Anyone Know of Any Bug / Stone Guards for Hood that Go All Way Across?

[DesertSand]

Airplex sells that guard for almost $30 less than that UK eBay seller, their website is not set up for International sales, so I sent an enquiry to see if it is possible. I will follow up with details if they respond. See attached pics.

https://www.airplex.co.nz/product-group/23148-bonnet-guard/product

I would much prefer to get mine direct from NZ rather than get one that has made TWO long international trips….

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

I contacted them directly by email and shipping is crazy high.

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[Bushmechanic]

I had one from Auto Ventshade quite some time ago. I bought it after ending up in an area with an obscene amount of bugs; far too many for washers and wipers to handle.

Later, I found myself in a cold weather environment that was about -15F at the time. I walked by the vehicle, my shirt caught the corner of the guard, and about a quarter of it shattered.

 

[Scooter]

If ONLY I had the extra cash to do a whole PPF wrap...alas I'm just a poor man who barely squeezed out enough in the budget for the truck / gas / regular maintenance.

Unfortunately at this time, its cheap options only. I might be able to swing PPF for just the front (headlights and body areas, not worried about bumper or grille). That seems to be the best option even for limited coverage.

I hear what you are saying. I ordered my Ranger. Just short $3000.00 to pay it in full.
I thought about the Ford PPF wrap. It just covered the hood and fenders. Would have purchased it if it covered behind the wheels and other areas. Going to get some seat covers. i destroy the seats.

 

[DesertSand]

While I wasn't expecting it, the color match to the stock "charcoal" colored OE polymer on the grille / fenders is a VERY close match to the stone guard from Airplex. It is a matte black, but it has a bit of an egg-shell sheen that makes it look more "charcoal grey" than you would think, it's almost an OE look.

I love it. It's also quite robust, the material is of similar plastic type to the grille and it's about 2mm thick, so it's quite robust. I would not expect it to crack for break unless you get into a actual collision (which you'll have bigger issues than a cracked stone guard). I think this is "the stoneguard to get" for this truck.

It also has the winglets that cover the front edges of the fenders right where most of my rock chips are, so it should reduce them significantly. You could also put this over PPF if one wanted to. Install is also removable, uses two push pins with screws (which expand behind the mounting hole), then two clips at the ends with a PPF-like clear pads so the plastic clips don't scratch your paint.

Was a bit of a pain to get on, but once it's on it's very secure and fits nicely, generous clearance from the hood and not really anywhere for water to pool. Although, with any screw-on type if you get a lot of debris from trees, you might need to blow it out periodically with compressed air or a soft brush. Aside from that (not an issue for me), it's a very well designed stone / bug shield.

How much was the tarrifs?

 

[SubZombie]

I’ve had deflectors in the past and maybe I own my vehicles too long but I was never really happy with them In the long run.

This time I have factory paint protection film and it covers along the front edge of the hood and down the sides and the area just in front of the rear wheels.

I find the opposite. Over time the PPF becomes obvious and the seam stands out more and more. Also it doesn't do shit besides get torn up when a rock actually hits somewhere hard that would be enough to damage the paint or dent something. I had Xpel on a car and when I removed it after it got covered with little holes, the paint underneath it was in terrible shape.

 

[Lion77]

Never used PPF, I did buy some just of the headlights thought to help with UV protection and rock chips in the plastic. Aside from that I'm just going bug / stone guard and rest is commando!

I do like having the bug / stone guard though for its aesthetics, protection of the front edge of the hood / fenders, nothing to stick on the paint and you guessed it, actually helps reduce bugs on the windshield due to the lift it creates in the air stream.

 

[Lion77]

For those wondering about the clearance between the bug / stone guard (in Euro speak, bonnet guard) and the hood / fenders, here are a few pics:

As you can see, it actually stands off quite a ways from the front lip of the hood, so it's not "curling around the lip of the hood" where it will trap water / debris and rub / vibrate that it would cause paint damage over time.

The outer edges are then secured by plastic clips and there is a PPF type film you put over the contact areas that the clips slide over. Obviously, you could take it off once a year and replace the PPF pads if you wanted to do some maintenance / inspection, but I'm not seeing how those would cause an issue.

They aren't exposed to UV since the guard blocks all the sunlight, so the film isn't going to sit in the sun and bake on. Maybe over time it might age and get brittle, but you could just buy some PPF strips for a few bucks and may once every year or two just replace the pads if it's a concern.

The clips are removable, the only possible issue I see with them is that over time, with lots of UV exposure, maybe they could become brittle and crack if you try to pry them open too hard, however the acrylic used is of the same grade that your grill, fender flairs and other exterior plastic moldings are made from, it's quite robust.

Overall, I think this is by far the best designed and best-looking stone guard. Well thought out and designed, a bit of a pain to install just due to position stuff and then trying to insert the expanding push pins and screw in the screws to the push pins by yourself, but with 2nd hand it's fairly easy.

Under the hood section, you remove two push pins from the front hood gasket / seal (2nd ones from outer most edges), slide the edge of the guard under the gasket, insert the push pins and tighten down the screws so the pins expand in the hole and hold it all in place. Easily removable if necessary.

Here's a install video:

How To Fit A Bonnet Protector To A 2023+ Ford Ranger Raptor

 

[Lion77]

Note that this thing isn't coming off by accident, it's very well secured and doesn't wiggle around, I've observed no vibration or movement during normal drivng at highway speeds. The only time I see vibration is through an automatic touchless car wash, the dryers blasting huge volumes of air will cause some oscillation, but nothing that causes contact with the hood and nothing has come undone.

I typically take the truck through the wash once or twice a week, so it's regularly subjected to high pressure water and air in the touchless down the street. I would easily buy again for other SUV's or Trucks, my only regret is that it isn't a US mfg...., but America dropped the ball on making quality stone / bug guards for their mid-sized top tier off-roader (the RR) some reason!

At least it's from Europe which is much closer culturally to American and say China / Russia, and happen to be our biggest allies, so I can live with that for a small ticket item consider the RR was made in the US (mostly, engine assembled in Lema OH, truck assembled in Dearborn, MI)

 

[@OD_wan_Kenobi]

For those wondering about the clearance between the bug / stone guard (in Euro speak, bonnet guard) and the hood / fenders, here are a few pics:

As you can see, it actually stands off quite a ways from the front lip of the hood, so it's not "curling around the lip of the hood" where it will trap water / debris and rub / vibrate that it would cause paint damage over time.

The outer edges are then secured by plastic clips and there is a PPF type film you put over the contact areas that the clips slide over. Obviously, you could take it off once a year and replace the PPF pads if you wanted to do some maintenance / inspection, but I'm not seeing how those would cause an issue.

They aren't exposed to UV since the guard blocks all the sunlight, so the film isn't going to sit in the sun and bake on. Maybe over time it might age and get brittle, but you could just buy some PPF strips for a few bucks and may once every year or two just replace the pads if it's a concern.

The clips are removable, the only possible issue I see with them is that over time, with lots of UV exposure, maybe they could become brittle and crack if you try to pry them open too hard, however the acrylic used is of the same grade that your grill, fender flairs and other exterior plastic moldings are made from, it's quite robust.

Overall, I think this is by far the best designed and best-looking stone guard. Well thought out and designed, a bit of a pain to install just due to position stuff and then trying to insert the expanding push pins and screw in the screws to the push pins by yourself, but with 2nd hand it's fairly easy.

Under the hood section, you remove two push pins from the front hood gasket / seal (2nd ones from outer most edges), slide the edge of the guard under the gasket, insert the push pins and tighten down the screws so the pins expand in the hole and hold it all in place. Easily removable if necessary.

Here's a install video:

How To Fit A Bonnet Protector To A 2023+ Ford Ranger Raptor

Thanks for sharing this, very helpful. Just ordered!

 

[Lion77]

Yep, shipping is expensive from the UK distributor via E-bay. Airplex won't ship direct, so that's why I had to find a distributor. You pay out the rear end for shipping, my total was around $180 with nearly half of it being shipping (maybe some tariff cost too). I'm of the mindset, buy once, cry once.

For most things, it's NOT worth it to pay double due to shipping, but for a $100 bug deflector that's well made, won't break, covers what I want and looks nice when nothing domestically fit the bill? Sure, I'll buy once, and cry once given it's still FAR less than something like an Intercooler, Pro Cal, Method Wheels or Rock Sliders that are all big dollar mods (some of which, like the Pro Cal, I've already done).

So, is $180 pricey for a bug / stone guard? Yah it is. Do I regret it? Not one bit, but that's me and it's something I really wanted for the truck for all the reasons I listed.

 

[DanielRayJ]

It has been a long time since I road a motorcycle on the road. But I do remember how it felt when the sand and small pebbles would hit my face, not good at all. So yea sitting behind the windshield of the vehicle your in will not give you a good idea how much sand and rock blasting is occurring every time you're on the road. Especially behind a 18-wheeler!!!! YIKES!!!!!

 

[mnrangerwi]

For those wondering about the clearance between the bug / stone guard (in Euro speak, bonnet guard) and the hood / fenders, here are a few pics:

As you can see, it actually stands off quite a ways from the front lip of the hood, so it's not "curling around the lip of the hood" where it will trap water / debris and rub / vibrate that it would cause paint damage over time.

The outer edges are then secured by plastic clips and there is a PPF type film you put over the contact areas that the clips slide over. Obviously, you could take it off once a year and replace the PPF pads if you wanted to do some maintenance / inspection, but I'm not seeing how those would cause an issue.

They aren't exposed to UV since the guard blocks all the sunlight, so the film isn't going to sit in the sun and bake on. Maybe over time it might age and get brittle, but you could just buy some PPF strips for a few bucks and may once every year or two just replace the pads if it's a concern.

The clips are removable, the only possible issue I see with them is that over time, with lots of UV exposure, maybe they could become brittle and crack if you try to pry them open too hard, however the acrylic used is of the same grade that your grill, fender flairs and other exterior plastic moldings are made from, it's quite robust.

Overall, I think this is by far the best designed and best-looking stone guard. Well thought out and designed, a bit of a pain to install just due to position stuff and then trying to insert the expanding push pins and screw in the screws to the push pins by yourself, but with 2nd hand it's fairly easy.

Under the hood section, you remove two push pins from the front hood gasket / seal (2nd ones from outer most edges), slide the edge of the guard under the gasket, insert the push pins and tighten down the screws so the pins expand in the hole and hold it all in place. Easily removable if necessary.

Here's a install video:

How To Fit A Bonnet Protector To A 2023+ Ford Ranger Raptor

Looks good! I bought the same one off eBay (smoked version). Going to install it in next day or so.

Have you developed any issues with rubbing? I think I’m going to put some thin mole skin in a few spots that I think might rub….but overall it doesn’t look like it will.

Still wishing they would make the AVS Bugflector II for the Ranger 25 with zero contact points on the outside of the hood (like they do for some models).

Thanks,

 

[JimG]

I’ve had bug shields and PPF both in the past. If never had a bug shield break nor has the PPF ever looked like shit. I have a 9 year old car with PPF on and it still looks new. Bud shield protects about 5 inches. But leaves 7-8“ on either side unprotected. PPF can leave a small dent when hit by a rock about 1” minus. Unless it’s hits on a sharp edge it takes a lot to cut the PPF and chip the paint. Protected area is significantly larger than a bug shield.
A small container of touchup paint goes a long way to keeping your truck nice. But not following too close is the best way of keeping everything nice.
it’s a personal choice with both having strengths and weaknesses. Again, just don't follow so close.
Cheers

 

[Red Rover]

Have you developed any issues with rubbing? I think I’m going to put some thin mole skin in a few spots that I think might rub….but overall it doesn’t look like it will.

My last bug shield chipped the paint off the front edge when closing the hood. I'm considering the Airplex, but will probably put some PPF on the front edge of the hood where the shield contacts it.

 

[bigb]

I just ordered the Airplex for my 2025 XLT. Matte Black. There is now an $24 tariff charge bringing the total to $205.32 to the US. Like @Lion77 I didn't like any of the other offerings available here so buy once cry once it is. It's going to take a couple weeks and I have one highway trip planned of about 300 miles before that, hope I don't get any damage.

I don't quite understand the math though, the $20.32 "import fees" at the bottom are not included in the $205.32 total and I wonder if I will get hit with an additional charge.

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