dickandlois Report post Posted June 15, 2019 This subject is not directly mentioned in any of the thread titles, so I placed it here. This is a link to a Consumer Report that covered in detail. Hope this helps. https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/wiper-blades/buying-guide/index.htm I personally have had no luck in finding a wiper blade that lasts like the ones made years ago. Traveled for business and pleasure and had blades that worked well for up to 3 years. The new style wiper design portion that contacts the glass starts to separate from the main rubber structure supported by the metal or rubber beam starts to tear loose in 3 to 6 months. Rich. Secondary Link https://www.google.com/search?q=wiper+blade+quality+by+manufacture&rlz=1C1VFKB_enUS711US716&oq=wiper+blade+quality+by+manufacture+&aqs=chrome..69i57j33l5.529520j1j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 Check for wiper blade quality by manufacture at the above link. https://10beasts.com/best-windshield-wipers/ Some good information, but lacks information regarding longer blades. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
richard5933 Report post Posted June 15, 2019 I know what you mean - they don't last as long as they used to and seem to be made from thinner rubber. We have 20" wiper blades on the coach. I've found that using commercial-grade wiper blades has two advantages - first they are a bit more heavy duty, both the blade and the rubber refill, and second there are refills available. I could easily get 'regular' 20" wiper blades, but they don't seem to last long at all. Sometimes they are hard to get, but using the commercial wiper refills means that I can get a full season from the refills before they start to fail. When they start to smear instead of wipe, I wipe them thoroughly with rubbing alcohol. This removes much of the build-up on them and helps greatly. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hermanmullins Report post Posted June 15, 2019 I have begun placing tennis balls under the wiper arms. It takes the pressure off the blades and they stay flexible. The blade isn't sitting with the pressure on the causing them to set up with a bend in them. Works for me. Herman Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dickandlois Report post Posted June 15, 2019 1 hour ago, hermanmullins said: I have begun placing tennis balls under the wiper arms. It takes the pressure off the blades and they stay flexible. The blade isn't sitting with the pressure on the causing them to set up with a bend in them. Works for me. Herman I do the same thing, but it does not stop the wiper blade edge section from tearing away from the main body. Rich. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kaypsmith Report post Posted June 15, 2019 Here is an item that I use about every two months on the blades, we use it in printers and copying machines, it prolongs the life of the rubber many times longer than rubbing alcohol because it contains the right formula to rejuvenate the rubber. https://www.ebay.com/itm/CAIG-RBR100L-25C-Rubber-Cleaner-and-Rejuvenator-25mL/321527462136?epid=1200148658&hash=item4adc87b8f8:g:4NoAAOSwVFlUGxg3 My blades are 28" and usually last 4 to 5 years, yes I do buy commercial blades also, pretty easy to find the correct blades in most truck stops. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
manholt Report post Posted June 15, 2019 I stick mine in a piece of 30" water hose. Seems the longer the blade, the more it cost and the shorter the life span! My motors are above the windshield. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jleamont Report post Posted June 16, 2019 Rich, ours are 32” and I just replaced them last week. They were 5 years old and over the winter started to tear. They are Trico’s, I was happy with getting 5 years out of them. Herman I like the tennis ball idea! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
manholt Report post Posted June 16, 2019 Trico is what I have! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wayne77590 Report post Posted June 16, 2019 18 hours ago, hermanmullins said: I have begun placing tennis balls under the wiper arms. It takes the pressure off the blades and they stay flexible. The blade isn't sitting with the pressure on the causing them to set up with a bend in them. Works for me. Herman Herman, when you are driving down the road and it starts to rain, can you see out the window where the tennis ball swipes across? Couldn't resist. You can also use those pool noodle. Just cut a 4" or so piece off the end. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
manholt Report post Posted June 16, 2019 Yes, they come in Lime green, Cannery yellow or Hot pink! What color do you use? So does tennis balls! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hermanmullins Report post Posted June 17, 2019 Wayne, I use the lime green ones. When we are just about ready to pull out I have to stop and remove my balls. I mean the tennis balls.☺ Herman Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wayne77590 Report post Posted June 17, 2019 I'm sure glad you made that clear. No telling what little man running around in my head would have poked up and typed something baaaddddd! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rayin Report post Posted June 18, 2019 Somewhat related; keep an eye on rockauto.com for wiper blades. About 4 years ago I found a closeout on Anco 28"wiper blades @ $4 each. RainX had a sale 2 yrs ago, I bought 4, they have plastic frames so I'm down to 2 now, they don't last long. Went back to Anco's I had for spares. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
five Report post Posted June 18, 2019 Our friendly Wally World has a great selection of wipers/blades...Rain-X, Michelin, Trico, Bosch and maybe more. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
richard5933 Report post Posted June 18, 2019 33 minutes ago, FIVE said: Our friendly Wally World has a great selection of wipers/blades...Rain-X, Michelin, Trico, Bosch and maybe more. Any commercial wipers or refills there? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kaypsmith Report post Posted June 18, 2019 1 hour ago, richard5933 said: Any commercial wipers or refills there? I haven't found commercial ones there, I have bought some there only to modify to fit in a pinch. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
manholt Report post Posted June 18, 2019 My last set came from NAPA. Wall Mart don't come close to my original length at 32", now I use 28" Trico & they are a year old and fraying! Got to see what I can find in Canada...got to Montreal yesterday! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildebill308 Report post Posted June 18, 2019 I upgraded to "J hook" adapters so I can run most anywiper. Carl, Check and see what your original equipment length was. I had real long 32" blades but REV group said I should have 26". I still run the longer blades to clear more area. Bill Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rayin Report post Posted June 19, 2019 19 hours ago, WILDEBILL308 said: I upgraded to "J hook" adapters so I can run most anywiper. Carl, Check and see what your original equipment length was. I had real long 32" blades but REV group said I should have 26". I still run the longer blades to clear more area. Bill A friend went to longer wiper blades, a year later the splines on the gearbox shaft stripped. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
richard5933 Report post Posted June 19, 2019 3 hours ago, RayIN said: A friend went to longer wiper blades, a year later the splines on the gearbox shaft stripped. Yeah - I've had a few experiences trying to change wiper length on a vehicles, usually not ending well. Changing the adapter type is easier, but I've found that the engineers typically think through things like wiper length pretty well, trying to get the largest area of the windshield cleared with equipment being used. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
manholt Report post Posted June 20, 2019 I have found that the longer blade, as it goes from point A to B, about 4", is not making contact with the curved windshield, at point B. That's on right side only. I had one blow completely off at 65 mph....that left scratches on window, until I could shut it off. Adjusting the arc & going to a shorter blade, is not perfect, but ok. That was the best REV engineers could come up with! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
five Report post Posted June 20, 2019 My last experience with wipers was during a very heavy rain storm just outside San Antonio. With each swipe of the wiper, the rubber blade slipped down about an inch off the arm (wipers are roof mounted). So I turned them off, and turned them on/off enough to see. I now have a very small zip tie securing each blade. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
richard5933 Report post Posted June 20, 2019 If it's just the rubber refill slipping, check that the metal clip at the end is not broken and that it's properly seated in the wiper arm/blade. I had a set of refills recently with defective clips - the fix was to used the clips from an old set of refills. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnpam19 Report post Posted August 29, 2021 Have a 2006 Mandalay. Just lost my second driver side windshield wiper. I used the 32" boomerang. Traveling 60mph raining. I have a curved windshield and the wiper goes past the curve and on the way back broke off. Works fine while running windshield wash while sitting. It doesn't even get to the curve part of the windshield. It is a j hook type. Its like it starts flapping all over the place when running in the rain. I really don't know what to do at this point. Need some help on this matter. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dickandlois Report post Posted August 29, 2021 16 minutes ago, johnpam19 said: Have a 2006 Mandalay. Just lost my second driver side windshield wiper. I used the 32" boomerang. Traveling 60mph raining. I have a curved windshield and the wiper goes past the curve and on the way back broke off. Works fine while running windshield wash while sitting. It doesn't even get to the curve part of the windshield. It is a j hook type. Its like it starts flapping all over the place when running in the rain. I really don't know what to do at this point. Need some help on this matter. Kind of thinking that you might need to shorten the blades a little. When the blades go too far past the curved section and the wind gets under them, something has to give! Rich. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
