Headlight Protection

[FLYFISHEXPERT]

I will soon be replacing a broken headlight on my 4Runner and would like to invest in some headlight protection as well. I communte 50 miles each way to work and the local highway department is notorious for using gravel on icy roads. I would like to get some feedback regarding headlight rock protection, patricularly the clear plastic covers. So far I have found the hard plastic covers as show below

http://www.jcwhitney.com/headlight-c...p2016516.jcwx#

And the thin film ones.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/headlight-c...p2016516.jcwx#

Does anybody have any experience with these? For just a little bit more in price, I am leaning towards the hard plastic ones.

[Hilldweller]

I know people who've used the 3M peel-n-stick stuff with great success ---- don't know anybody with those things though.
I've been thinking of getting some too.

[R_Lefebvre]

I've had the GTS headlight covers before, in smoke, on a car I wanted to look "blacked out". I would never put them (even the clear ones) on my truck. They're pretty crappy, the tabs break off, you have to take them off to clean behind them. Etc. etc.

[Hilldweller]

The 3M things bond to the glass, btw, and are optically neutral. They're prone to scratching but you can replace them every few years.

[marke]

Hi, I have used the stick-on version on my truck for the last 6 years and haven't had any troubles. They have stayed remarkably clear too.

[alexrex20]

or you can just put tape across the headlights like the vintage racecars.

[1speed]

I agree with Rob on this one, the hard ones are crap. I had some smoked ones on a Ford Lightning in 1993 and I broke one when I hit a small bird at 40 mph. They also seemed to scratch easily. Maybe the plastic is better 17 years later.

[corax]

How about making a wire guard similar to this, but in the shape you need?

[Hilldweller]

How about making a wire guard similar to this, but in the shape you need?

While researching all of my headlight junk I found out that those things are illegal. The only thing that can legally obfuscate a headlight is a wiper; and it has to come to rest off the light.

[dsy]

I just bought this film type protection for my Marchal lamps. This 30mil stock has good reviews. https://www.xpel.com/products/bulk.asp Around $20. shipped. Cheap insurance for expensive lamps. http://www.xpel.com/products/headlight.asp