preventing stone windshield rock chips

[Shawn T. W.]

Going slower, and staying back a ways helps a lot ...

 

[deserteagle71]

Going slower, and staying back a ways helps a lot ...

Yes, that does help. But around here I've found that most rock hits on windshields come from vehicles traveling in the opposite direction (oncoming). I've even had a couple radiators holed by rocks thrown up by oncoming trucks so I've installed metal mesh in the grills of every one of my rigs. Mining companies and ranches around here buy those expensive "Ranch Hand" front bumpers with metal mesh all across the front to protect not just the grille but the lights as well.

But then most of our "highways" are dirt/gravel. Not much pavement in this part of the country.

 

[JRH02]

I just got new tires for the F350 (SRW) and went with a much more aggressive thread. The cleats are course and deep and much noisier. The noise isn't from the tire thread but all the rock that gets imbedded in them. Once I get to the black top I can hear them hitting the wheel wells constantly.

Guess I'm a bad guy....

 

[Shawn T. W.]

I drove the Alaskan Highway before it was all paved, and up to the artic circle, in a rented blazer ... I got quite a bit of "window art" plus the grill and front lip of the hood took a lot of damage ... Hertz wasn't happy, but they are the ones that insisted that I rent a 4X4 because I was going to be driving on dirt roads, AND required I buy there damage insurance ... Drove over 10,000 miles in 2 weeks, drove it like I rented it!

Now I drive most of my 160K miles a year on divided interstate highways ...

 

[JRH02]

I drove the Alaskan Highway before it was all paved, and up to the artic circle, in a rented blazer ... I got quite a bit of "window art" plus the grill and front lip of the hood took a lot of damage ... Hertz wasn't happy, but they are the ones that insisted that I rent a 4X4 because I was going to be driving on dirt roads, AND required I buy there damage insurance ... Drove over 10,000 miles in 2 weeks, drove it like I rented it!

Now I drive most of my 160K miles a year on divided interstate highways ...

You were not the city guy then.

Do you now dig rocks out of your tires? Not because of windshields?

 

[FullMetalBucket]

When I used to drive on RT 93 in to Boston 5 days a for work I was good for 3 or 4 windshields a year. Not from tailgating. A lot of trucks and a lot of traffic. Some of the time you see it coming but can’t swerve out of the way. Don’t miss that.

 

[Spanner]

View attachment 4323707

Great scenery.

 

[Jstpssng]

I've seen rocks kicked up by my tires, bounce up and take out the windshield with no other vehicle in sight. The worst part was that I saw the rock, but there was no time to stop.
The good thing is that it was a company truck.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

I have a small crack in the windshield of my company truck which has been there for over a year. View attachment 4323644
I don't know if it helps or not but have kept a piece of duct tape on it to help deflect heat from the defroster on wet days like today.

Good to know in a pinch. When we get a chipped windshield, we always get a replacement. By the time I call, a chip is always a crack.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

When I used to drive on RT 93 in to Boston 5 days a for work I was good for 3 or 4 windshields a year. Not from tailgating. A lot of trucks and a lot of traffic. Some of the time you see it coming but can’t swerve out of the way. Don’t miss that.

I only go to Boston now to visit daughter and her new hubby. From Manchester NH and closer, I really dislike the traffic. I could see you loosing a couple of windshields a year from traffic in opposite side.