I was looking at a picture of when I first bought my truck and I was thinking I want to remove my bug flector. I think it looks a little cleaner without it on there. I'm worried about the possibility that it may have chipped the paint around where it contacts the hood/grill. Has anyone taken theirs off and had any trouble? And which do you think looks better?
I'm also contemplating taking off the front license plate off. Does that just pull off?
With:

Without:

 

I would leave the bug sheild and get rid of the license plate, just my 2 cents. Good luck.

 

 

Keep the bugshield man. Oh yea, replace that license plate with a Univeristy of Miami plate. Then it would be perfect.

 

Definitely take it off.

 

I was thinking about buying one but I decided it looks better w/o it. all the bug deflectors ive bought never work. I have more bugs on the windshield. I think it was actually a magnet. Looks cleaner w/o it.

 

I took mine off and really liked the way it looked. It had a few minor paint chips where it rubbed the hood and grill surround, but it is hardly noticable.

 

Id take both the bug shield and the liscense plate. Just try to be careful with the bugshield so you dont scratch anything.

 

Well I did go ahead and take it off. And I'm glad I did. It was starting to wear off the paint where the shield rubs against the grill and hood, but between the two pieces, not on the outside. I used a little touch-up paint and you can't see it at all now that the grill and the hood are back together. There was also a lot of crap between the tip of the hood and where the shield goes into the grill. After a long time I'm sure it would have scratched/worn off more of the paint. It's off and I'm glad.

I also took off the front licesnse plate. Now to do something about that gap...

 

i would take both off and install a billet grill of some sort on the front. The white and chrome go well together.

 

Good choice, have you thought about getting the G.A.P. grille? I had one on my 2004, it was expensive for what it is but you get what you pay for!

 

I thought about it but I just can't spend that kind of money to fill a little hole. I was thinking of going to Lowes or something and getting some wire netting and painting it black and then zip-tying it to the metal frame inside of there. I was doing some snooping while I was down there and it looks like it might work. I'll have to look into it this week. Has anybody done anything like this yet?

 

I'm thinking about taking mine off; it hasn't really block any bugs, but I'm sure it's saved the leading edge of the hood from rock chips here and there.

 

Yeah, but it's also probably wearing away the paint between the hood and grill. I never really cared for the design of the bug shield on the newer trucks, how it had to go between the grill and hood. Mines off, so if anyone's interested send me a PM. The only catch would be finding a box to ship it in.
Quintin, your truck is black isn't it? I think they look really nice on the black trucks because they blend in.

 

I know it's worn the paint off a good bit. I took it off to do a good polish/wax job on my hood and saw where the paint was worn. I'm still thinking about taking it off though. Especially if it didn't wear the paint any higher than what's hidden by the stock grill, I'll just do like you did, use a little touch up paint, rip it off and go.

Yeah, my truck's black, but looking at it, I kinda think it's more stuff hanging off the truck than I'd like.