rear wind deflector (1 Viewer)

[rc51kid]

What is the use of the rear wind deflector? I removed mine and like the look much better with out it. But i have a long road trip comming up and i am trying to see if there is any, even a slight value in MPG to this thing. Does it help fill the air pocket behind the truck? Does it help with MPG or is it just for dirt and exhaust? I dont really care about the dirt and i have never smelt any exhaust fumes with out it. But i did some math and the difference between 11 mpg and 12 mg for my 2000 mile drive is about 20 gal. This was enough for me to realize i should pack my bike inside rather than roof top. It got me thinking about other small simple changes. I know these things will never get good MPG but if something simple saves me a tank of gas i am down with that.

 

[BullElk]

Definitely keeps dirt off back window. If you've ever had dirt on the widow, you'll see the benefit. My '97 doesn't not have one and I wish it did. I like the look better with it myself.

 

[guzzla]

I'd forgotten how effective they were after I broke mine of an overhead branch in dense scrub. Without one, the whole of my upper tailgate is caked in dust. With the deflector fitted, there is virtually none. If you drive in dusty environments, they are a great bit of gear to have fitted. Simple to fit, too.

 

[vapilotda]

I wish mine had one. I think it looks better with it but wheeling on the east coast with all of the trees might delete is real quick. Has anyone ever retrofit one? I'm guessing it may be easier to buy a another hatch with one on it and paint to match eh?

 

[Kernal]

I noticed no difference in MPG when I drove for a few weeks with the wind deflector removed. Biggest impact on MPG (more than MPH IME) is the tire design (aggressive versus all season tread) and tire pressure. I max out my truck's tire pressure and check it frequently on a long trip particularly if there are outside air temp changes along the trip.

 

[tlin]

What is the use of the rear wind deflector? I removed mine and like the look much better with out it. But i have a long road trip comming up and i am trying to see if there is any, even a slight value in MPG to this thing. Does it help fill the air pocket behind the truck? Does it help with MPG or is it just for dirt and exhaust? I dont really care about the dirt and i have never smelt any exhaust fumes with out it. But i did some math and the difference between 11 mpg and 12 mg for my 2000 mile drive is about 20 gal. This was enough for me to realize i should pack my bike inside rather than roof top. It got me thinking about other small simple changes. I know these things will never get good MPG but if something simple saves me a tank of gas i am down with that.

If you don't want yours, I'll take it (provided it fits a '92?). I live in AZ (dusty!) and could use one.

No idea if +/- on MPG but post above about tires is spot-on.

 

[08720]

I couldn't stand having mine off. I like the looks with it gone but couldn't put up with the buildup of crud on the window. Amazing how having it keeps it so much cleaner.

 

[cruiserdan]

They breed rust like crazy between the mounting feet and the upper tail gate. No, thank you.

 

[Kernal]

I agree with CDan, they do breed rust. IMHO it might be due to the open cell foam under the plastic bracket which appears to hold moisture. The rust I found did not appear to start from the nutserts, but in the center where the foam pad stays wet under the bracket. When I fixed that rust I did not reuse the thin foam pad, left that ~3/32" space open to keep it dry.

FWIW I've been thinking of changing the way the deflector is mounted, might go with double sided tape to attach the brackets to the hatch.

 

[tlin]

They breed rust like crazy between the mounting feet and the upper tail gate. No, thank you.

YEESH! Good to know, thx.

 

[08720]

I removed my foam and there is a small gap for air movement now, doesn't seem to be a moisture problem now as Kernal mentioned.

 

[western flyer]

They breed rust like crazy between the mounting feet and the upper tail gate. No, thank you.

I agree with CDan. The mounting of these deflectors are rust magnets for the hatch, similar to the roof rack. I treated my rust on the hatch and then put the deflector back on with a variety of methods to combat the rust coming back (link). Many folks here on MUD would have been happy to never have had one in the first place due to the rust issues.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/597910-wind-deflector-woes.html

 

[OG 91 LC]

I deleted mine. CA truck. No rust issues. Still have all the parts. Now that you guys mentioned it I noticed this morning for the first time how much dirtier my rear window was. I like the look better together with my roof rack delete.

 

[atomicshawn]

IMHO the wind deflector is very useful...
Fj60 split fan shroud mod:
...................…........................................................

 

[kybishop]

I actually do find my rear deflector pretty handy. It does keep the back clean but I also use it as a slider when I slide my boats up top. It works great for that, plenty stout enough for a canoe to easily slide up it.

No rust issues with mine up there (knocking on wood while typing) and we do have some salt here in central Kentucky. Considered a southern state but right in the jetstream on the edge of the rust belt. We had a lot of ice and snow this year and so came a lot of salt.

I think the deflector looks good and is quite multi-functional for me.

 

[tlin]

...I treated my rust on the hatch and then put the deflector back on with a variety of methods to combat the rust coming back (link)....

https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/597910-wind-deflector-woes.html

Well done, sir. Good work; I'd follow that install if this works out for me.

IMHO the wind deflector is very useful...
Fj60 split fan shroud mod:
...................…........................................................

I did a quick search on 'FJ60 split fan shroud mod', didn't see anything related to wind deflectors.....what exactly does that mean?

It just occurred to me that the wind deflector might be a pointless pursuit for me since I'm chasing down a Gobi ladder which attaches to the rear hatch. Not sure if both can be installed for proximity/fit reasons - I'm guessing not.

To deflect or not to deflect.....that is the question. Take care....

 

[atomicshawn]

It means I don't much care for the deflector but trying to point out some positives. I cut up my deflector to make brackets for the shroud on my 60. Worked slick. The contour of the spoiler matched well with that of the shroud.
Also, I'm getting old, and climbing up and jumping off the spare to load the rack is hard on the knees, so I have been considering a small ladder. If and when I build a ladder, those rust prone holes in the lift gate from the deflector might actually come in handy as anchor points.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Well done, sir. Good work; I'd follow that install if this works out for me.



I did a quick search on 'FJ60 split fan shroud mod', didn't see anything related to wind deflectors.....what exactly does that mean?

It just occurred to me that the wind deflector might be a pointless pursuit for me since I'm chasing down a Gobi ladder which attaches to the rear hatch. Not sure if both can be installed for proximity/fit reasons - I'm guessing not.

To deflect or not to deflect.....that is the question. Take care....

When it comes to the Gobi ladder and deflector you cant have both

 

[08720]

It means I don't much care for the deflector but trying to point out some positives. I cut up my deflector to make brackets for the shroud on my 60. Worked slick. The contour of the spoiler matched well with that of the shroud. Also, I'm getting old, and climbing up and jumping off the spare to load the rack is hard on the knees, so I have been considering a small ladder. If and when I build a ladder, those rust prone holes in the lift gate from the deflector might actually come in handy as anchor points.

Just keep watching it for rust. You dont want that in the engine bay.

 

[atomicshawn]

Just keep watching it for rust. You dont want that in the engine bay.

?
It's the lift gate sheet metal that rusts out due to trapped moisture. The deflector (and now my brackets) are made of aluminum.