Air deflector install

[shovelhd]

Very well done post. Thank you.

[carolinaridgeline]

What percentage do you guys think these deflectors reduce the number of bugs hitting the windshield?

[Truckin']

We didn't have our truck long enough before putting the deflector on to make a comparison. Our bugs are just getting thick now. The other evening at dusk we got splattered like crazy. The whole front end of the truck was full of yellow splats. Did any miss the windshield because we had a deflector on? I don't know. We would have needed much more than that little strip of plastic to make a noticeable difference.

For me, the air deflector is more for looks. I like the black accents that we've added to our truck.

[06RTLNAVBlue]

My deflector does a good job limiting the amount of love bugs and other insect killings here in Florida. A few times I have also noticed dirt from trucks that is "swept over" the truck rather than hitting the windshield.

[steveberger]

I have an engineer buddy who used to do wind tunnel testing for Toyota. He claims that in the old days when vehicles were all the same shape and gas was 99 cents a gallon an air deflector may have streamlined a vehicle's profile and actually reduced wind resistance and deflected bugs over the windshield. Today, so much testing goes into the aerodynamic design of a vehicle (for noise and fuel economy) that adding a deflector can only undo what the designers spent alot of time and money to shape correctly. For example, he claims the little nubs on the top of your Ridgelines side view mirrors are for air flow noise reduction!

He says if you like how they look, go for it. You won't damage anything, but if you are hoping to improve air flow over and around your vehicle for bug deflection or fuel economy you are probably not going to improve on the original design. He admits it will protect the small area the deflector actually covers.

[Michael]

Excellent post... Did mind today, took about 1:15, but I was fighting some wind. Got mine from Collegehills. Downloaded their instructions, which seem like "official" Honda install instructions. Step 12 reads: "Install the center bracket over the hood around the protective tape. Push the center bracket against the hood while you install the screw". There ain't no flipping center screw! It just presses on. Maybe that was my extra 15 minutes... trying to search down that extra 5 x 13 MM screw.

Off to do the .. running boards, rear view camera, body molding, door visors, hitch, roof rack, day/night mirror, metallic trim and fog lights...good thing I am off next week. Did the Under-Seat cargo Tray today as well, that was a tough one.

[Truckin']

Originally Posted by Michael

Excellent post...

Did the Under-Seat cargo Tray today as well, that was a tough one.

Thanks. I know a few photos can take the guess work out of what they written instructions are trying to explain. You should have seen my confusion over the tailgate seal. . .

If the Under-Seat cargo tray taxed you, you'd better clear the weekend if you want to add the rear mud guards. The window vent shades are another tough one. . . Prepare yourself.

[5S Dude]

Great post Truckin! Thanks for the photos. I had thought about mounting one but we went with the string bikini look instead.

[Truckin']

Bump, it hasn't seen light of day in a long time.

[Truckin']

Bump for people who are adding air deflectors in 2008.