Yeah, those new one are about $20 bucks now and more if they are over 22 inches. I got the originals still on my truck and swap out the Anco snow blades when its time. My dad has a 08 La Crosse with that new design, ice builds up on the ends of them and it looses some of its contact with the wind shield.

 

I just buy whatever cheap and change them a bit more frequently then if i paid 2-3 times more for the expensive ones.

 

but the expensive ones last a long time

 

In my experience, not long enough to warrent the extra expense. The cheap ones will last 6-8 months depending on the weather and if you take care of them. The expensive ones may last an extra month or two, but when you see the amount of rain I do its just not worth it.

But i will say if you deal with a cold winter its best to get the more expensive ones for that so they don't freeze and get all choppy.

 

They do last a few years from my experience. However, paying $10-$15 per wiper blade is a bit spendy when I can get my cheapies for $3 each and they're around a year now and doing fine.

 

I use the teflon blades on metal frames from CT. I use the cheap metal ones in the summer and cheap winter blades in the winter. Since the UV destroys the rubber anyway, I stick with the rule of thumb, change of season, change your wiper blades. I'm not big on spending for fancy wiper blades with fancy names....especially when I can get a summer and winter set for the price it costs most people to buy one fancy blade.

I'll run Rain-X summer blend washer fluid in the summer. Helps get the bug guts off and also makes the rain bead off easy. Most times I won't need to hit the wipers, the rain just beads off.

 

not sure what you kinds you got down here in the states but in canada we have some like the Bosch Evolution but they are called "reflex blades"... i have them on my truck that i got from a friends exploder that he was scrapping.. i love them, nice and quiet and a clean wipe every time.

 

I've got winter wiper blades that have a boot on them that repels ice from building up on them in the winter. They work fine the rest of the year too. I don't remember the manufacturer, I got them at O'Rielly's auto parts store.

 

Bumping an old thread here..

I just replaced my wiper blades 20 minutes ago. I had the RainX brand but they tore on one end. Where the rubber wiper edge is attached to the wiper itself, the rubber is way to thin, and it ripped. So, I picked up the winter style that have the rubber boot over the entire wiper. The damn things are too stiff, they stay perfectly straight, miss a section in the middle of the windshield and a big section on the passenger side.

Anyone have any personal experience with a blade that actually hugs the contour of the windshield, that actually last a while? I'm looking for a brand/make that fits the curve of the windshield more than anything else.



GB :)

 

I use the Bosch mid-line ones. They are like $12 a piece. they were good all last winter and this summer but they are leaving marks and missing spots this year :/

 

I just went and bought a set of the RainX Latitudes. Hopefully the crappy ones I bought earlier today will fit my ol beater 89 Ranger.. lol


GB :)

 

Yeah, I have the Rain-X Latitude's too. Work great!

 

I've been thinking about getting the rain x latitudes. How long have you had them?

 

^^ these
but mine are nearing 4 yrs old and are starting to show their age, so soon will have to replace them.

 

This is how I roll...



$60 a pair is pocket change, just keep that cheap sh** off my ride! The dual spoilers on them give my truck an extra 20 HP!!! Hopefully they come with stickers!

I bet you cheap bastards probably skimp out on your cup holders too.

Not me, only the finest for my ranger..

 

Your gay wiper blades and your sh*tty cupholder aint got nuthin on me homeboy. I've been saving for these and I'll have em someday soon..



Real jewels b***hes! Suck my ****** ***** *** ****** ****


GB :)

 

^ Whats the backspacing on those? Those look just about right for a ranger .
I gots 2 get me sum those fo sho.

 

Most blades hang off the edge of the widow and stiffen in the cold temps, being that they are of equal length you might be able to put a shorter blade on the passenger side so it doesn't hang over the windshield and stiffen up in the cold weather. I bought a pair of Anco snow blades when I bought my truck 4 years ago and they still do the job. Those so called "all weather blades" seam to build up ice near the ends and push the blade up and off the glass causing smears. If you can, pull the wiper arm off the windshield, if the stiffen up in the cold at least they will be straight.

 

The idea was that I didn't want straight wiper blades. They look and work like crap. Even at the specified 18 length.



GB :)

 

another vote for RainX Latitudes

 

x2, I used to buy the single blade when i lived in ottawa. those are the **** for the winter. However living in seattle i just buy whatevers cheap and replace them as needed since i don't have to worry about the frame getting frozen. Also if you clean your blade with rubbing alcohol every month or so you'll prolong the life of the blade.

 

I use Anco 18" they aren't the all in one design like the latitudes, but after this heavy snow we just got, i fired my truck up to go to work and they moved the snow and ice no problem.

 

Been running 18" PIAA Super Silicone wiper blades here for about 3 years on my ranger and they are still good as new. They work great for the Climate in northern california central valley (essentially Mediterranean or lots of rain during winter/spring months). My truck sits out all summer long as well as i don't have a garage for it so they take a beating from direct sunlight. I'm surprised they have lasted so long as the stock Motorcrafts would last 6 months max.

 

rain x latitude.


/thread.

 

One thing to remember, make sure you get all the ice off before you use your wipers. The ice will damage them. I use Anco or Trico and replace every 2 years in the spring so I have fresh wipers through the summer rains the first year. I am amazed at how much better they work if you use the alcohol swipe they give you before you ever turn them on.