After 500 miles and less than a week of ownership I have found the rear window and hatch to collect quite a bit of dirt and dust. I saw some earlier posts on the rear air deflector but no definitive answer on how good it actually works. Anybody out there have one and have an opinion? The rest of the truck is spotlessly clean but the whole back is dirt. Also, I saw a few posts here and there about the molded splash guards. Has anybody tried the less expensive ones? It seems a little silly to put down 40 bucks a pair for molded plastic when there are less expensive ones...
Other than that, I'm loving my Patriot.

I just installed the molded splash guards this weekend (all four) so hopefully that helps keep the side of the Patriot a bit more clean. I'm thinking about a front bug-deflector but I've never looked at anything for the rear.

The parts manager at my dealership didn't really recommend the cheaper splash guards (go figure ;)), he said they were quite a bit more thin and were kinda flimsy (I could believe that too). The molded splash guards are really firm and are decently thick, so they should be great for winter.

got the rear air deflector still gets dirty back there but it does help. i got the jeep accessory one

The moulded splash guards look more custom and more like a natural extension of the body do to the shape and moulding of them.

However you want to get the thin flexible ones if you do any off roading because it has been reported the moulded ones do not give over terrain and crack.


Jim

I was just going to say the molded spalsh guards will get ripped off when you go in the first ditch you see... Just take um good care of dem. :)

The rear window deflectors are probably the only ones that work (when comparing to the bug deflectors.) As you drive, there is a vortex of low pressure air that forms at the back of your vehicle. The dust traveling over the vehicle is in the high pressure air stream. It will leave the stream of high pressure air [dust is heavier than air]as that stream passes overs the vortex. Once the dust is in the vortex, it will get deposited on the back side of your Jeep.

The air deflector redirects some of the high pressure air to move across the rear of your vehicle to keep most of the dirt from settling on the vehicle body.

I was just going to say the molded spalsh guards will get ripped off when you go in the first ditch you see... Just take um good care of dem. :)

The rear window deflectors are probably the only ones that work (when comparing to the bug deflectors.) As you drive, there is a vortex of low pressure air that forms at the back of your vehicle. The dust traveling over the vehicle is in the high pressure air stream. It will leave the stream of high pressure air [dust is heavier than air]as that stream passes overs the vortex. Once the dust is in the vortex, it will get deposited on the back side of your Jeep.

The air deflector redirects some of the high pressure air to move across the rear of your vehicle to keep most of the dirt from settling on the vehicle body.

Will changing the air flow change fuel consumption I wonder.... That vortex provides a "push" on the back of your vehicle and helps with gas milage. (truck with tail gate up gets better gas mileage than truck with down for the same reason - see mythbustors for proof) If air is shot down the back of the vehicle then that might interfere with the push...

Probably wouldn't do much, but it would be interesting if anyone kept track of their mileage before and after putting the rear deflector on...

well i put my rear on at new so i dont know about mpg and i also got the molded mud flaps they are great i love them

I understand the proposed physics involved, but does it really work?

I understand the proposed physics involved, but does it really work?

got the rear air deflector still gets dirty back there but it does help. i got the jeep accessory one

cadavev had an answer