Since many RVs sit for extended periods, I figure this is the place to ask this question. With four motorcycles, two bicycles, and a Miata my 2002 Chevy 2500 does not see much use any more. It is parked outside and can sit there for weeks on end, sometimes months. When I finally have it on the road and need to use my wipers they invariably do not function correctly. They have sat against the windshield so long that they no longer want to flip at the end of each stroke. When I get my next set I'm thinking that I'll put something under the arms to keep the blades from coming in contact with the windshield when parked for long periods. Has anyone tried this or have any other suggestions for dealing with the problem I described?

I have the two arm wipers on the motorhome with 22" blades and I have a tennis ball under each arm which stays there perfectly until I remove them when the wipers are needed.

You can also buy a piece of styrofoam pipe insulation. Cut it to length and slide it over your wiper blades. If keeps them out of the sun and costs next to nothing.

The best remedy I have found is to Use Rain-X on my windshield .The blades slide easily over the Rain-X windshield .Very little friction between the blades and the windshield .You can actually see very well at 45 mph and up without using your wiper blades if your windshield is well Rain-X ed .I especially use frequent applications of Rain-X on our mercedes and porsche because it extends the life of the wiper blades about double .if you have priced a mercedes or porsche wiper blade you will understand the cost savings by using Rain X .Plus I can see in a downstorm .For my truck I bought the Costco Goodyear ASSURANCE wiper blades cheap .A very good blade at a discount price .

Or....you can remove them when the RV is going to be sitting for a period of time.

Wiper blades question | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

Kennedycamper
Explorer
Jan 10, 2014
You really should drive the truck once a week or so anyway.
georgelesley
Explorer
Jan 10, 2014
When parking any vehicle outside up here in MN during the winter we just flip the wipers up and away from the glass. Most have a position to do that. Costs nothing.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Jan 09, 2014
I lift the wipers off the windshield when I park, I have a plastic thingy that used to be wold by, as best I recall, wiper buddy, that fits under the arm.. NOTE: this is not the best choice but works well with care.. I lost the other one so made one out of wood to replace it.

A tennis ball works, or a piece of pipe or a swim noodle (perhaps cut a bit) the idea is to get the blades off the windshield so they are in free air.

My blades lasted 8 years

Normal life is one year.
eddd
Explorer
Jan 09, 2014
Thanks for the suggestions. New blades with pieces of pool noodle are in place.

I had used Rain-X in the past and was pleased with the results when first applied, but it would lose its effectiveness pretty quickly. Living in southwest Utah I don't have to deal with rain very often.
westend
Explorer
Jan 09, 2014
beemerphile1 wrote:
You may prefer a pool noodle split rather than the pipe insulation. Different kind of foam and choice of colors.

Another great idea! I have those in stock, including yellow and orange. Should be visible for many yards to see if they maintain location.
beemerphile1
Explorer
Jan 09, 2014
You may prefer a pool noodle split rather than the pipe insulation. Different kind of foam and choice of colors.
Clay_L
Explorer
Jan 09, 2014
I use a length of plastic foam pipe insulation on each one along with a tennis ball to hold them off the windshield. I still have the original wiper blades that came on the coach when I bought it new back in 2004 and they still work fine.
westend
Explorer
Jan 09, 2014
Bob & Ann wrote:
You can also buy a piece of styrofoam pipe insulation. Cut it to length and slide it over your wiper blades. If keeps them out of the sun and costs next to nothing.
This is close to Nobel Prize status!:B

Great tip, thanks!
PartyMarty
Explorer
Jan 09, 2014
RAIN-X makes the windshield very very smooth .
I use the original type that I apply to my windshield because it works considerably better than the kind I put in my washer reservoir .
I apply the rain-x with a blue paper/cotton shop towel onto my windshield .
This has doubled the life of my wiper blades because the blades glide over the smooth rain-x finish .
Plus I run my wipers less often because I can see well in a rain storm because the rain runs right off without the wipers at 40 mph or faster .
I also have bought the Costco Goodyear blades and they are very good .
marcsbigfoot20b
Explorer
Jan 09, 2014
I have Silblade wipers on all my vehicles.
Do your own research and choose.
http://www.silblade.com/

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Wiper blades question

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