Preventive maintenance and care for windshields and windshield wipers should be on every camper’s checklist. People often overlook preventive maintenance. Accordingly, in my RV preventive maintenance courses, I always tell RV owners to check their windshield wipers prior to leaving on a trip. You don’t want to find out they don’t work or are damaged while driving in the rain.

BLADES

There are several components you should inspect, but the most important is the rubber blade itself. Soft rubber forms wiper blades, which tend to wear quickly. The sun, debris collection, and improper use damage rubber blades. Most folks don’t think about improper use, but it’s a real thing. Improper use includes things like turning the wipers on when the glass is dry, and turning the wipers on when there is ice, dirt, or other debris on the windshield. Wiper blades are designed to glide across a smooth, clean, wet surface. Dirt, ice and a dry surface damage the rubber blades quicker than through normal use.

RV 101 Tip: When the windshield is dry or dirty and you want to use the wipers to clean it, spray it with windshield washer fluid first, to wet the surface.

Blades

ARMS

When you inspect the blades, inspect the wiper arms, too. There is a spring under the arm designed to keep the arm and blade pressed firmly against the windshield. This spring can wear and rust causing it to leave a small gap between the blade and the glass. When this happens, you need to replace the entire arm as opposed to just the wiper blade. Next, inspect the rubber itself. Look for knicks or cuts in the rubber and inspect the entire length of the rubber for any separation from the blade. Replace any damaged wiper blades immediately.

RV 101 Tip: Every time you wash the RV or the tow vehicle, clean the wiper blades, too. Use a glass cleaner or windshield washer fluid on a clean rag. You might be shocked at how dirty they are.

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WORKING LIFE

I have had some wiper blades last for a few years, while others wore out in six months. There are several reasons for this. One is how often the wipers are used, another is how the wiper blades are used and a third is the quality of the wiper blade. When there is snow or ice on the windshield, always defrost the windshield prior to using the wiper blades.

RV 101: If you know it is going to snow or freeze, put plastic grocery bags over the wiper blades to keep them from freezing to the windshield.

Frozen Blades

QUALITY

Wiper blades are sold based on blade length. When you need replacement blades, tell the auto parts worker the year, make and model of the vehicle and they will most likely give you several options to choose from. These options are based on price and quality of the blades. Wiper blades are not something you should skimp on. The better the quality, the better they work. For a motorhome, I find it easier to order replacement blades online. They are longer than most vehicle ones and typically not found in local auto parts stores.

RV 101 Tip: Keep a spare set of wiper blades on hand, especially for a motorhome. You never know where you might be when a wiper blade gets damaged.

WINDSHIELD CARE

Common sense tells us to always keep the windshield as clean as possible. Dirt, pollen and other debris can obstruct your view and damage the rubber wiper blades. A good automotive glass cleaner and a microfiber towel does the trick just fine. I recommend cleaning the glass every time you wash or detail your vehicle or RV. If you are traveling and get a chip or crack in the windshield, get it repaired as soon as possible. If there are no shops close by, pick up a windshield repair kit available at an auto parts stores. The problem with not repairing it quickly is that it can continue to spread until the entire windshield needs to be replaced as opposed to a simple repair.

RV 101 Tip: Check with your insurance company to see if the repair cost is covered in your policy.

This article by Mark Polk was originally published in Girl Camper Magazine.

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By Mark Polk

Mark Polk of RV Education 101®, a trusted RV expert and educator, has spent the past 25 plus years educating millions of RV consumers on how to properly and safely use and maintain their motorhomes, travel trailers, 5th wheel trailers, all known as RVs through RV Education 101s vast offerings of  RV training material found at rvonlinetraining.com

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