Stop the Bugs

[Gramps Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Gramps]

What's the best way to stop grasshoppers getting in the radiator?
I'm driving through the Hay Plains next week and I know there will be millions of the things ready to hit every car that comes their way. Is it better for airflow to use flywire or shadecloth on a turbo diesel?

[Fozzy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fozzy]

Re: Stop the Bugs

Hi Gramps,

You can buy an actual Toyota mesh screen that goes over the grill and attaches via some long screws and clips, otherwise I reckon shadecloth cable-tied to the grill will do the job without any issues.

Cheers,

Dave

[Gramps Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Gramps]

Re: Stop the Bugs

Thanks Dave,
I have a feeling that the genuine ones cost a bomb that's why I didn't mention them before. My main concern is, will the larger fibers of the shadecloth restrict airflow to the radiator? I don't want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere with a camper and kids because of overheating.

[Fozzy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fozzy]

Re: Stop the Bugs

One quick way to find out if the airflow is restricted with shadecloth - rough cut piece, a couple of cable ties and a quick drive around for an hour or so wtaching the temp gauge closely..... Better to do it around home than out on the tracks for sure.

Genuine Toyo part was $120 or so from memory.

Cheers,

Dave

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Re: Stop the Bugs

I have the genuine insect srcreen and it works well. Problem is the slot in the ARB bar lets the bugs in so you need to add something to that too.

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Stop the Bugs

Shadecloth would be fine, I have never had an issue with temp. Use fibreglass flyscreen otherwise.

Also WAX the front of the car and roofline, it makes it heaps easier to get the bugs off later.

[Sunshine Member Find all posts View Profile Close Sunshine]

Re: Stop the Bugs

I have used shadecloth for quite a while and the temp gauge hardly moves. Just keep an eye on it for the first few kms and you will see what temp it will run at. With mine you could hardly see the difference.
Also with the shadecloth, make sure it covers the intakes for the intercooler if you have the diesel which are on the top left and right corners of the grill from the front. Lift the bonnet and have a look for them. The air runs up through the bonnet lid through two channels and down into the top of the intercooler and I didn't have those covered by the shadecloth the first time and the intercooler got full of hundreds of grasshoppers. They got sucked in. I attach my shadecloth to the clear plastic bonnet protector with 4 bulldog clips at the top and at the bottom with 4 more bulldog clips at the back edge of the front plastic bumper. It then covers all of the front grill area but not the lights.

[Sunshine Member Find all posts View Profile Close Sunshine]

Re: Stop the Bugs

Here is a picture I've found. Shadecloth only costs a couple of dollars from a hardware shop and you only need a couple of metres and it is softer than mesh and doesn't rub against or ruin your paint.
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As you can see we pull the Jayco with it too and the temp gauge doesn't move.

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Stop the Bugs

Also wise to carry a few pre-cut pieces with you just in case it breaks or goes missing.

I wonder if glad wrapping the panels, lights, spotties will assist in bug removal (assuming that you aren't using the spotties as I'd imagine that it would melt the glad wrap). Maybe on the windscreen as well assuming that there was no rain...??? Then when it's done it's job, peel off and apply another layer.

[Matty80 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Matty80]

Re: Stop the Bugs

Sure fire way of stopping grass hoppers getting into the radiator of the prado is to leave it in the shed and take a different car!
If this is not an option - then anyone of the afore mentioned methods will work...

Matt

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Stop the Bugs

Wrap will tear in the wind. Waxing is the easiest way i find.

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Stop the Bugs

Sure fire way of stopping grass hoppers getting into the radiator of the prado is to leave it in the shed and take a different car!

Yeah, a rental will do.

[Gramps Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Gramps]

Re: Stop the Bugs

Open weave shadecloth, cable ties and a couple of bulldog clips it is.
Much appreciated guys.
Gramps

[droggy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close droggy]

Re: Stop the Bugs

most auto upholsterers have stuff they use to add into car bra,s it allows more air flow than shadecloth,it comes in a 3 mtr roll,so they sell as much as you want,good luck

[Spurio Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Spurio]

Re: Stop the Bugs

Shade cloth works just fine.

Cut the cloth about 10-15cm wider that uprights or width of the radiator intake and make it about 1 m long.

Attach it only at the top. I.e. cable tie it to the top bar on your bull bar and leave the longer end flap free under the car. The longer end needs to be long enough so that the wind force keeps the top stretched in position.

With this setup, it is a quiick clean up, when you get heaps of bugs they can be flicked off easily when you stop. You don't need water or a brush to get them off.

Putting about 50mls of metho in your washer reservoir will help clean off all the guts from the windscreen.

If you are going to live out here get a wind/bug deflector on the front bonnet.

I came across the Hay plains about a week ago, it seems most of the swarm has moved further south.

Don't drive through swarms with the driver's window and driver's mouth open !! they deflect off the mirror into your mouth !!!! :lol: