[Quick Survey] If you were designing the perfect windshield wiper for your truck, what would you improve first?

[TreadAuto]

Hey everyone!

We're TreadAuto, proud sponsor of the forum, and we're currently researching windshield wipers and real-world driver preferences.

With rain and storm season picking up in a lot of areas, we figured this would be a good time to ask people who actually deal with real driving conditions.

A few things we're curious about:

1. What annoys you most about your current wipers?

2. What's one thing you wish wipers did better?

3. Have you ever used a wiper feature that was surprisingly useful? Or maybe something you've always wished existed?

Your ideas matter. They could actually inspire real features in future products, helping make the “perfect” wiper a reality.

Thanks in advance!

Sponsored

 

[rdalemercer]

No auto sensing wiper.

 

[co425]

It’s a damn wiper. What else should it do but wipe the water off the windshield?!! These questions are out of hand.

 

[rdalemercer]

It’s a damn wiper. What else should it do but wipe the water off the windshield?!! These questions are out of hand.
[/QUOTE.
My .02? All questions like this are valid. Re wipers: blade length, stroke, blade material, functionality (i.e. auto sensing), anti-freeze strips on the windshield, visibility of the blades while in the stored position, etc etc, etc.... lots to consider!
I retired from the company. We used to participate in frequent surveys about the company vehicles that we drove including formal functionality reviews. All good surveys designed to get the input and opinion of drivers and users of the vehicle/technology.
It 'just works' because lots of engineering (Kaizen) and thought goes into the simple things that we use on a daily basis.
Failures get problem solved and recurrence prevention measures implemented.

 

[lauren01]

The fling at the end. Toyota helps remedy this with software when the truck is stopped that gives one extra wipe a few seconds later.

Although the OEM wiper rubber blades are very good, if they would add reformulated silicon and improve the graphite (I think that is a coating or a surface impregnation) the blades can get to an excellent rating in my book.

On my other vehicles, I’ve used either K&N or OEM blades with better results than Bosch, Trico, or Michelin (Costco). The latter of those is what I put on when selling a car. K&N is by far the best fit and performance on my former Hondas. The rubber/silicone they use is amazing! Lasts me 18 months with care. I coat my windows with glass treatment and clean the blades often.

We are using OEM wiper blades on our Subaru since wife bought a maintenance plan and they include all three wipers. I’m using OEM on my Acura because the K&N ones got to be too expensive with the post-covid inflation and didn’t fit as well.

Tacoma Lifestyle sells a beam-style wiper claiming it’s more rugged than OEM. Although reviews are good, not sure I trust those. I’m probably pickier and might not like the fit. But reserve the right to try them out of curiosity.

I very much like that Toyota sells rubber blade refills and full blades for when they are thrashed. It’s environmentally conscious and lowers our cost of maintenance.

TL;DR whatever K&N and Toyota are doing, do it better. Add some style to superior function and you’ll get buyers. Tacoma owners love truck jewelry.

 

[lauren01]

One mechanical feature of the wiper controls that I love is the ability to squirt without wiping. I’m using bug formula wiper fluid. Needs to dwell to maximize its effectiveness. The Toyota does this very well. Control is tuned just right.

 

[TreadAuto]

The fling at the end. Toyota helps remedy this with software when the truck is stopped that gives one extra wipe a few seconds later.

Although the OEM wiper rubber blades are very good, if they would add reformulated silicon and improve the graphite (I think that is a coating or a surface impregnation) the blades can get to an excellent rating in my book.

On my other vehicles, I’ve used either K&N or OEM blades with better results than Bosch, Trico, or Michelin (Costco). The latter of those is what I put on when selling a car. K&N is by far the best fit and performance on my former Hondas. The rubber/silicone they use is amazing! Lasts me 18 months with care. I coat my windows with glass treatment and clean the blades often.

We are using OEM wiper blades on our Subaru since wife bought a maintenance plan and they include all three wipers. I’m using OEM on my Acura because the K&N ones got to be too expensive with the post-covid inflation and didn’t fit as well.

Tacoma Lifestyle sells a beam-style wiper claiming it’s more rugged than OEM. Although reviews are good, not sure I trust those. I’m probably pickier and might not like the fit. But reserve the right to try them out of curiosity.

I very much like that Toyota sells rubber blade refills and full blades for when they are thrashed. It’s environmentally conscious and lowers our cost of maintenance.

TL;DR whatever K&N and Toyota are doing, do it better. Add some style to superior function and you’ll get buyers. Tacoma owners love truck jewelry.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[TreadAuto]

One mechanical feature of the wiper controls that I love is the ability to squirt without wiping. I’m using bug formula wiper fluid. Needs to dwell to maximize its effectiveness. The Toyota does this very well. Control is tuned just right.

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[rdalemercer]

Hey everyone!

We're TreadAuto, proud sponsor of the forum, and we're currently researching windshield wipers and real-world driver preferences.

With rain and storm season picking up in a lot of areas, we figured this would be a good time to ask people who actually deal with real driving conditions.

A few things we're curious about:

1. What annoys you most about your current wipers?

2. What's one thing you wish wipers did better?

3. Have you ever used a wiper feature that was surprisingly useful? Or maybe something you've always wished existed?

Your ideas matter. They could actually inspire real features in future products, helping make the “perfect” wiper a reality.

Thanks in advance!

Rain-sensing, automatic. Friday function. Diving speed based wiper speed.

Sponsored