Winter Fronts & Bug Screens

The heavy duty cooling systems in trucks are designed to keep the engine cool under severe operating conditions and extremely high temperatures. But this cooling capability can be too effective when the mercury drops. Extreme cold can cause long engine warm up times, failure to reach operating temperature, and little heat in the cab. Equip your truck with one of our winter fronts and your engine will warm up quickly so you can be toasty behind the wheel. And when the weather warms, our bug screens will prevent insects from clogging your radiator and damaging your grille.

A winter front installs in front of your truck’s grille, where it can reduce the flow of frigid air through your radiator, and protect the radiator and grille from snow and ice. Limiting air flow will allow the engine to warm up faster and operate at the temperature that is most optimal for fuel economy, engine longevity, and of course heater output, so you and your passengers can be comfortable. Winter fronts are easy to install, and some are adjustable so you can allow for changes in ambient temperature, and adjust the amount of air flow for precise engine temperature control.

But while you’ll cherish a winter front for keeping you warm on frosty mornings, it may be even more valuable for the health of your engine. Moisture can accumulate from condensation in the crankcase of an engine that doesn’t operate at its normal temperature, especially on short trips, and this can cause sludge to form and decrease the effectiveness of the oil’s additives. Cold engines are rich running engines, and the excess fuel can dilute the engine oil, reduce its viscosity and lubricating capabilities, and reduce your fuel mileage. By enabling your engine to reach operating temperature faster with a winter front, you can prevent fuel dilution and allow moisture to boil off, preserve your engine oil and your engine, and get optimal fuel economy.

When the weather warms up, your radiator and grille will be faced with another problem – bugs! Summer time is insect season, and after a long trip, especially with a lot of night driving when they’re plentiful, the front of your rig can end up inundated with bug splatter. These critters are much more than an annoyance, though. As insects decompose, chemicals from their bodies can etch chrome and paint, causing permanent damage. And insects, along with debris, can clog and damage your radiator, causing your engine to overheat. A bug screen will protect your radiator from insects and debris, as well as rocks that could cause punctures, and it will prevent bug splatter from damaging your grille and reduce the amount of cleaning necessary to keep your chrome and paint shining.

We offer vehicle specific winter fronts and bug screens for most popular semi-trucks, pickup trucks, SUVs, crossovers, and vans, as well as universal bug screens. Winter fronts are typically made of quilted vinyl, but bug screens can be constructed from steel, aluminum, plastic, fiberglass, and vinyl. Our vehicle specific winter fronts and bug screens are each designed for a particular application, so you can be assured of thorough coverage and perfect fit. Some winter fronts and bug screens are sold as a set, but even when sold separately in most cases products from the same brand will use the same mounting locations, making them easily interchangeable. Bug screens for semi-trucks come in standard and with custom logos, including the American flag.

Semi-truck winter fronts and bug screens may require purchase of a separate hardware kit, and snaps and turnbuttons used to mount the winter front/bug screen may require drilling for installation. However, many of our winter front/bug screen sets require no drilling for installation because the included fasteners attach to the vehicle with 3M adhesive. If you only take occasional long trips through bug infested areas but still want premium protection for your radiator, grille, and front end sheet metal, then consider one of our universal bug screens. We offer square and rectangular screens in various sizes that attach to the radiator support with tie-straps and bra style screens that attach to the front wheel openings with hooks and elastic straps.