preventing stone windshield rock chips

[tstex]

Hello to all,

Based on a lot of Interstate driving, having small rocks hit the windshield happens too often. Are there any new technologies that help prevent the chipping and resultant cracks? Never had one installed, but they used to have those plastic "air-lifts" installed on the front of the hood. Do those work or are they obsolete?

thank you in-advance for your suggestions.

 

[lman]

Avoid tailgating.

 

[1 Old Man]

Avoid tailgating.

Don't have to be tailgating. We caught a rock from a truck coming toward us. We were on a
two lane road. Heard it hit, saw the ding. Then the summer heat took over and bingo, the crack
went across the windshield.

 

[anomad]

There are "wraps" for your windshield, like exo shield. I have no experience with any of them. But have seem some sponsored content on the you-toobz in car channels.

I don't know how bad it is in your area, but look up pictures of what the road trains use down under. Very aggressive.

I wish I had something like that back when I lived in Alaska. But I just drove around with a cracked windshield like everyone else. Hitting a cold windshield with the defroster really made the cracks run up there.

 

[BleedingOrange]

Check out any local auto parts store, or Amazon for a specific hood mounted deflector. The last one I bought for my 2020 Ford F150 was around 100 dollars Canadian. They might deflect the odd small rock, but I find they do deflect a lot of small bugs hitting the windshield with the way they have an up curve .

 

[Tinhack]

My GMC has one. Don't know if it works or not. It was there when I bought the truck. It's chrome and looks good though.

 

[greenie]

It's doubtful air deflectors would have much ability to change the course of a rock/stone projectile. Fortunately windshields are usually the least expensive glass to replace on a vehicle.

 

[tstex]

Thank you for your responses.

This is more for my daughter bc she just had her 3rd or 4th windshield replaced in 2yrs.

Looked at the film coverings and they last about a yr b4 getting cloudy, scratches from wiper blades, etc.

Hopefully a product will emerge w a much better ROI & > longevity, but for now, there's nothing really sustainable The last one i received had nothing to do w tailgating. Single lane country rd and truck coming at me dropped rocks snd hit windshield when passing it. That's the luck of the draw.

I also prefer staying in far rt lane snd let gravel based trucks take the far left lane.

 

[dougtrr2]

Might be worth shopping for car insurance that fixes rock chips for free. If you don't fix the chips they have a tendency to develop into cracks.

Doug in SW IA

 

[tstex]

Thx Doug..that's the drill