I am looking to buy an older F250 & am wondering if there is a year they started galvanizing the bodies. I recently checked out a 72 highboy that had some bubbling under the paint & don't want to deal with rust. I have $3k to spend, have some mechanical ability but don't want to bother with body work. Roads are not salted around these parts, so if the body is galvanized I should be OK.

 

They all rust easily, just depends how well the truck is taken care, and if people use salts on the roads. From your description of your area it sounds like you should be fine.

 

I think salt is the determining factor for sure, I see trucks that have twice as much miles on them even twice as old, with no rust. But you go over to the states where they use salt like crazy on the roads and those trucks are rusting away after several years, my buddies 96 F150 has twice as much rust as my 84 did. What's the difference? Mine was from Washington, and his is from the Eastern states where they use large amounts of salt.

 

Ummm, a 2004?
Yep they all rust. You really can only go by personal inspection, preferably with a magnet. Check over the rear wheel wells, the cab rockers, and the cab corners. Even though it looks OK, it might be a Bondo or fiberglass repair. It's entirely possible to find a relatively rust free truck, takes some looking though.
Though sometime in the early 70's Ford started galvanizing the cowls and underhood inner fenders, unfortunately little else.
I did know a guy once that bought a surplus "Coast Guard prepped" International Scout. ALL of it was galvanized. Wish that was a regular option on vehicles. Some paint was gone off his front fender when he bought it. Bare metal but zero rust. He drove it 5 years like that and that spot never did rust. I've never seen another such a galvanized vehicle.

 

Seems u wanna ask the loaction of the truck instead of year TR

 

Just for a note- it seemed like my '85 had galvanized rockers, and my 84 didn't..

 

FYI the Porshe 928 was made from ALL galvanized panels. After they welded them and ground the seams, they re-galvanized the entire car and then sealed the seams in and out. Just wish Ford was as anti-rust as Porsche. (but then our trucks would start at $100,000)

Justin