I've seen a lot of posts about the aesthetics of bug deflectors, but do they work? For the next year and a half 70% of my miles are going to be at highway speeds of 65+mph. I just took a 1,000 mile roundtrip from VA to Kentucky and gained lots of bugs on the windshield and hood area; I'm also gaining some nice paint chips.

I have access to a free deflector from a 2001 screw and I'm thinking of taking it. Do they help at all, or are they more of an appearance thing?

 

They do some good. Some designs are more effective than others.
I get almost no bug or rock hits on the hood - plenty on the windshield.
Don't expect miracles.

 

The only one worth while is the lo pro lay flat style, the big ones trap crud behind and scuff the paint to hell. I'd do a 3m clear protective film 4 or so inches on the hood

 

I like mine. I still get bugs on the windshield but no paint chips. Mine is a higher quality plastic that's really rigid so I don't have any paint rubbed off and as long as you keep your truck clean you don't have to worry about too much crud getting stuck behind it.
I just like the looks honestly.

 

I like the looks of mine also.

 

I have one, my hood is scratched to hell (99% positive that's not from rocks though, I think the PO played air hockey with a brick on the hood), and I got a few rock chips in the windshield. I personally like the look of them on these trucks though.

 

I've had mine get hit by two birds and then flip them over the truck

 

Thanks for the response guys! I think I'm going to pass on it, I trust 3m but over the years the tapes bound to loose protective ability and I'd rather protect the paint more.