Bottom Rust in a Heavy Salt Winter

[BigA]

I think the 3rd gen had a better design with the doors wrapping under the truck and not much of a rocker panel although 3rd gens have the rear fender rust problem.

 

[Prospect62]

Living in Central New York State (salt belt) all my life I can attest to the fact that there is literally NOTHING you can do to avoid premature corrosion on any daily driven year-round vehicle. Nothing.

I don't care if you clean it with a toothbrush after every trip, it does. not. matter.

The only cases I've seen trucks up here avoid devastating rust within 6-10 years is that treatment where they spray actual OIL under the truck and inside the body panels and also with guys who commute long (20+ miles one way) distances daily where clean water can flush out the salt on a regular basis.

I've also witnessed how heat expedites the corrosion process. People thinking they are doing right by their car or truck by sticking it in a warm garage after every winter trip are doing just the opposite - heat is a necessary element in oxidation. You're better off leaving that snow, ice and salt crusted truck outside in the sub-freezing temps until you can get it sprayed off.

Bottom line, as I said...there's really nothing you can do except move south of the Mason-Dixon. 25 more years (hopefully) and I'll be headed down myself.

I think the 3rd gen had a better design with the doors wrapping under the truck and not much of a rocker panel although 3rd gens have the rear fender rust problem.

Meh...my rockers and cab corners have started going to hell and this is my truck's second winter in NY State. As for the bedsides - one winter. That's all it took. Rust bubbles appeared, burst and are now dripping rust after just ONE winter. Poor design.

 

[Hemi395]

Washing your vehicles frequently definitely helps. My old work van was a 2005 Ford E250. It had 129000 miles on it when I got my new one. The first two pics are of my van the day I turned it in. Its the rear quarter panels right before the wheels which is a typical spot for ford vans to rot out. I rinsed it as often as I rinsed my personal vehicles. And by rinsing I'm talking about flushing out the wheel wells, rockers, frame, etc.

The last two pics are of the same spots on an identical van from another guy I work with. He never washed/rinsed it once. It was a 2005 Ford E250 with 125000 on it. 4000 less miles and it was completely rotted out in these spots and several other places.

I live on the coast of MA so we don't see the amount of road salt like in say NY State or Minnisotta, but we do have salt on the roads for a good 4 months each winter. Plus theres the salt air being near the ocean.

So washing frequently may not completely prevent rust, but it does help.

 

[THETANK]

luckily mine hides in the garage from Oct until late Apr, this includes all of my past/present toys. On a side note I was under the R/T to take off the running boards and the underside is spotless. The odd thing is the driveshaft is surrounded by a somewhat shiny metal tube, not sure if it is on any other model but my 14 Sport rcsb 4x4 did not have this additional item. My truck is now 14 months old and the odo reads 600 miles, the underside is spotless as I wipe down the underside with a damp cloth every time I am under it. I don't have to do this often as the truck only goes out when the chance of rain is 30% or less.

 

[Sir John]

Obviously I'm not trying to talk anyone out of taking care of thier truck. I'm CONSTANTLY ridiculed in my family for how OCD i am with caring for my cars and trucks. I'm definitely the worst with my current Ram because i made the mistake and got a black one! I said all that to say this, the more i powerwash it in the winter the faster my pre-winter wax job disappears. Plus, the more you wash a black truck, the worse it looks. I'll let you think about that last sentence for a bit.

 

[Hemi395]

Obviously I'm not trying to talk anyone out of taking care of thier truck. I'm CONSTANTLY ridiculed in my family for how OCD i am with caring for my cars and trucks. I'm definitely the worst with my current Ram because i made the mistake and got a black one!

Ha yeah I know that feeling. I'm one of the only people at work that wash their company trucks. Then there's all flack I take from family for being "super ****" about my vehicles... But when you have a black truck you have to be ****

 

[scHemi]

Here is the driver side after. Finally got around to getting a picture.





Sent from skynet

 

[Hemi395]

Here is the driver side after. Finally got around to getting a picture.





Sent from skynet

Nice! Hard to tell from the pic but is that color matched line x on the new rocker?

 

[scHemi]

Yea. That's exactly what it is. Used a product called raptor. It's tintable. Actually did from that lower body line all the way down and around from my front fender to the rear. Also had to replace my rear bumper so I said what not paint it with that stuff too. It's not shiny like the base/ clear but it will last longer


Sent from skynet

 

[Hemi395]

Pics!

 

[skidozer67]

Its a 09 that's 7 winters, the parking lot at work is full of 2009 Chevy's that the bottom of tailgates are rotted right through and rotted around the wheel wells.

I washed my 03 f150 about 2 to 3 times per week, had it oiled during the summer. When it was 7 years old I replaced every line on the truck, oil, trans, fuel all brake lines.
Salt sucks! 13 years of NY salt and there was nothing left and I cant complain about that. Can"t wait to move out of here.

 

[Hemi395]

 

[danmp]

I'm living in Québec city in canada, and our roads are full of salt 6 month per year.

This is the third winter my truck had to take and still look good.

I got:
- mud flap
- Fender flare ( I put grease under them )
- 6" running board.
- Every year my truck got a rust protection under it and in any critical point

I've done all that on my previous truck and after 5 years is was like new. Every time I got it in a garage they said it was really clean for it's age



that doesn't look so good , but there is almost no rust under the grease

 

[jaycabral27]

I'm living in Québec city in canada, and our roads are full of salt 6 month per year.

This is the third winter my truck had to take and still look good.

I got:
- mud flap
- Fender flare ( I put grease under them )
- 6" running board.
- Every year my truck got a rust protection under it and in any critical point

I've done all that on my previous truck and after 5 years is was like new. Every time I got it in a garage they said it was really clean for it's age



that doesn't look so good , but there is almost no rust under the grease

Damn Canadian winters. I lived in Ottawa and now I live in Hamilton. The salt they use on the roads is crazy. I also rust proof but I would recommend going under truck at a wash Bay and spray all the salt off in the spring.....well the best you can.

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk

 

[Hemi395]

Might want to check this out too: http://www.ramforum.com/showthread.php?t=83123

 

[BigA]

Damn Canadian winters. I lived in Ottawa and now I live in Hamilton. The salt they use on the roads is crazy. I also rust proof but I would recommend going under truck at a wash Bay and spray all the salt off in the spring.....well the best you can.

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk

yea, best to spray the underside often during the winter, if you wait until spring the damage is mostly done.

 

[tncruiser]

You are living my dream.

everybody in Tennessee seems to be from Michigan,i am surprised there are still people there.heres how to do it
#1 get old
#2 retire
#3 mov#4 enjoy life



brianj