I have been ordered to buy a "bug deflector"

[ShadowsPapa]

After our harrowing trip to Colorado Springs and back (harrowing in that we were under constant attack by vicious bugs and it sounded like someone was throwing rocks at us for hours) I have been ordered, well, here are the words of the boss: "When we get back you are going to get a bug deflector for this thing".

I've done a search and find dozens of hits on "bug deflector" as it's been mentioned many times - but only in that someone installed one such as in "what did you do to..........." so I know a lot of members have them.
And I found no consensus - sort of like football, oil, tires, beer, everyone has a favorite and it's usually the best LOL.

So I'll try to narrow down things a bit with a set of criteria. I've searched Amazon and that was a mistake as now I see there are at least 7 and likely MORE choices just for the JT - including one from MOPAR themselves. Crap, I have trouble choosing between 4 pairs of shoes and now this........... but an order is an order.

Here's my preferences:

*Not just to protect the front of the hood like several seem to be - they lay pretty flat to the hood, no swept up back edge, etc. Must actually divert upward.
*Some advertise that they will deflect grit, sand, small stones (nothing will deflect all things at all speeds - that's just physics) I would love to not hear so many rock hits against the glass. Almost every week I cringe and wonder when the next teeny tiny little chip will turn into a crack like last spring.

*Prefer to not glue or tape to the hood - especially the front and top of the hood. If the deflector breaks I want to be able to take it off and replace it and not rip the paint off the hood. That 3M tape will tear things apart before it comes loose. I know - I've used it to attach the trim to my SX4 and thought I was going to take the finish off the bumper when I found a new piece of trim for it. If I change my mind or don't like it I don't want to have to remove tape from the front and top of the hood. I actually prefer screws on the underside. I've done my last 2 that way.

*I'd prefer that it sat off the surface of the hood if possible as vibrations will wear through the paint. I've seen it happen on one of my other trucks where the deflector rubbed in a couple of spots and wore through the paint after a couple of years. (some seem to have some sort of rubber bumper to hold it off the hood?)

Since the truck is so shiny and smooth all over (save for the bumper) I would lean toward a smooth smoked look........... but if one does the job and isn't that way, priority is bugs and small rocks kept from the glass.

This was after about 2 hours...........it got much worse. KS and NE - bug capital of the world (except for FL then there's MN with their mosquitos the size of drones. )

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[Mr._Bill]

The Mopar unit appears to match your requirements. It attaches to the bottom front edge of the hood with screws. It has a slope that should deflect upward, and is a darker color. It also has the little bumpers to keep it set away from the hood.

 

[ThatStinging_Jeep]

Definitely has worked me wonders man and it dont look bad on the truck too atleast in my opinion

 

[Jonny A]

Definitely has worked me wonders man and it dont look bad on the truck too atleast in my opinion

That looks nice

 

[Rollcast]

I bought the mopar deflector because I didn't want the tape-on kind. It seems to work well.

 

[Gvsukids]

The Mopar unit appears to match your requirements. It attaches to the bottom front edge of the hood with screws. It has a slope that should deflect upward, and is a darker color. It also has the little bumpers to keep it set away from the hood.

How does it attach with the screws?

 

[Clay]

I put a bug deflector on my JKU several years ago. My only complaint was it interferred with the windshield washer. It turned the spray into a mist and made the washer useless.

 

[Green_Gladiator]

I've been wanting a Mopar hood deflector. Have yet to see one on a Mojave. Not sure how it would look with the hood scoop ....

 

[Mr._Bill]

How does it attach with the screws?

Here are the installation instructions.
http://starparts.chrysler.com/info/default/K6862911.pdf

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Thanks for all the input so far.
From the pics, it appears to actually have a flipped up back edge. So many appear to only be chip guards for the front edge of the hood and have no real "deflector" properties or shape.
I saw the windshields of other trucks that basically took the same or similar paths to get to CO and they didn't have near the problem but then GM and Ford use wind tunnels to test their trucks while Jeep uses ravines, gorges, boulders, rivers, etc.

How does it attach with the screws?

IF it is like some I've had in the past like on my F250, you drill holes into the underside of the hood. That's why the "stick-on" type are called "no-drill" deflectors - because you don't have to drill any holes. I've had both types and frankly don't mine the type you drill for, you just have to be careful, use a drill bit stop or some tape, and mark the holes carefully, put tape on the spot you want to drill so you can mark it easily and to help keep the bit from wandering (center punch helps there, too).

I put a bug deflector on my JKU several years ago. My only complaint was it interferred with the windshield washer. It turned the spray into a mist and made the washer useless.

IMO, most windshield washers are worthless at highway speeds anyway - and around here you may see a non-windy day about 6 or 7 times a year so a good cross-wind while on the highway means you are washing the windshield of the car next to you, or even behind you.
And most windshield washers are worthless against bugguts (my wife says it's bugguts - bug guts)

Definitely has worked me wonders man and it dont look bad on the truck too atleast in my opinion

Heck, the whole truck "don't look bad"

 

[kevman65]

You won't do away with bug impacts completely, they will move up higher on the windshield.

Now if you run into a swarm, all bets are off, bug guts everywhere.

 

[am1978]

After our harrowing trip to Colorado Springs and back (harrowing in that we were under constant attack by vicious bugs and it sounded like someone was throwing rocks at us for hours) I have been ordered, well, here are the words of the boss: "When we get back you are going to get a bug deflector for this thing".

I've done a search and find dozens of hits on "bug deflector" as it's been mentioned many times - but only in that someone installed one such as in "what did you do to..........." so I know a lot of members have them.
And I found no consensus - sort of like football, oil, tires, beer, everyone has a favorite and it's usually the best LOL.

So I'll try to narrow down things a bit with a set of criteria. I've searched Amazon and that was a mistake as now I see there are at least 7 and likely MORE choices just for the JT - including one from MOPAR themselves. Crap, I have trouble choosing between 4 pairs of shoes and now this........... but an order is an order.

Here's my preferences:

*Not just to protect the front of the hood like several seem to be - they lay pretty flat to the hood, no swept up back edge, etc. Must actually divert upward.
*Some advertise that they will deflect grit, sand, small stones (nothing will deflect all things at all speeds - that's just physics) I would love to not hear so many rock hits against the glass. Almost every week I cringe and wonder when the next teeny tiny little chip will turn into a crack like last spring.

*Prefer to not glue or tape to the hood - especially the front and top of the hood. If the deflector breaks I want to be able to take it off and replace it and not rip the paint off the hood. That 3M tape will tear things apart before it comes loose. I know - I've used it to attach the trim to my SX4 and thought I was going to take the finish off the bumper when I found a new piece of trim for it. If I change my mind or don't like it I don't want to have to remove tape from the front and top of the hood. I actually prefer screws on the underside. I've done my last 2 that way.

*I'd prefer that it sat off the surface of the hood if possible as vibrations will wear through the paint. I've seen it happen on one of my other trucks where the deflector rubbed in a couple of spots and wore through the paint after a couple of years. (some seem to have some sort of rubber bumper to hold it off the hood?)

Since the truck is so shiny and smooth all over (save for the bumper) I would lean toward a smooth smoked look........... but if one does the job and isn't that way, priority is bugs and small rocks kept from the glass.

This was after about 2 hours...........it got much worse. KS and NE - bug capital of the world (except for FL then there's MN with their mosquitos the size of drones. )

Damn! That’s a lot of bugs. We’ve been ramming Brood X cicadas here on the east coast for weeks, they leave 4-6” splatters. I have a chip guard on the wife’s JL, but it does little for bugs. I ordered the same for my JT, but don’t expect bug deflection.

 

[gpwrang33]

What's the last thing that goes through a bugs mind before it hits the windshield?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Damn! That’s a lot of bugs. We’ve been ramming Brood X cicadas here on the east coast for weeks, they leave 4-6” splatters. I have a chip guard on the wife’s JL, but it does little for bugs. I ordered the same for my JT, but don’t expect bug deflection.

Yeah it's a lot and that's after cleaning them off a couple of hours earlier. I didn't get pics of the larger ones that blocked right in front of the driver seat - 3 big splats, each the size of a quarter or so, blocking areas more than a half dollar size in total.

I've heard about the cicada deal over there. We have them but they aren't like that - they are here every year and man the NOISE in August.

 

[LostWoods]

You won't do away with bug impacts completely, they will move up higher on the windshield.

Now if you run into a swarm, all bets are off, bug guts everywhere.

Yeah can't really get around a near vertical windshield... deflectors seem to work better with a bit more slope where they can either mash or push bugs upward into the slipstream.

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