E450 Wiper Blades
What are you guys using? We are going on a trip in a couple of weeks and want to get some new blades. There are so many brands and types out there, it's overwhelming. Thanks for any suggestions.
Forum Discussion
The OEM grade blades from Bosch are about $8, and there is probably an Anco replacement for under $10. A Ford service department will most likely try to sell a Motorcraft replacement blade for about twice the price of the Bosch, and at least 1/4 hour labor to put them on.
I think the last time I bought blades for the motorhome or E-series van, I used standard-grade Rain-X, $10-12. I buy these because my wipers are seldom used, so I need to replace them once or twice a year for UV hardening and oxidation.
There are premium blades of various types: frameless beam style for low-profile, with or without airfoils to hold them down, and different rubber compounds for different blade life. Then you'll find winter blades with flexible boots to help shake off ice, that will matter if you drive in winter.
If you drive in the rain a lot, look for a blade compounded or designed to reduce the rate of wear (one type has a teflon wear strip). For driving in sleet, snow, freezing rain, get a booted winter blade.
Bosch Icon is a frameless blade listing at $35 each that is usually highly rated in most applications. Rain-X Latitude is an all-season winter blade listing at $25. You can find them for a bit less online.
I would rather buy a less expensive blade (like OEM Bosch) and replace it more often, for my pattern of use. Particularly for the motorhome, which spends more than half its life sitting in a shed.
(after)
Looking at Ryder Fleet Products, which retails to fleet operators the parts they buy to service their own trucks, Ryder uses Anco blades. The 20-inch blade they use on E-series costs under $3, their most expensive deluxe frameless blade is under $10, through Ryder. I'm not sure what is the purchase quantity to get that price, as shipping could be several times the cost of a pair of blades.
I think the last time I bought blades for the motorhome or E-series van, I used standard-grade Rain-X, $10-12. I buy these because my wipers are seldom used, so I need to replace them once or twice a year for UV hardening and oxidation.
There are premium blades of various types: frameless beam style for low-profile, with or without airfoils to hold them down, and different rubber compounds for different blade life. Then you'll find winter blades with flexible boots to help shake off ice, that will matter if you drive in winter.
If you drive in the rain a lot, look for a blade compounded or designed to reduce the rate of wear (one type has a teflon wear strip). For driving in sleet, snow, freezing rain, get a booted winter blade.
Bosch Icon is a frameless blade listing at $35 each that is usually highly rated in most applications. Rain-X Latitude is an all-season winter blade listing at $25. You can find them for a bit less online.
I would rather buy a less expensive blade (like OEM Bosch) and replace it more often, for my pattern of use. Particularly for the motorhome, which spends more than half its life sitting in a shed.
(after)
Looking at Ryder Fleet Products, which retails to fleet operators the parts they buy to service their own trucks, Ryder uses Anco blades. The 20-inch blade they use on E-series costs under $3, their most expensive deluxe frameless blade is under $10, through Ryder. I'm not sure what is the purchase quantity to get that price, as shipping could be several times the cost of a pair of blades.
