FTE‘s Guide to Picking New Wiper Blades for Your Ford Truck

Ford Truck Enthusiasts forum member and Ford truck owner reviews three popular brands of wiper blades for winter use.

There are many brands of windshield wipers for your Ford pickup or sport utility vehicle, but three of the better-known brands are Michelin, Bosch and Rain X. To help out in maiing the best choice in replacement wiper blades, one of the how-to experts on the Ford truck Enthusiasts forums who goes by Makeda tested each of these brands, providing a quick-yet-thorough review of each. Most importantly, the OP focused on winter performance, and with snow falling in much of North America, it is a great time to talk about new wiper blades.

Ford Truck Wiper Review Introduction

The OP began the three-brand review of wiper blades for the Ford F-Series with a quick introduction.

Replacing your wiper blades regularly will prevent dirty windows and poor visibility during heavy rain or snowy days. In general, wiper blades should on average be replaced every 6-12 months, particularly in areas with inclement weather. They tend to last longer in drier climates. Streaking, chattering, smearing, split rubber, squeaking, or bent wiper arm are signs your wiper blades need replacement. The brands we will be reviewing are Michelin, Bosch, and Rain-X.

As mentioned above, there are plenty of other brands, but these are three of the most popular and the most common at retailers. Keep in mind that this piece is a few years old, so the pricing may vary today, but the information is still valid.

Windshield Wiper Winners

The body of this windshield wiper review for the Ford F-150 and F-250 starts with the Michelin information. Michelin gets the best review of the three, while ranking in the middle in terms of pricing.

Michelin windshield wipers are made of quality material and are recommended for cars in warm and cold climate conditions. The Michelin Stealth wipers are very strong and are a good product for winter drivers. Even when a truck passes by and the snow piles on your windshield, you will have good visibility. Most wipers of this model last for 6 months before needing to be replaced

The Bosch blades are the second mentioned, also getting excellent reviews, as the least expensive in the group.

Bosch windshield wipers are recommended in warm and cold climate conditions. These blades are easy to install yourself and are quiet on windows in rain and during snowy weather. Bosch blades are quiet when used during heavy precipitation seasons. These blades are easy to install but may leave a little smear on your window depending on weather conditions

It should be noted that I use Bosch Icon wipers on my own truck in the winter and they perform beautifully. The Icon line costs a little more, but they are worth every cent, rain or snow.

Not Much Love for Rain-X

Finally, Rain-X doesn’t get much love from this Ford F-Series owner. They are recommended for Ford truck owners in warm climates only

Rain-X windshield wipers have a reputation for lasting longer in warmer climate conditions. Depending on the weather, the blades have been known to leave chatter and streaks on windows that may be hard to remove. The Rain-X blades do not make firm contact with windshields and become stiff when temperatures drop, which is not safe if a driver is stuck in a snow storm or heavy rains, especially when driving on the highway or long distances.

The Rain-X Wipers are also the most expensive of the three. That being said, some people rave about the function of the Rain-X wipers in the rain, but in the snow, out reviewer gives them the thumbs-down.

Click here for a closer look at the Ford F-150 and F-250 windshield wiper information in our How-To section.

Photo of Ford F-150: Ford Motor Company; images of wipers are from each manufacturer

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Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

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