RealTruck AVS Bugflector II Review

[Armchair]

The @Realtruck AVS® Bugflector® II Bug Shield seems to be fairly controversial, but I decided to give it a shot anyway. Here's my experience.

The quality and appearance of the deflector itself is pretty good and it's pretty affordable ($79.99 before $15 rebate). My hardware holes matched up perfectly with the holes in my hood. The main complaint I've seen from early adopters was that the holes didn't match. The provided hardware seemed to work fine. I'd seen complaints about the quality of the hardware, too.

My problems started when I shut and opened my hood after installation. I hadn't seen this mentioned anywhere previously, but my deflector scraped the leading corners of both of my fender panels when I closed my hood. To get the hood open, I had to scrape both corners, again.

I had adjusted the hood bumpers, as the instructions say, but I don't think this could have been prevented, even if I had raised them a lot. The only way I could see to get the clearance I needed was to remove some material from the deflector with a Dremel. This was easy and it works fine, now, but it really shouldn't have been necessary. I would have been much happier if this had been part of the instructions and I could have saved my paint.

(At least I already had touch up paint coming for another nick.)

P.S. I haven't decided if the rubber bumpers they provide are necessary. These attach to the hood with adhesive and are supposed to protect the hood if the deflector ... deflects too much? It seems unlikely that it would bend that far and I'd rather not glue things to my paint. Does anyone else have experience with these?

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[Optimus]

I had all the same issues, including hitting the front fenders. I did document it on this forum in older posts. Realtruck was useless and I haven’t bought from them since.

 

[Armchair]

I had all the same issues, including hitting the front fenders. I did document it on this forum in older posts. Realtruck was useless and I haven’t bought from them since.

I haven't even contacted them yet. It's not like they'd compensate me for my paint scrape and I don't really even want a refund, now that I've made it work.

I understand not wanting to give them more business.

 

[Optimus]

I haven't even contacted them yet. It's not like they'd compensate me for my paint scrape and I don't really even want a refund, now that I've made it work.

I understand not wanting to give them more business.

For what it’s worth, they knew about the fender clearance issue because I sent them photos (in case you contact them and they deny hearing of it before). I mention this, because when I opened a case with “both companies,” AVS claimed they never heard of any fitment issues before on a Maverick. This, despite issues being well-documented on this forum for quite some time prior to me opening my case.

Oh and Realtruck owns AVS.

 

[Stradbash]

Thanks for the post!
I had not seen this issue mentioned before and will see about checking for this interference problem and modifying mine before it's fully installed.

By the way, by ordering a few other things I needed from Autozone online I was able to get a discount and free shipping with a total cost of $53.41 including taxes.

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[HoiToid]

I bought mine April 30 from RealTruck so I missed the Rebate by a day~~~~ but I had the same problem with installation with one hole not lining up and chipping the paint on driver's side front fender~~~ so had to use some of my "points" to get a TouchUp paint container. Had to use Dremel to scallop the edge of Bugflector II to get clearance so it doesn't snag on fender. No really good support from RealTruck other than a generic "cut&paste" email saying my issue was resolved with them. They own Lund which is parent of AVS so RealTruck owns all of it. I called AVS and at least got to talk to a live person but they scratched their heads and said to try trimming edge to get clearance~~Moral support, but no compensation for any of it on this
"supposedly" re-tooled Bugflector II that was out of stock at RealTruck during the correction process~~~~ so I think I got one from old inventory somehow.
Then the instructions on Motorcraft paint product said to clean area, let dry, use BaseCoat and let dry for 30 minutes before applying TopCoat. I let BaseCoat dry for 2 1/2 hours & when I put on TopCoat per instructions, and it removed BaseCoat down to bare metal again. I called Body Shop at dealer and they said to let BaseCoat dry 24 hours~~~~ so I'm back to starting all over with paint scenario.
Frustrating, but the Bugflector II looks good and I like that it extends to cover the fenders.

 

[HoiToid]

The @Realtruck AVS® Bugflector® II Bug Shield seems to be fairly controversial, but I decided to give it a shot anyway. Here's my experience.

The quality and appearance of the deflector itself is pretty good and it's pretty affordable ($79.99 before $15 rebate). My hardware holes matched up perfectly with the holes in my hood. The main complaint I've seen from early adopters was that the holes didn't match. The provided hardware seemed to work fine. I'd seen complaints about the quality of the hardware, too.

My problems started when I shut and opened my hood after installation. I hadn't seen this mentioned anywhere previously, but my deflector scraped the leading corners of both of my fender panels when I closed my hood. To get the hood open, I had to scrape both corners, again.

I had adjusted the hood bumpers, as the instructions say, but I don't think this could have been prevented, even if I had raised them a lot. The only way I could see to get the clearance I needed was to remove some material from the deflector with a Dremel. This was easy and it works fine, now, but it really shouldn't have been necessary. I would have been much happier if this had been part of the instructions and I could have saved my paint.

(At least I already had touch up paint coming for another nick.)

P.S. I haven't decided if the rubber bumpers they provide are necessary. These attach to the hood with adhesive and are supposed to protect the hood if the deflector ... deflects too much? It seems unlikely that it would bend that far and I'd rather not glue things to my paint. Does anyone else have experience with these?

I put the little rubber bumpers on the backside of Bugflector II instead of on the hood. Same end result for protecting hood. Try that if it's not too late, just clean with alcohol before applying.

 

[Armchair]

I put the little rubber bumpers on the backside of Bugflector II instead of on the hood. Same end result for protecting hood. Try that if it's not too late, just clean with alcohol before applying.

Yeah. Now that you mention it, that seems like the obvious solution.

 

[Armchair]

Then the instructions on Motorcraft paint product said to clean area, let dry, use BaseCoat and let dry for 30 minutes before applying TopCoat. I let BaseCoat dry for 2 1/2 hours & when I put on TopCoat per instructions, and it removed BaseCoat down to bare metal again. I called Body Shop at dealer and they said to let BaseCoat dry 24 hours~~~~ so I'm back to starting all over with paint scenario.

Thanks. This is good info. I wasn't able to find anyone saying much about the touch up paint.

 

[HoiToid]

Thanks. This is good info. I wasn't able to find anyone saying much about the touch up paint.

I just lightly used the scrubber tip on Touch-up paint bottle, then cleaned with rubbing alcohol, waited 5 minutes till dry, and applied thin coat of BaseCoat. 83° in shade and about 75%humidity. I can still see the grayish metal thru the BaseCoat, so I'm going to let it cure 24 hours, then apply another coat. Let that cure 24 hours if it covers the metal satisfactorily , then apply TopCoat probably Monday. My first "failed" attempt yesterday may have been that I applied BaseCoat too thick, and the surface skinned over before it could cure all the way thru to the bare metal.
All of process was done in the shade

 

[Montana]

This is the EGR one?

If so, looks like both AVS and EGR are having issues with these things.

 

[Cleek]

If you want a little more guaranteed clearance you can get the .5" conical bumpers.

https://www.amazon.com/Extender-Speakers-amplifiers-Appliance-Bumpers/dp/B07PDJ7T71/?th=1

 

[clos0791]

Too bad because I really like the look and function of the RealTruck AVS Bugflector II . I have it, still new in the box but I can't convince myself to install it because of the issues mentioned here. I called to return it for a refund. They gave me my refund but did not want the item back so I got it at no cost. I was told I had the revised version., that is why I bought it originally.

 

[JP4AZ]

I believe I have one of the older versions because I had to elongate one of the holes for the deflector to line up/fit properly. It has been on for 6k miles and I have no rubbing on either of the front fenders. I just went out and checked. I am very happy with my AVS Bugflector II as it sits above the paint and also protects the fender too.

 

[HoiToid]

Too bad because I really like the look and function of the RealTruck AVS Bugflector II . I have it, still new in the box but I can't convince myself to install it because of the issues mentioned here. I called to return it for a refund. They gave me my refund but did not want the item back so I got it at no cost. I was told I had the revised version., that is why I bought it originally.

Just be prepared to use a Dremel with a cone tip with a "fine" grade sander/grinder tip to elongate the 4 pre-drilled holes if they don't line up. Hopefully yours came with oval holes instead of circular ones, then you won't have to do that step.

Then, look closely underneath where it starts to cover front fenders along the edge of the hood & scallop carefully about a dime size curve off the edge with the cone Dremel sander/grinder tip just on the edge of where it clears the fender. That should make it fit well. I put the 4 clear "bumpstops" on the backside of the Bugflector II instead of on the hood paint.
Also, mark your 2 hood bumper stops with a pencil before you do any adjustments so you'll know where they were set at at the factory.
I think you'll like it once to you get it on . I also put strip of painters tape over the hood gasket to keep it securely in place where it had the factory clips removed. Easier than it sounds, it's a nice product once you get it fine-tuned, and it covers the fenders too . Good luck

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