Advice from frequent snow drivers sought....

I’ve got these……
https://frostfighter.com/clear-view-front-wiper-defrosters.htm

 

Freightliner Heated Windshield Wiper Kit By Everblades

 

That product looks terrific. I think this is the best option other than the heated windshields I think Ford used on the Crown Victoria for a while and whoever made the wedge-shaped minivan.

 

It’s like a rear window defroster for the bottom of the windshield and the Sides….

The plow guys turned me on to them.

 

I never found a good solution. Some of the ideas sounded good, but they were pretty expensive like the heated wiper blades. The heated washer fluid seemed pretty clever.

I settled for a very brief stop, like at a stoplight and just reaching out and pulling the driver-side wiper up and letting the springs slap it back down to the glass and breaking off some of the ice. I also tried to follow some advice from drivers before I went out West. Some drivers keep the cab of the truck cool or cold and don't run the defroster. The idea being a warm windshield melts the snow, the outside air temp (OAT) re-freezes the water into ice. The driver would wear warm enough clothes to stay warm. Some drivers also advised to wait until you REALL need to run the wipers and let them run for a sweep or two and then turn them off. If you run the wipers more than necessary, especially with defroster running, you just speed up the ice accumulation.

I never found a good solution and I really wanted to find one that was cheaper than most alternatives and could be temporarily mounted easily on a company truck. O-Os have more flexibility on installing equipment. One of the things I tried was like a carboard shelf from the top of the dashboard reaching toward the windshield, but not in contact with the glass. The idea was to trap the warm/hot air from the defrosters down low on the glass where the wipers rest. It was OK. I think someone warned me or I was worried cncentraing the heat on part of the glass might make it more likely to crack. Winter driving is a time when you may more likely get nicks or dings in the windhsield from passing traffic kicking up "salt" or rocks from the road. The heating elements you stick to the bottom of the glass seem fantastic, but it seems you have to replace them each time you replace a windshield. Modern windshields seem to be thinner and more prone to damage than before. It seems I had one replaced almost each and every year for a while.

 

Seems some snow plow guys really like them. I have no experience though. Would just get out and slap the wipers off the glass, and clear off the built up ice front the windshield.

 

That's the way we did it in my neck of the woods.

 

We just switch out to "winter blades" with the rubber surrounding to prevent ice buildup. Helps a bit.