I am being transfered from west Texas to northern Virginia and am concerned about rust forming on my 2005 F-350. I had a similar issue with a 1996 F-350 and Ziebarted it, but there was already rust and it eventually formed under the Ziebart. Currently, my 2005 has no rust. What can I do to the underside to prevent rust from ruining my truck?

 

get about 6-8 cans of rubberized undercoating from the local auto parts store, spray on entire bottom of truck aand chassis...check on it every year

 

What we used to do when I lived in Canada (live on west coast, back in America! thank God), was take our used engine oil and put into a squirt bottle. Spray it in the doors, in behind the cab, under the bed, etc. Get a good film of oil on it and it helps alot. Is not permanent but definitely helps. Drips for awhile but worth it.

 

Another little way to help that I was always told when going to school up in Missouri is to go to the self car wash and spray the wax on the whole underside... helps to keep the salt and what not from sticking. Now I'm back home in Texas and I'll spray that wax on sometimes before I head out to the beach to help keep the sand/salt from stickin, especially in the small cracks.

 

Thanks for the great help!

 

Also some on here would spray a bed liner on the whole underside & they said that helped. You also might want to search around this site under the search tab an see what comes up for rust or rust protection. You might also want to google it for like winter protection & rust protection an see what comes up.

 

I live up in Canada, and have in the bodywork profession for roughly 15 years. All of these suggestions seem to work well. Alot of it relies on how u look after your investment (u want it to last as long as possible). The new trucks don't last like the old ones. With almost all of the vintage vehicles we restore we use a undercoating gun(under $20) with a quart can of rubberized undercoating that u can refill by getting a large gallon can (about $50 bucks).U also need compressed air.. I would strongly recommend using this "Rockergaurd" as the crap u buy in an aerosol can is not as thick as the "real" stuff. We go through this stuff as if it were beer. U can also pour into a cup and brush it on in tight areas. It is so worth it. Jack the truck up, and spray away. Turn the front wheels to each side so u can get it in the cracks and crevices and steering joints. 1 other tip is to use a pressure washer to wash the underside of the truck and don't forget to get in the wheel wells and up in behind the bed sides (mud will get caught on top of the wheel well in between the two walls. Keep it clean when ever u have a chance and she'll love u for a long time. If dirt and mud is wet in behind the panels, it will rust. Eliminate the crap built up and u should be fine. Take note of any pockets underneath that trap mud, clean these regularly. Look at other trucks of the same era, or even older, to see where they commonly have rust, (usually on top of the rear wells and Behind the wells.I hope these tips can help u keep your baby looking sharp for years to come.

 

This is some Great info.

 

I'm going to need to do the same thing on mines.

 

im going to coat the frames of my projects with that roll on bed liner just be careful of stuff your going to have to unblot later on

 

I appreciate everyone's quick help - - particularly the detailed Canadian suggestions. To follow-up, if there is already some rust (not bad) & I put rubberized undercoating on it, will the existing rust continue to corrode. If so, should I put a rust inhibitor on before rubberized undercoating? Thanks again to everyone!

 

Ya I'm wondering the same thing. For clean metal I have plenty of stuff to seal it, but for rusty and rotted areas, my approach has always just been to keep it oiled up and pray.

I've tried POR 15, bunches of spray can "rust converters", and a few bedliners on a variety of rusty spots/things, and as of right now one rust converter that I don't know where to buy more of, and Monstaliner have been the only ones I'd even really buy again. POR 15 has proven to be a joke.

 

if you can..wire wheel it or sand it do what ever you can to clean it up then paint it with some decent paint then undercoat it that would more then likely be your best bet

 

Yer welcome. I like helping people in many ways, especially when it comes to vehicles. Just trying to keep as much old iron on the roads as possible, kinda takes u back. Ahhhhhhhhh !!!!