New Hood Protector / Deflector and Cab Spoiler Install on 2024 Ranger Raptor

[yelnoc2]

How did the shield work? Any vibration at higher speeds?

I like it, had it installed by the guy that did my tint. Don't notice any, with Baha exhaust setting and sub-woofer, not sure I could feel it you can probably see that there are 3 places where it essentially bolts on so that may help.

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[Freedom Beast]

Well, installed both Ford Accessory; Lund/Ford Branded Hood Protector/Deflector and Cab Spoiler.

Both fit well and enhance the protection of the hood and windshield along with their aesthetic pleasing line and appearance. Got them fairly inexpensively considering I had a good amount of FordPass points . Still waiting on the tailgate spoiler.

Fitting for both is fairly straight forward with good instructions provided. These installs are those that you take your time with and triple check measurement and placement. I can’t express this enough; follow the instructions provide and don't rush. Once they are on you’re not getting them off.

The cab spoiler and hood deflector protector comes with 3M tape applied, 3M adhesive tube for a caulking gun and yellow grease pencil for the spoiler as well. (The 3M adhesive is only to be utilized with the spoiler, do not use on the hood.)

The instructions are thorough and precise. It’s also good advice to utilize the yellow grease pencil on the hood, to mark its placement before removing the 3M tape covering and securing it to the hood. This way you know it’s positioned correctly when the tape touches the hood surface.

Cleaning with isopropyl alcohol (91% or greater) is a must for proper adhesion strength. Doesn't require an adhesive promoter, nor do I advise it due to the painted surface. Just a good clean surface free of wax.

Both enhance the appearance of the Ranger Raptor.. Although they're very well adhered to the surface, I don’t advise running the truck thru a regular full touch car wash. Touch free or high pressure wand wash, no issue.

Just remember to take your time and be methodical about positioning and marking.

Truck looks great. I noticed they make a hood protector with a "bump" and one without. Thoughts on this and does it really make a diff?

 

[RANGER/HOBB]

Bug deflector and it works.

 

[danielson]

Ordered the EGR hood protector after lots of research. Did not want anything that stuck directly to the hood. Had AVS bugflector 2 on my Lariat but they were bought by Lund and don't make anything similar that will fit 2024 Rangers or Ranger Raptors

how is your egr guard holding up? I was just about to buy one, and then searched on different sites for reviews, and they have some of the worst reviews, mainly for the mounting brackets not fitting properly.

 

[superj]

how is your egr guard holding up? I was just about to buy one, and then searched on different sites for reviews, and they have some of the worst reviews, mainly for the mounting brackets not fitting properly.

I have the egr one. No issues with it, at all. Even driving pretty close to 100mph on some long trips.

No cracks and seems to work good, except against big rocks that come out od nowhere and hit the window

 

[Slyder]

I'm pretty sure the complaints about the clamps are due to the gap where they slip onto the hood.

I had an issue with mine and had to spread the clamps open a little bit so they didn't need to be forced on, when you apply the protection tape to the area where the clamp goes.

 

[superj]

Ohh, i thought you were talking about the plastic guard. The clamps are metal, arent they?

 

[Slyder]

Ohh, i thought you were talking about the plastic guard. The clamps are metal, arent they?

Yeah, and the gap they come with tends to be narrow and needs to be opened up a little bit.

Otherwise I've had mine on for almost a year now and have had no issues what so ever.

 

[DesertSand]

Bug deflector and it works.

Any noticable wind noise with the "bump" in the middle? I'll be shopping for one after getting 3 small paint nicks on my hood this past weekend.

 

[RANGER/HOBB]

Any noticable wind noise with the "bump" in the middle? I'll be shopping for one after getting 3 small paint nicks on my hood this past weekend.

None….

 

[KDub]

My first post here in kamikaze bug season to echo that the Aeroskin II does work well and looks real nice too. Like the OP indicated (and with everything that uses 3M double sided tape) you want to take your time, especially with things that will drive you Insane like aligning a long flexible section of plastic that will gnaw at your very core if it’s off a millimeter even if you’re not lenient towards OCD. I’m not, was in a great mood with a full cup of coffee at the time, got it a little wrong and I even glitched out once or twice.

I avoided a lot of trouble by following some advice from smart (rare) people on the internet…

1. Don’t pull 3M tape backing edges at the start.
2. Dry fit to the hood using masking tape along the top. Start in the middle, get it right and then use a lot of tape working outwards as if creating a beautiful hinge made of masking tape. Masking tape is to be wasted and not to be treated as an endangered species. Go ahead buy two rolls it’s OK.
3. Flop up and over your new ugly contraption of plastic and tape. Now it’s upside down with the tape side facing up. Make sure when you fold it back down it’s going to line back up to keep you in reliable territory with just some minor adjustments if needed.
4. Use the cleaner and such and let it dry and try not to sweat all over it.
5. Now that you’re ready for the initial wet fit, pull just enough of the 3M tape backing edges out barely enough to get some adhesion to the hood and allow you to move and re-stick with no effort if needed. Also enough 3M tape backing has got to stick out from the edge of the protector to grab and smoothly pull it all off when you’re ready to commit. The 3M tape backing loves to roll back under the protector and go back where it was when you do this. I think they call this “molecular memory”. It will make you angry. A little square of masking tape to tape and hold the slivers of 3M tape backing around on the top side of the protector will allow you to focus on the importance of aligning the protector.
6. Hopefully when you’ve committed to final adhesion and everything is aligned right you lightly stick the center working outwards pulling off backing and applying pressure as you go along, a little left side, a little right side, checking the outer edges alignment with the hood gap, etc. I used a soft towel.

P.S. A good final step is to start up the truck and rub down again with a warmed up hood. This 3M tape loves to be applied in warm weather/surfaces. A common cause for the famous “my thing fell off the window when summer hit!” review quote is because it was applied in cool/cold weather and heat expansion caused it to basically loose its vacuum. Also people pick it back up and try to stick it back on using the fake 3-second rule, but it’s too late, it’s dirty now and will fall off again and again and fresh tape is required.

P.P.S. 3M double sided hates to be pulled off fast. It’s TOTALLY removable. It just requires the appropriate amount of force and no more but also as long amount of time it needs to release as basically hundreds of tiny suction cups you can’t see are letting go serially. You just have to be patient. Sometimes it is stronger than the thing you stuck it to. This can lead to destruction.

Sorry if this post seems long for a piece of plastic and deters anyone from trying to do this themselves. It’s just a process so take your time and treat it as therapy.

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