Preventing Rust On Bed Sides
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More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 688
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From: Kansas City, MO
Preventing Rust On Bed Sides
My truck, 2001 F250 SuperCab 4x4 should be delivered any day from the Pacific Northwest. It has Zero rust on it and I want to keep it that way. Unfortunately here in Kansas City, Missouri most of the trucks of this vintage I see have rust around the back wheels on the bed. What steps, if any, can I take to prevent rust on my new truck? I'm pretty OCD about cleaning my vehicles (or anything for that matter, lol) so washing the wheel wells is a no-brainer.
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,047
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From: Massachusetts
It's a rust preventer look Shop Fluid Film 11.75-oz Fluid Film Rust & Corrosion Preventive Penetrant & Lubricant at Lowes.com
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 4,392
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From: very South Texas
do not drive in snow/salt/beach/etc. anything with the smallest amounts of salt.. yes your sweat has salt..
you can only slow it down... but are you willing to wash your truck every day... all winter.. and it will still rust. as water from anywhere has salt in it...just less ...
NO JOKE... I have lost several good cars because of Rust.. and I bought them NEW...
the black type rust proofing will only protect 3 to 4 years.. but must be applied when its NEW... some get more.. but NOT here in the RUST BELT.
fyi. if you use the rust proofing companies... if rust shows.. they replace parts with USED parts.. not new. so in 3 to 4 years you are again getting replacement used parts again.
you can only slow it down... but are you willing to wash your truck every day... all winter.. and it will still rust. as water from anywhere has salt in it...just less ...
NO JOKE... I have lost several good cars because of Rust.. and I bought them NEW...
the black type rust proofing will only protect 3 to 4 years.. but must be applied when its NEW... some get more.. but NOT here in the RUST BELT.
fyi. if you use the rust proofing companies... if rust shows.. they replace parts with USED parts.. not new. so in 3 to 4 years you are again getting replacement used parts again.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,358
Likes: 250
I second using Fluid Film. It makes a mess out of the underside of the truck but it will keep the rust at bay if you use it regularly. I apply it in the fall before it gets cold and then in the spring after the salt is off the roads I wash the underside really good and reapply a fresh coat. Don't forget to spray inside the doors and rockers also.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 115
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From: North Fork, Long Island N
The best thing to do is spray, or even brush on some type of protective covering as stated above, and install rear wheel well liners, which will prevent most of the road junk from splashing up.
John
John
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2004
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The following seemed to work well on my "02 SD. Get up in the bed and drill several small holes (i.e. just big enough to insert the Fluid Film wand) into the bed sidewall above the wheel well and below the top rail. When you buy the FF film get the accessory spray nozzle so you can soak the inside. When finished you can plug the holes or use a small piece of tape. Re-apply every couple of years. Ford used foam between the body panels and it traps moisture. This method addresses this issue reasonably well.
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More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2016
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From: Kansas City, MO
It's a truck, it's not my Grand National. Is there any way to remove the stupid foam applied to the bed? I like the fender liner idea. Any brand recommended over another?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2012
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Hey you asked how to keep it rust free, if you drive it in the salt it's gonna rust. There have been some post on pulling out the foam though but it's been awhile since I've seen any. Unfortunately there's not really a good way to protect the cab corners atleast that I know of they like to rust from the inside out too.
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More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2016
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From: Kansas City, MO
I understand completely about the salt and I wish I didn't have to drive anything in it at all. I hate it! What bothers me even more is the fact that the big 3 have been building
trucks for close to 100 years now and for nearly 100 years they rust in the bed sides, cab corners, and rockers. Enough already. I get that it's part of the "planned obsolescence", if they last forever nobody will by a new one nonsense, but come on. Vehicles that stop, drive and park themselves but we can't make a truck that the cab corners won't rust out? I guess I'll just keep it clean, get some of that Fluid Film and go to town.
trucks for close to 100 years now and for nearly 100 years they rust in the bed sides, cab corners, and rockers. Enough already. I get that it's part of the "planned obsolescence", if they last forever nobody will by a new one nonsense, but come on. Vehicles that stop, drive and park themselves but we can't make a truck that the cab corners won't rust out? I guess I'll just keep it clean, get some of that Fluid Film and go to town.
Tuned
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 344
Likes: 7
I've got a '99 with 50k and no rust on the kansas side of KC and I've been wondering the same. I realize there's nothing we can really do to "stop" it, but I'm interested in slowing it down as much as I can.
I have heard good things about Husky liners, but I didn't see anything on their site for my '99. I emailed them up and they said they don't make anything for my '99 anymore. The only liner I can find anymore is a Rugged Liner which has kinda sketchy reviews.
Other than getting wheel wells and lubing it up every now and then, I don't know that there's much else I can do to keep it from rusting. I drive my beater van in the winter salt, so I figure that's about the best I can do.
The new aluminum trucks won't rust. They'll just pop a hole in the bed whenever you chuck anything in there. Now, if they went with aluminum side and rocker panels and left the bed steel, that would make me a happy camper.
I have heard good things about Husky liners, but I didn't see anything on their site for my '99. I emailed them up and they said they don't make anything for my '99 anymore. The only liner I can find anymore is a Rugged Liner which has kinda sketchy reviews.
Other than getting wheel wells and lubing it up every now and then, I don't know that there's much else I can do to keep it from rusting. I drive my beater van in the winter salt, so I figure that's about the best I can do.
The new aluminum trucks won't rust. They'll just pop a hole in the bed whenever you chuck anything in there. Now, if they went with aluminum side and rocker panels and left the bed steel, that would make me a happy camper.
Cross-Country
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 57
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From: Michagin
this probably sounds funny but on my 2001 when it was new I went to the auto yard and picked up a pair of early dodge truck front plastic wheel liners and did some cutting and heat bending to get them to fit the rear of my SD and spray oil all over under the truck and I have yet to see any rust spots
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,825
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From: Land of Taxes
1. Krown Rust Control.
2. Wheel well liners.
3. Electronic or Sacrificial Anode rust control or both.
4. Fluid Film.
5. LPS3.
6. Fords optional Rust-Belt package.
7. Move to Phoenix.
What ever you do, do not put water up behind the inner rear wheel wells. Why you ask....Because Ford thought it was a stellar idea to to put a foam/sponge like substance up in there. Add water dirt and salt voila....accelerated rot! Sounds like a great idea ay?
I have the Krown product on my 11. Bought it 2 years old. NO NEW RUST since the annual Krown treatment. The other company uses rubberized tar on the undercarriage...not good.
https://www.krown.com/
https://www.krown.com/faqs/
2. Wheel well liners.
3. Electronic or Sacrificial Anode rust control or both.
4. Fluid Film.
5. LPS3.
6. Fords optional Rust-Belt package.
7. Move to Phoenix.
What ever you do, do not put water up behind the inner rear wheel wells. Why you ask....Because Ford thought it was a stellar idea to to put a foam/sponge like substance up in there. Add water dirt and salt voila....accelerated rot! Sounds like a great idea ay?
I have the Krown product on my 11. Bought it 2 years old. NO NEW RUST since the annual Krown treatment. The other company uses rubberized tar on the undercarriage...not good.
https://www.krown.com/
https://www.krown.com/faqs/