Bug Screens

Hi Sam
I've used shade cloth. Stops the bugs but still lets some of the air flow in. I say some . I have mounted mine well clear of the front grill to allow air to flow around as shade cloth is a great wind break, I have it on 3 sides of my camper anex
Vince

Yep - shadecloth with low percentages - take some spare - if it gets filthy just fling it - when next required I'm going to rig mine simply with ockies - no tailoring - just cut and rig temporarily with the ockies (and I found out that cheap ockies are worthless too - nothing but quality for me from now on.

ARB sell em for around the $70 mark....

Paul

If your car is turboed, its not recommended.

Made mine out of the metal insect screening material - has been on there for years without a problem. I've permanently mounted it behind the platic grill and when it needs cleaning properly I just remove the lot and give it a good scrub. Usually though a good hosing gets it clean enough.

I've just finished making a screen that is mounted in a frame that is attached to the rear of the uprights of an ARB bullbar and it is removable for cleaning.

This means that there is an air gap 75mm between it and the vehicle.
The problem comes from the fact that "Locusts" when they smash into anything create a gooey mess 50mm dia.

Heeding "trucksters" words, you must be very careful with vehicles that are turbo'd,
I'll see how it goes on the Disco keeping in mind the temperature of both air and water.
This may help with your design.

Aston

I just bought some shade cloth, folded it at each end and punched in a few eyelets. I sling it across the front of the bullbar, occy straps tie it up, and it works a treat. On my way back from Victoria(Grampians and Little Desert) via Deniliquin, Cowra, Mudgee last week picked up plenty of critters. My vehicle (91 80 Series Landcruiser) is not turbo'd so did not have to consider temps much, but there was no noticeable rise in temp, even when it was full of bugs. On two stops I just took it off, flushed it a bit with water and it was ready to go again. Not the best looking thing on my truck, but what the ...... !!! Works fine for me.
Jack

Sam,
I have a 100 series TD on which I removed the grill and fixed a piece if gal mesh on the back of it (about 4mm square mesh, from Bummings (bird aviary mesh I think)) cut to size and secured with cable ties. I figure this will stop large critters and stones from clogging and/or damaging the radiator etc, and is easy to clean by hosing from behind. I also have carry a removable (large weave) shadecloth screen which attaches on the front of the bullbar covering top to bottom between the headlights, however given that this would severely restrict the airflow it will only be used where bugs are in plague numbers and I would stop and clean it regularly.

Stu

In the Kimberley we use a combination of two screens,

a 4mm mesh permanently fixed over the front of the bull bar to block all the big insect and grasshoppers which can really clag up everthing in quick time. Very small insects tend to dry up and evenually get sucked through. Very important not to limit the air flow for turbos in very hot environments.

We still have the radiator removed annually for a thorough clean.

Tie a double thickness of shade cloth over the bull bar during when on tracks with a lot of grass sees, especially spinifex. Remove it on the highway unless conditions are cooler. Once it gets full of grass seeds we just bin it and make up another one.

I insert a length of thin cane in the fold at the top and that helps to keep it tied straight along the top of the bullbar. Down the bottom we tie to wire loops we leave permanently in place.

JohnS

Got me a whole roll of stainless fly wire, works a treat. Happy to part some off to anyone local or passing through.

Thanks all for the replies.

Took a trip down to Bunnings this morning (for some reason they decided Sat morning was a good time to repaint the lines for the parking spaces??????) and picked up some shade cloth. I'll see how it goes, may switch over and try mesh at another time.

cheers,
Sam.