Do any "Frameless Wipers" lay flat on Ranger windshield?

rob3235 · #1 03-21-2010, 08:25 PM

Hello, Everyone!

Just curious if anyone here has had a good experience with their Ranger and those funky new beam/frameless-styled wipers (such as Rain-X Latitute, Anco Contour, etc etc).

I've already tried some 18-inch Michelin Optimum's (similar style as those above) on my 2003 Ranger, but the passenger side wiper wouldn't lay flat, especially at the end-curve of the windshield. As such, the wiper blade jiggled around quite a bit at highway speeds, and wiping coverage wasn't as good as a traditional blade.

Was hoping maybe someone here had better luck and could recommend what brand worked for them. Thanks!

FoMoCo · #2 03-21-2010, 08:36 PM

do you have pics of these blades? i have the rain X ones from walmart, and they work great

Ranger01 · #3 03-21-2010, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FoMoCo

do you have pics of these blades? i have the rain X ones from walmart, and they work great

x2 i love em. and when i need new ones i buy them and return theold because they look the same.

FireRanger · #4 03-21-2010, 08:38 PM

No. I have tried EVERY MAKE/MODEL windshield wiper out there. From cheapo to fancy and expensive including the frameless ones. It must just be the shape of Ranger windshields. The only ones that don't suck are the standard cheapo $5 framed POS cheap wiper blades. All the other ones suck.

I have tested this over and over with many many trips from CT to Vermont in rain, blizzards, ice storms, fog, and mud slides. The cheap junk wiper blades are the only ones that work.

Ranger Sport · #5 03-21-2010, 08:47 PM

Have you tried using a shorter wiper blade on the passenger side?

I mean if the only issue is that the windshield is curved at the end, not going over it could maybe solve your problem?

FoMoCo · #6 03-21-2010, 08:48 PM

i really hadn't used too many different wipers, i have tried the motorcraft ones, and they are pretty good, but the rain X ones are the best i have tried

uajosh · #7 03-21-2010, 08:52 PM

Ranger01
That is a effin great idea!!! Aren't you some kind of cop or something? LOL?

FoMoCo · #8 03-21-2010, 08:56 PM

i've had that shit happen to me when i went to buy a water filter for my fridge, spent $40 for it just to find out some douch returned an old one

FireRanger · #9 03-21-2010, 08:56 PM

I have in fact tried shorter blades also. All the expensive ones suck all over the windshield, not just the ends so it didn't help/.

Ranger01 · #10 03-21-2010, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uajosh

Ranger01
That is a effin great idea!!! Aren't you some kind of cop or something? LOL?

Lol hell no i'm only 17 rofl i just like to save 40$
lol

Ranger01 · #11 03-21-2010, 08:57 PM

i didn't return a water filter lol

rob3235 · #12 03-21-2010, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FoMoCo

do you have pics of these blades? i have the rain X ones from walmart, and they work great

I wasn't able to find a JPEG image of them online, but they look just like the ones currently on the video graphic playing on the front page of their website: http://www.michelinwiper.com/

(I've also seen identical wipers being sold at Walmart, but those Michelines had a different name than Optimum.)

FoMoCo · #13 03-21-2010, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranger01

Lol hell no i'm only 17 rofl i just like to save 40$
lol

everyone wants to save a few bucks, but thats just wrong

Ranger01 · #14 03-21-2010, 09:03 PM

They don't put them back on the shelf, You have to cut open the package. They send them back to the manufacturer and get credited. My sister works at wal-mart, or did

rob3235 · #15 03-21-2010, 09:08 PM

Thanks for the suggestions!

I have previously thought of trying a slightly larger blade in the hopes that maybe the curvature would better match the windshield, but have never tried it. Hmmm... but for some reason I had never thought about going shorter.

Question: For those who are using the Rain-X ones, are you talking about just the regular metal ones? Or the Rain-X latitude ones, like these: