I have read several post that a bugshield will cause excess drag on the truck at highway speeds. This makes sense to me, but I was curious if the installation of a tonneau cover would negate the drag since the air would be flowing over the top of the cab and bouncing off the tonneau. What do you guys think?

 

A bug shield causing excess drag how big is the bug shield..lol

 

I thought it was the 4.6 that was sluggush. I guess I should have researched the Bugflector more.

Seriously - I have both on my truck and don't see any performance or gas mileage differences at all.

 

Are you possibly talking about a snowplow? Now THAT would cause drag.

 

funny stuff guys. Seriously though, it has to make a difference. Any mod like that will change the aerodynamics. Ford doesn't test it with a bug shield on. I've read and heard that the bugshield can deflect the air just enough where it does not create the vortex in the bed, ala the Mythbusters Experiment, but directs the air directly into the tailgate, thus causing drag. Granted you will never notice this in mostly town driving, but it could cause some drag at highway speeds. I have just always wondered about it that's all.

 

Sure would do the job on bugs too, I think I smell the start of a trend.

 

Seriously I think wind drag is the least of our worries regarding gas mileage on these trucks. I just don't see a bug deflector causing that much of a change in aerodynamics. IMO the F-150 is a brick on 4 wheels (albeit a very nice looking brick )

 

The only problem I had was a shimmy of the hood at highway speeds.

It was actually the same amount of drag due to the physics of it all...

Here's a basic drawing...

Air flows over the pocket that it creates... so it's like a hood itself.

 

Wow a serious response! Thanks for the input ieee_raider. What brand did you have? Did you remove it?

 

Mine was a stampede and yes, I did remove it.
I've tried putting it back on a couple of times, but it always ends up bugging (no pun inteded) too much...

 

so, can you describe the hood shake and how bad it is? I'm looking at a bunch of chips on the front of my hood, and would rather cover them up if it's not too bad...

 

I don't think it'd matter much. I've got a Ford low profile critter shield on my truck, and I think I get damn good fuel mileage considering what it is and how I drive.

 

Who wrote a bug shield would cause drag? WOW a three inch piece of platic that is actually more areodynamic than the big blocky grille.

 

Where the hood meets the wiper cowl, it was enough of a shake to distract me from the road. It was enough of a flex for me "worry" about it.

 

That is why you get the OEM Low profile one... It almost sits on the hood.