaldapa9234]

@@nathanfrisby3133 does it stay on right?

[@nathanfrisby3133]

@@jonathanguzmanaldapa9234 yes never had any problems coming loose.

[@johnbailey1305]

Oddly, I just had to repair a stone chip on my Tacoma this past weekend 🙃. Lol. The kit worked as described and is hard to even see where the chip was located. I do have the AVS protector. Does it help? Yes, I think it does. Does it prevent chips 100%? Obviously not. But, it looks good and even if that's all it does and just a placebo as for protection? I'm good with that!

[@828findadventure]

I think mine helps, but for people in some winter states, nothing will.

[@bayourat2415]

They work great when it’s snowing.

[@sambathchhorn820]

I had the same bugs deflector as yur for two years now so far so good but as afar as coincidence I don’t know !

[@RobMotive]

Seems to work for some reason🤔

[@nickwillard4471]

I dont care about rock chips. I mainly just want to keep bugs off my window.

[@Scalia-ig6qz]

Does it have a negative impact on fuel economy?

[@RobMotive]

Not that I’ve noticed. Might even make the truck more aerodynamic 🤔

[@edwinmaldonado8761]

Awesome video Rob. I had one in my other Tacoma for 8 years and more of a peace of mind than anything else. So I have one to install on my 2022 Tacoma again more of a peace of mind that if they really work or not. I’ll be looking for your video when I’m ready to install it. So a Tonneau Cover other than maybe deterring someone to steal anything you might have left in your truck is the same as just driving it with none. Appreciate your videos.

[@davidweltzin1805]

Have the same deflector on my 2021 and had the windshield replaced after 6 months old and just got another chip today. Doesn't work in my opinion. 🙁

[@RobMotive]

Oh man!! That’s a bummer 😡

[@SteveB88]

What’s the brand name of that rack you have on the back of your truck bed? I like that thing

[@RobMotive]

Have a look: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hH_Yc359rsd4b8U

[@canadianbeefeater1672]

Im one that doesn't belive bug deflector re-routes rocks, bugs maybe. My preference is I don't like my truck to look just like 8 million other tacomas with this hideously looking accessory. I just have to be different that's all......

[@nelsonschroeder2842]

I went with the clear protector for the hood, mirrors and door handles….

[@RobMotive]

Probably a better idea👍

[@nelsonschroeder2842]

Really? You got rid of the Ram so soon? You seemed to really like that one.

[@jamiller83]

Before you mentioned it I was thinking about that Mythbusters video testing the tailgate myth. I really enjoyed the Mythbusters when they had a show on tv.

[@RobMotive]

Yup…they had some interesting stuff👍

[@Moped_Mike]

Coming from New England/VT, the roads are in way better shape in every southern state, idk what you are talking about.

[@RobMotive]

You driven in extreme south Texas?

[@Moped_Mike]

@@RobMotive yes, things can be worn anywhere, but frost cycles do a number that nothing other then a washout can compare to.

[@jimmymacproductions161]

I had bought mine Taco and it had a AVS on it…. Didn’t take me long to get it off as I think it’s just a myth and I think it looks cheap on the truck.

[@hulong0205]

No windshield chip is probably due to the height of your vehicle.

[@whiskeyoso127]

I dont think it works. I have one on my truck and still have ships on my windshield. I do like the look of it though.....

[@terrancetatum7599]

LOL, Again with that magic bug shield? Nah, just messing with you Rob. I think if you like the looks of it, well… that’s all that’s important. I will be doing a product evaluation of a paint touch up kit soon, so I’ll be scrutinizing the frontend of my four year old truck. Looking for damage to repair, because I don’t have one. Then you can give me a hard time for not listening to you. 😬

[@RobMotive]

Get ready….I’m warming up my two typing fingers😬

[@mikeashely8198]

yeah those bug guards work great for a windfoil to keep the front of the truck down😅😅😅😅😅

[@RobMotive]

Lol! 😬

[@seanstenberg1559]

I agree! Blasting down I-5 at full Tacoma top speed, I can almost feel the front end lifting without it!

[@MR_MOO]

I have the deflector. Doesn’t do a thing other than give it a slightly different look. I put one on and promptly had a rock break my windshield …. Again. it is a decent cheap accent and does no harm so put one on if you like 👍 otherwise unless you are extremely lucky it won’t make any difference.

[@371kenny]

Its a bug deflector. Nobody says its a stone deflector.

[@RobMotive]

Actually WeatherTech does.