I am in the market for an F-150 years '97-'04. After already owning a '97 Lariat with extensive tailgate and door rust and reading the horror stories on this site regarding this problem, I am not sure if I should buy another one. I really like these trucks...but I despise rust (especially on such new vehicles).

What advice can you guys offer me? I wouldn't be on this site and asking for advice if I really didn't want one of these trucks again. I guess one could easily start looking at other brands (GMC, Chevy, Dodge, Nissan, Toyota, etc.), but I am trying to avoid that as Ford is my #1 choice. I would love to find a clean low mileage XLT or higher, Triton 5.4, 4x4, auto trans, extended cab without the "rust option".

Help guys...my Ford blue blood may soon be turning a different color

 

i dont know what region you are from, but I am from MI. I have long thought about the idea of buying from southern states. I go to Texas every year and I never seen rust there. Also, around here, some guys do well by bringing up trucks from the southwest and selling them here, rust free.

On my 99 F150, I had the same problem. I tried squirting oil in the rust, but that did not really help. The next year, I got a can of rust converter from the autobody shop. I soaked the bottoms with that and it worked. I had no worse rust for the next year, then I traded it off.

While the rust and door cracks are common in the Fords, I think its the only bad trait these trucks have. Dodge and Chevy cannt make an automatic trans that will hold up past 100k, dodge trucks are notorious for horrible gas mileage, and Chevy trucks cant hold up to an honest days work. Even my F250 SD that I just bought has rusty bottoms, I will just clean them up and spray with rust converter this spring. I know my Ford will hold up, and I would rather have a little rust than replace transmissions or have my frame bend on me.

 

My 2000 doesn't have much rust on it. The majority of the rust is on the draw bar and hitch.

 

Weird my 97 doesn't have any either and the manufacture date is 3/96 making it nearly 10 years old. I am pretty **** and will wash the salt off weekly including the bottom of the doors. I did notice the inside of the hinge on the tailgate is just starting to show a little blister around the drain.

 

I have 97 f-150 lariat and there is no rust that i can see. I live in MN where here the highways are solid white from all the salt. I don't like having a dirty truck either. When I bought my truck last sept. I washed it almost every week when it was warm out.

 

I dont have any rust problems on my previous 98 Lariat and so do with my current 02 Supercrew. Knowing I'm from southwest, and rust isn't problem around here. My 98 Lariat was purchased in Denver, didn't have any the day I traded last year. So do my first F150 in 1990 model for 8 years when I lived in midwest, had slight rust spots around but I washed it pretty often. My worst rust experience was on 85 Chevy that's when I lived in midwest too.

 

I have a 97 and it has the typical door and tailgate rust on it. Damn truck is so good otherwise though that I am just going to use that rust convertor stuff, paint over it, and drive er!

 

My 98 Lariat has rust in the lower tailgate seam, but none in the doors. I special ordered this truck and had it Ziebarted the second day I had it.

 

Smart move ol ford guy! I buy used trucks, but when I do get a new one, I am definatly taking action to prevent rust like you did:d