Keeping the Bed Rust Free

[dodgewrench88]

Picked up a clean 2005 1500 a few weeks ago. The bed on the truck is off a southern truck. It is completely rust free. I live in Connecticut where they salt and liquid brine the roads unfortunately.

I was told these trucks rust notoriously on the wheel arches/bed sides due to sound deadening foam installed in the crevices you can't see which traps in moisture, salt etc.

I put my hand up behind the bedside but couldn't feel any foam. I guess I can remove the tail light assemblies and take a look.

My plan of action was to try and remove the foam. Wash it down, dry thoroughly and then coat it heavily with Fluid Film from the tail light housing opening.

Has anyone successfully dealt with this before?

 

[jws123]

Fluid film the truck twice a year and during the winter wash the truck as mush as possible its a pain but it helps alot even my 2014 is startting to rust despite all this lol. If the truck has inner fender liners in the rear remove them and flush out behind them then coat it. As far as the foam dont remember if thats the case with the older rams but I dont think you would be able to do much about it.

 

[js12278]

You’d have better results with Woolwax. It’s thicker and more resistant to wash off. My 2018 was initially DIY sprayed with Woolwax under the entire chassis and I used fluid film inside the pillar posts and door panels, I recently this past fall applied the 2nd entire recoat. Drop any fender liners that are installed and spray right up along the lip. Rams have dual wall rocker panels, you have to make sure you get product into both chambers or you’ll get rust out and think it was the product, you didn’t get into both panels.
Look inside the rocker panels from under neath. They use lil tape patches over access holds, peel back the tape look inside with a light you’ll see both sections. Make sure you get enough product up inside there.