Hi All--

I installed this bug guard when I bought the truck, mainly to protect the front of the hood from rock chips, etc. I am having 2nd thoughts about it, and cant make up my mind if it should stay or go! My main complaint about it is that is whistles when on the freeway. Usually will crank the tunes so I cant hear it, but that is not always possible!

For those that do not have one, any issues with rock dings, etc?

 

Photo

 

Looks nice but I'm not totally convinced they actually help. I won't be picking one up, but thats just me.

 

Nice looking truck, by the way.
You have the same one as I do (the FoMoCo unit), and I don't have any issues with noise. I am assuming you feel the bug deflector is responsible because prior to putting it on, you didn't have the whistling? Any other changes/mods done at the same time that could be causing the noise?

 

I guess it all falls to expectation management.

Is it keeping small rocks off the windshield... Not mine.
Bugs? Some.. I would guess

However for the number of small scratches and nicks and bugs that I have on the 'shield' that would have hit the paint/covered portion of the truck hood... Its pretty helpfull.

However in regards to the whistle noise at speed. I have it as well. Although I tend to notice it more in certain weather conditions than others. Maybe it is just me but I tend to notice it more on higher humidity days.

 

I have the same shield on my 2010 XLT. I don't have ANY whistling noise. Maybe you could try some duck tape to to isolate where the whistling is coming from and go from there. There's gotta be something different from your installation to mine. It's what I would do....

 

Nice truck Bud........have the same bug guard installed on my 2010 FX4 and I don't get the 'whistling' either. Just wondering if you installed any rubber bumpers behind the unit. I had mine installed when I purchased the truck and the dealership attached 3 rubber cone shaped bumpers to the truck behind the guard. I guess this is to prevent bending or flapping of the unit. If you don't have these installed and the guard is moving, I guess a 'whistling' could happen.

 

I'm personally not a fan of bug guards just because of how they look. I'd rather keep the actual look of the truck and repair the paint if need be after a few years.

A lot of times the paint gets damaged under the bug guard anyway because it never gets cleaned well as well as those little bumpers damaging the surface. So it's not really doing anything to protect the paint anyhow.

If you like how it looks thought, that is one thing, and to each his own!

 

Thanks everyone it was installed with the rubber bumpers, like mentioned, etc. It did get quite a bit worse after the lift kit for some reason. Funny part is this: I did not really notice it until I posted a photo of it here, and someone asked me if the whistling bothered me. Of course, after that I did hear it, and it started bugging me!
I guess that is the same thing as the spaces in the front bumper, on either side of the license plate. I really did not notice those either until someone here pointed out how odd that makes the front end look! I think I might have to get the billet grill that fits in there someday!
Sounds like I am too easily influenced, eh?

Think I am going to remove that bug guard after the game today, and see how that goes! At least, I'll get things cleaned up under it!

 

I have the same one on a 2010 XTR, no whistle. Had it install at dealer when purchased. I don't have a lift kit.