OEM 4Runner Hood Protector Install & Review

5th Gen 4Runner OEM Hood Protector: Complete Step By Step Install & In-depth Review

A hood protector is a great way to prevent rock chips and make your 4Runner stand out from the crowd.

Here we will install the Toyota OEM hood protector step-by-step.  We’ll also go over pre-install prep work and cover other hood protection options.

Unboxing

The Toyota OEM hood protectors are generally purchased as a dealership install.

But, honestly, this is a pretty easy install, so if you are even a little bit handy, this is one you should be able to do yourself in under 30 minutes and save yourself some money.

The hood protector came in a huge cardboard box and is well protected with bubble wrap and a film over the plastic to prevent scratches.

Many dealerships are now selling accessories such as this one online, so you should not have much trouble finding one.

OE Hood Protector

• OEM Hood Protector on Amazon: Check Price

Other Options

• AVS
  • Bugflector II: Check Price
  • Aeroskin (low profile): Check Price
  • Aeroskin Lightshield (w/ LED): Check Price

THE HARDWARE

A pack of hardware will be placed in a bag taped to the hood protector. It is very unlikely that it will come with any installation instructions, as this is normally just installed at the dealer, not by the end user, but we will cover all you need to know here for the install.

HARDWARE ITEMS:

• 8 White Plugs
• 8 3 M Mylar Rectangles
• 4 Interior Brackets
• 4 External Brackets
• 8 Pointed Tip Screws
• 8 Flat Tip Screws
• 8 Plastic Washers

ENGINEERED TO ATTACH ROCK PROTECTOR

Toyota set us up pretty good to add the rock protector.

Similar to all the pre-threaded holes in the frame to add rock sliders, Toyota provides eight square holes under the front of the hood to mount the rock protector.

Four holes across the front, and then two on each side for a total of eight.

TIME TO WASH

First things first, take a rag and wash the top of the hood and underneath the hood a few inches in from the front of the hood.

This is important, as you will be laying down Mylar strips and you need the surface clean and dry.

Also, wash and dry any rock chips.

A LITTLE TOUCH-UP

This is a great time to touch up the rock chips.

That way you know it won’t be rusting for years under the hood protector without you noticing.  Might as well start off with a clean slate.

I had already filled most of the mine earlier this spring, but still had a couple of new small ones to hit.

THE PAINT

I purchased genuine Toyota touch up paint.  It does not cost much more and might as well get the good stuff.

It matched great and was easy to apply to fill in those chips.

I think my color is good for blending, so that helped too.  Remember, touch up paint won’t make it look like new, but will not show from a normal distance and will keep the rust at bay.

It’s like a little Band-Aid for your truck.

Better to hit them right away before they start to rust so you don’t have to sand out the rust first.

Common Colors on Amazon for Late Model 5th Gen 4Runners:

• Magnetic Grey (1G3): Check Price
• Blizzard Pearl (070): Check Price
• Super White (040): Check Price
• Midnight Black Metallic (218): Check Price
• Classic Silver Metallic (1F7): Check Price
• Nautical Blue (8S6): Check Price
• Barcelona Red (3R3): Check Price

APPLY 3M MYLAR TAPE

On your clean/dry surface apply the supplied Mylar rectangles lined up with the eight square holes under the hood.

Wrap about a half inch over the top of the hood.

You want to protect the top of the hood from the brackets rubbing, but there is no use wrapping too much Mylar over the top, as it can be seen from certain angles once you are all done.

So, the majority of the Mylar will wrap under the hood.

You can place the bracket in the hole for a second to get a better read on exactly where to place the Mylar.

Try to avoid fingerprints on the sticky side of the Mylar, especially the part that shows on the top of the hood.  Repeat process seven more times.

PLUGS AND MYLAR

Above picture, you can view the Mylar laid down and see where the square white plugs will go to hold the brackets in place.

INSTALL BRACKETS

Okay, time to install all eight brackets.  The four brackets marked with the “I” will go on the inside part of the hood (middle four square holes).

The four brackets marked with the “O” will go on the outside parts of the hood, two on the left, two on the right, for a total of eight brackets.

They are different lengths, so this is important.

The bracket will lay down first, which is wrapped over the end of the hood, then pop in the square white plug through the bracket and into the square cut out in the hood.

Then start the pointed screw into the white plug by hand.

It will all hold in place temporarily, even though you have not screwed it down yet.  Repeat seven more times.

SCREW DOWN THE BRACKETS

Take your cordless drill (or whatever you have) and screw down the brackets most of the way.

Leave a little play for adjustment and don’t drive them in all the way or they will strip. 

BRACKETS INSTALLED

Your hood should look like this once you are finished with the brackets.

Eight small teeth sticking out.  Again, don’t fully tighten yet.

APPLYING THE HOOD PROTECTOR

Time for the fun part.

Take your flat tipped screw and run it through the plastic washers, then the bottom of the plastic hood protector, then into the bracket which will have a threaded hole at the tip.

Tighten most of the way, but not all of the way, keep a little play in it.  Repeat seven more times.

You will notice the hood protector will have to be manipulated into place a little to line up with the holes, but this is normal.

It will line up with a little help.

CHECK THE ALIGNMENT

With everything screwed in, but not quite all the way, shut the hood and make sure you are lined up with the body lines on the front end of the truck.

Shift things a bit if needed.

BUTTON IT ALL DOWN

Once you are comfortable with the placement, reopen the hood and hand tighten both the pointed screws on the brackets and the flat screws on the hood protector.

Be especially careful not to overtighten the screws attaching the brackets with the square white plugs.

They are plastic and you will strip them if you overdo it.

ALL DONE

All done and looks great!

Not a lot of contrast with the smoked grey plastic against the metallic grey paint, but I am really happy with the look as subtle as it is.  If your truck is pretty much any other color besides black, you will have a lot more contrast and it will really pop.

I am 100 percent happy with my choice of the Toyota OEM hood protector, but there are other options.

In particular, if you are only trying to prevent rock chips, you could go with a Mylar film over the front hood. Toyota offers this installed at the point of purchase for about $300.

Not sure how much they would charge if you just walk into the service department and get it done on your existing 4Runner.

Other options are DIY kits on Amazon.  See links below:

PROTECTIVE FILM OPTIONS ON AMAZON

• Self-Healing Clear Paint Protection Film (Hood Strip Kit): Check Price
• Clear Paint Protection (Bundle-Hood Strip, Door Edge, Door Cup, Door Sill): Check Price

FINAL THOUGHTS

If you are hoping to prevent bugs from hitting the windshield, you will be very disappointed.

If you are hoping to improve your gas mileage with this aerodynamic design attached to the front, you will be equally disappointed.

I don’t think it stops much of any bugs hitting the glass, and if anything, you might lose a little mileage, although I have seen no drop in mileage.  Still hanging at 17.0 mpg with a couple of tanks of gas since the install.

Feels like you are driving a giant brick in a crosswind, just as before.

If you want to give your rig a unique look though and stop most if not all those nasty rock chips on the hood, this is for you.  If you are focused just on the rock chip prevention, you should probably just get the clear protective film for the front of the hood.

It will do the job without changing the look of the truck.

I am personally very happy with my choice and the look.  The Toyota OEM hood protector is very high quality and installed with ease.

The only downside I have experienced so far is a very slight loss of visibility over the hood on each side of the hood scoop. It is nominal, but it is there.

Everything else has been on the upside, it was a nice little addition to the truck.

Whether you get the hood protector or protective film on the hood, it’s nice to know you will avoid all those rock chips.