Insect Screens

[Pabs855]

Hi, we are headed out back in a couple of weeks and are concerned about hoppers/locusts getting into the cooling cores. Any suggestions as to how to put an insect screen on the front ? I have genuine MMA nudge bar and driving light fitted which makes it a little more difficult.

[Overland]

I just came back from Mildura a few weeks ago and was lucky I missed the locust. I have the nudge bar fitted so what I did was got some flywire screen, removed the grille (very easy to do, just pop the center pin out of the top clips and pull out then lift the grill out. Take about a minute to do). Once the grille was out I wrapped the flywire around the top and bottom of the grille and taped. Put back in place and poked some holes for the clips to go back in. Cut flywire around where the bonnet latch clips. Tops now done.

For the bottom I removed the number plate, placed the flywire up under the number plate then resecured it to the car to hold the top in place. I cut some slots in the flywire to fit around the nudgebar brackets then used gaffer tape to hold the wire in place around the edges and to below the bash plate vents.

It worked a treat for the trip, collected every bug except locust. I don't have it on now to take some pictures but should have some in my photos if you like to see it. Pretty easy to do, just take some time to cut around things.

[bushman]

We copped it big time back in April going out west. I got to Cobar and reefed off the plastic netting around the gas bottle on my camper and zip tied it to the grill, did the job for that trip, fly wire is the far better option as its finer, just remember to get out and clean the little buggers off, including the vents in the protection plates..

I believe the a metal bug screen avalible for the PJ but hard to get, i was told TJM can get them (Parramatta).

[The Commodore]

G'day Bushman-still on the road!

Pabs855-as with Bushman we were out western NSW at Easter and copped clouds of the little Buugers, they actually took the clear coat off the paint on the bonnet.

Two weeks ago we left Campbelltown area (Sydney) have gone through Broken Hill, The Flinders Ranges, Eyre Peninsular and Yorke Peninsular and have not seen anything bigger than your average bug.

But I am carrying a roll of fly screen to make a screen on the spot if needed.

As I am towing a 'van I dont want to fit the screen unless necessary, just a bit worried about restricting airflow and heating the motor more than necessary.

I would prepare yourself as you can pull over and set something up if needed.

Regards.....Keith.

[THT]

Bushman, that's why there's a good recycled water car wash for your convenience next to the Empire Motel in Cobar.
I had problem hosing those dried little buggers off with high pressure water and it just cause the paint to chip away. Had same problem with my old 2007 Triton leased car in the past, not just the bonnet but hosing off dried mud on the side of the car can cause paint chips in the old Triton.

[bushman]

Bushman, that's why there's a good recycled water car wash for your convenience next to the Empire Motel in Cobar.
I had problem hosing those dried little buggers off with high pressure water and it just cause the paint to chip away. Had same problem with my old 2007 Triton leased car in the past, not just the bonnet but hosing off dried mud on the side of the car can cause paint chips in the old Triton.

We were only in Cobra over night, didn't actually see the carwash, but we found the one at Broken Hill, it was great, turn the dail to "BUG WASH" and those little suckers just ran off. Oh! I found Pine O Clean is great for getting them off too.

[CraigFox]

I always carry a small container of white spirits, and good quality window cleaner in the camper when we go away. The white spirits is a great bug remover, although it will strip the wax/polish off the duco, so you do need to repolish often. If I get bugs during the day, after we have settled into camp, I have a bit of therapy by getting the bugs off while having an beverage or 3.
I have used NuFinish Polish twice a year on all my cars for the past 20+ years without incident of fade/peeling or any other paint issues.
Works for me!

[evileerf]

wd40 works a treat too

[markandliz]

Hi, we are headed out back in a couple of weeks and are concerned about hoppers/locusts getting into the cooling cores. Any suggestions as to how to put an insect screen on the front ? I have genuine MMA nudge bar and driving light fitted which makes it a little more difficult.

Arb sell the metal mess type fits permantly to the grille using screws and plastic fittings
or you can use shade cloth or flyscreen

[Pabs855]

Insect Screen Revisited

Just got back from a 3 week trip (towing a van) from Sydney up the coast, out to Charleville, Bourke, Lightning Ridge, Dubbo and Bathurst. The Paj did not miss a beat.
Before I went I made a screen for the lower grille from "SAAS" metal mesh (Supercheap) and put a rubber edging (Clark Rubber) around it. I attached it with a couple of cable ties and is easily removed. It caught lot's of hoppers, moths etc. The driving lights stopped the bugs from entering the top grille. No overheating even up Mt.Victoria. Pictures of the screen and it's catch are attached.

[evileerf]

Pabs - great work. When do you start selling them?

[The Commodore]

Well Done Pabs855

As soon as I've finished the little project I'm on now I'm off to get some mesh!
As I said in a previous post we had not seen any big bugs this trip. Well we completed 6,000 K's in the four weeks and still didn't see any and that was across NSW, S.A. and Vic., lucky this trip I guess.

Did you get them in large clouds and did the lights really stop them going into the radiator, did you get enough in the radiator to put a grill across there next time?

I went to the trouble to fit a bonnet protector this trip and take it off when we're just short tripping around town etc. as I think they look crook.

Regards.....Keith.

[Pabs855]

Keith,
The lights did really stop them getting in. Only one went thru even though they were hitting the bonnet and windscreen. I had a screen for the top grille but did not use it. The hoppers were not in clouds and most seemed to be on the road. They jumped up as you approached and most hit the lower parts of the Paj.
Paul.

[The Commodore]

Thanks Paul, as there's not much to do with this rain around I will probably look at making a mesh for the main grill as well.

Regards.....Keith.

[rosahan]

Hi All.
We have been away for a couple of weeks and have not been observing the forum very much so this reply is a bit late. I used shade cloth as it is relatively soft and the locusts do not splatter on it but tend to hit, die and fall off. Also I took the number plate off and mounted it on the nudge bar. The shade cloth covers all the way down past the nudge bar mounts and is velcroed around them. I also made a small screen for the intercooler and cable tied it to the metal mesh. Kept an eye on the temp guage while towing and have never had a problem with reduced air flow potentially making the engine run hotter.
Lindsay