I just bought a 2002 f150 w/5.4 from Arizona. Bringing it back here to OH. Right now it is completely rust free. I'd like to keep it that way as long as possible. I want to paint it underneath with some kind of rust preventer. what would be the best choice? Anything else I should do or check before winter hits?

 

I did just that a few years ago. I bought a 03 screw from clearwater FL and brought it back to MI. First thing I did is take it to my local body shop and had the rockers under coated from the inside out. (If you don't they will rust right off) second I bought por-15 and coated the very bottom of each door. I also por-15 here and there underneath the truck. I looked for a clean truck here but its near impossible MI and OH will eat your truck alive...

 

On these truck the drain holes at the bottom of the doors are prone to hold water (and salt if you live in a area with snow). I would be sure to treat that area of the truck. I bought my 97 used and the bottom of the doors are rusting apart.

 

Get something you don't mind rusting away. It's gonna happen no matter what you do. Or you can do what I did.....move to TEXAS and never have to worry about it.

 

Living in northern MN, the roads are white with salt and the best thing I've used over the years is "Rustcheck" spray. It is an aerospace oil com-posit designed for use in aircraft. Used for years in Canada where it originated. I bought a used truck down in Texas for the exact reasons stated above. Salt will though find it's way under any coating out there in my experience. The only thing you can do with metal is slow it's corrosion process and Rustcheck does that very well. It must be applied at a dealer near you or you can also purchase spray cans and DIY. The metal must be soaked with the special oil once a year. I've now had my truck over 7 years after bringing it up from Texas. There is no body rust due to the application of this product. There is light frame rust that does not affect the integrity of the steel. Applied correctly, this stuff will help your truck last a long time. Where-as coatings can chip and rust will travel unnoticed underneath the coating. You won't know it's rusted until it's too late. Beside this way you can keep an eye on the rust or lack of. I highly recommend it. http://www.rustcheck.com/

"Krown" also makes a fluid corrosion resistant product that is applied and not coated.

The ultimate truck IMO would be made entirely of 409 stainless steel, though the cost would be prohibitive.

 

I was thinking about applying bedliner, or maybe a chip-gaurd type product underneath. I've also looked at Rust Bullet, but I'm not sure if it is just a rust killer, or if it's also a protectant /deterrent. Does any of this sound right? I like the Rustcheck, but I'm looking for something I won't have to completely re-apply every year. Maybe just a touch-up.

 

Once rust has taken hold, there is nothing in my experience that will stop it. All the steps it would take to sand/grind down every part of the frame would be an enormous undertaking and you would technically have to pull the body and box off the truck to really get all of it. It's just not worth it. The "Rustcheck" product is applied at the "Rustcheck" dealer. It covers the entire body, inside: doors, A-pillars, the hood, fenders, etc. The body and frame get treated. All the other coatings your thinking about will only mask the traveling rust underneath. Again, I would love to own a ford truck made completely of 409 Stainless Steel.

 

I looked up the rustcheck stuff. It sounds awsome. I see you can buy it in a can.

Also I wash the hell out my truck through out the winter. After every snow I spray up in the wheel wells, underneath the rockers everywhere. I can't stand when I have them big ice chunks hanging behind the wheels. Rust will eventually happen but you can slow it for sure.

I've seen 05 F150s with bubbles going on in the cab corners. I would be ticked.

 

You got it right, pretty much all you can do is try to slow it down. Might as well do your best to prevent it though!

 

Once the ("RC") spray is applied the snow and ice chunks will fall right off. The rust check keeps it from ad-hearing.