My new build is scheduled to begin production this week (at risk of jinxing myself🤦🏻‍♂️) and I’m starting to think about arranging transport.

The thought of putting a brand new truck on an open carrier I’m Iowa, in January, and starting its trip possible on salty slush spayed roads for many hours potentially drives me nuts!

I’m in Florida and the only salt is in the Atlantic or Gulf, or to some degree in the sand of a drive on beach, after which case a quick trip to the car wash eliminates any rust potential. So undercarriage or body panel rust is a non issue here (as opposed to UVs)

Is there any real detriment to open carrier transportation in the middle of winter, presuming salt is being used? Can anything routine be done prophylactically at the dealer before departure to mitigate things?


I’ve seen some amazingly “road scummy” vehicles of any sort that have come down in winter time, and just wonder what or if what kinda of damage may have been done. Yes, probably paranoid and overthinking it, but driving in salty slush just seems wrong! LOL

 

It'll travel by rail first.

 

I wouldn't worry at all. Rail then far enough off the ground on the carrier and odds of wet slushy snow with salt getting up into it is minute. But you can flush it off good when you get it. With out mud and salt caked on it will wash right off.

 

I haven't actually seen a Super Duty on a transport. But I've seen many other new vehicles on car carriers with a protective barrier over them. Not sure if Ford does this or not.
But these things get shipped to the North and Northeast every day, all year round and don't seem to be any worse for the trip.

 

You are concerned about driving, or even having your truck ride through adverse winter weather? That is a seriously foreign concept tp those of us who live with winter every year. I personally can't wait for the snow to come so I can drive my new truck around in it.

If the truck gets dirty, wash it, it's a truck...

 

This is why I order my truck during the summer months from Kentucky and a range for private covered transport to my garage where I can sit and polish it like some weird mid-life crisis corvette.
Really there's not much you can do at this point besides either refusing the order or just spraying it down when it arrives and accepting everything will be fine.

 

The daily cumulative effect of Florida salt air will be far more detrimental than a short transport. Ease off on the hysteria.

P.S. Your truck is aluminum.

 

Your new truck's body panels won't rust anyway, they are aluminum!
But, as others have said, it will come to Florida on a train then get transported from the rail yard to the dealer by truck, won't be on a truck in salted roads.
PLUS, your truck will be built in Kentucky, not Iowa.

 

If you want to get the salt spray off the frame and suspension etc, power wash everything underneath with lots of hot water, and to protect it you can oil that stuff once it is thoroughly dry.

 

Thanks all for the sincere input
Actually it will be delivered to Granger Ford, in Iowa, of course. The dealers in Florida are into playing games and home run mark ups. Chip at Granger did me right!

So, it will be transported from there to here and not via train. Regarding salt, I get it. Yes, driving on or having your vehicle transported on salted roads aren't like dunking your boat trailer in the Atlantic, but there is no upside to oxidation of anything- I've seen plenty of it. I get a kick out of watching some people drive their trucks in the tide waters....

I've heard stories of vehicle transports taking up to two weeks from pick up to delivery. Is that enough time for surface rust to begin on the undercarriage that isn't coated, aluminum, stainless , galvanized, or painted?

A little backstory. In 2004 I bought a Dodge 2500 (strike 1), which was built in Mexico (strike 2) and was apparently shipped over the gulf of Mexico with presumably a lot of exposure (strike 3) . It was a surface rust bucket from the get go on the underside. Could have been largely strikes 1 & 2, but 3 had me wondering as well. So, once rust starts, as Neil Young says....well nvm, I'll spare the kids the lyric.

Would any of you elect for a salty rinse ( if it could even make it up there through the transport trailer components) on the underside 2 weeks before you could address it?

Enclosed transport is always an option, but looks to cost about 2x open transport.

 

What are you looking at cost wise to transport from Iowa to florida? I ordered from Chapman (Pennsylvania) and live in Michigan.

 

1000-1200 open, 2200 enclosed. YMMV

 

Fly in and drive it home. Then you can control the timeline, the conditions and cleanings along the way as you see fit.

Honestly, I would not lose a single wink of sleep over what seems to be concerning you. These trucks can last a looooong time and a little road spray on transport? Wash it, drive it, it is a truck... Are you going to keep it wiped down with a clean diaper before going out each time too?

 

Snark aside, I appreciate the input and that is a good idea. However the time off work for me to get there and back, flight for two, hotels a couple nights and making it not a miserable 20 hour drive will cost more than enclosed transport.
And fwiw I only use diapers on the glass- try it if you haven't already. No smudges or smears like poly cloth.

 

Surface rust will likely already be present when your truck is delivered to Granger. It will be delivered to your dealer by open transport truck and, even though shorter than a trip to Florida, there will be enough exposure depending on weather. Any rust will be superficial surface rust that won't hurt the life of your truck but may not look good to you.

Preemptive measures could include having the dealer arrange for undercoating the truck and giving the paint a good cleaning and protective coating before turning it over to the transport company.