WWMD: Truck Rust Issue

[criscam]

Mechanic mentioned some excessive (to him) rust on the underside of my F-150 last time i had some work done. I bought the truck used a few years ago. It's a 2014 but only about 85k miles. Never really delt w a rust issue before but obviously know it can get expensive if i have to start replacing parts. Took it to a couple body shop type places to get their opinion. Said it's starting to show signs of flaking etc and def should treat it w something (woolwax or Por 15 rust preventative).
They couldn't tell me if there'd still be issues down the road even after treating. So my options are to get it treated and keep and eye on things or just trade it in for something newer while everything still intact. Option B is not ideal as we just got my wife a newer car and would hate to have 2 car payments again. Would likely just get a slight upgrade to keep total costs down. No idea about the used truck market right now (selling or buying). Was thinking i could just go into a dealer and see what they'd give me for a trade in and what i could get in return. Thoughts? Pics for reference.

[John_B]

I've got no rust insights but considering I just crawled out from under my pickup after using a can of beans, some hose clamps and JB weld to reattach my tailpipe to my muffler I should probably pay attention to this thread.

[El Chupacabra]

POR-15 works really well on surface rust - if you don't have frame perforations, I'd use it. Hopefully it's still warm enough where you live - hose off the underside well, wire brush the loose flakes, and paint away.

[old mexico]

I have a first gen Tacoma and living in New Mexico my frame was spotless. Two winters in salt lake and it’s covered in surface rust and I’m feeling the pressure to do something. Last winter I was spraying it down every time I drove up in the mountains but I want to put something to neutralize the rust and seal the frame for years to come. I know the Tacoma’s were especially bad since they’re fully boxed frames but anyone have tips? It still super solid but not sure how to hand the inside besides just spraying paint into it and hoping for the best.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[yeahman]

Sell it. Rust never sleeps.

[schindlerpiste]

Do you have a mechanic that you trust? It can't hurt to get a price to replace rusted parts. At least then, you can make an informed decision. I think that the important stuff is not body shop or frame related, but is suspension related (control arms, sway bars, etc.).

[Bunion 2020]

FWIW I just replaced my tailgate after some job site damage. Replacement came primed and I just painted it in black bedliner to seal it up. Looks decent albeit industrial.

[snowaddict91]

Canadian truck? My 2012 w/ 160k came from BC and is worse than I'd like, but your pics look a little worse than mine. I'd start with El Chups plan, in fact I'm planning to do mine in the next week or so after putting it off all summer.

I'd budget to replace your control arms eventually, that seems to be the worst of it, my situation is the same there too.

[Core Shot]

Fighting rust on my old girl.

NH oil is a popular treatment.
Old school old farts told me tranny fluid is a great diy.

Missed the boat on My ride.
Should have had her treated years ago.

Had some frame splices. Last repair was a leaf shackle attachment. Most shops won’t do that work.

[Cisco Kid]

Looks like the underside of all of my cars when I lived in NYS. Looks like just heavy surface rust to me. No structural problems. I'd wire brush as best as I could and paint what I could see with black Rustolium. Do it again in a couple of years.

[east or bust]

Word of caution on POR-15... it can do more harm than good if you don't really make a point to properly prep the surface. If moisture can get behind the paint you're fucked.

[cat in january]

Wool wax > fluid film >>> paint

[tuco]

[Bosco]

As Jim Cramer would say, sell, sell, sell... I've been down that road with an east coast truck that only had 80k miles that I brought out to California. Took it to a shop thinking I'd do some upgrades, and the shop guy said, drive it home, and never drive it again.

[Flounder]

Looks like my 4Runner, frame rust in only a few years. Been having fluid film sprayed on it each year now for several years. Find a place that can properly spray all the nooks and crannies underneath and keep driving. Seems to keep it at the current level of rust and it’s not getting worse.

[Name Redacted]

It's a ford, something else will kill it before the rust does. My '13 F150 blew an engine at 80k. Trade it in and get something else.

[SoVT Joey]

The frame looks clean though right? None of that looks too bad at all compared to shit here in vt

[criscam]

Do you have a mechanic that you trust? It can't hurt to get a price to replace rusted parts. At least then, you can make an informed decision. I think that the important stuff is not body shop or frame related, but is suspension related (control arms, sway bars, etc.).

not really. unless BobMc does this kind of work but don't think so.

Canadian truck? My 2012 w/ 160k came from BC and is worse than I'd like, but your pics look a little worse than mine./QUOTE]

yea. it the XTR package which i guess is canadian. could be part of the issue. bought it in UT though.

Wool wax > fluid film >>> paint

i'd prob lean toward the wool wax since it can be sprayed on. talked to a shop that'd do it for about 5 hundo.

As Jim Cramer would say, sell, sell, sell... I've been down that road with an east coast truck that only had 80k miles that I brought out to California. Took it to a shop thinking I'd do some upgrades, and the shop guy said, drive it home, and never drive it again.

ugh. this wold likely always be in the back of my mind if i didn't sell.

The frame looks clean though right? None of that looks too bad at all compared to shit here in vt

clean-ish. the last time i got my tires rotated they had a hell of a time getting the nuts off. not sure if related to the rust issue or not.

if i do decide to sell should i get some treatment done anyway for resale? would a dealer do their due diligence on a trade in? we just traded an old murano that needed a new tranny for a newer one and i don't think they went thru the old car too much (although only talking a couple grand).

[ASmileyFace]

I have a 17' 150 that came from Manitoba and have some minor rust issues, definitively less than your pictures but enough to consider. I lifted it, brushed the shit out of it and treated it before last winter. Haven't been able to get under there and check how it held up since. I think some POR-15 is in my future.

[schindlerpiste]

Bob is always a good first call. If this is beyond his ken, I would give Ethan at Impulse Off*Road a call. It won't kill you to get a quote, or at least insight.. They are just west of Fashion Place. I just had work done there on my truck and can recommend them. We talked about rust, and unfortunately it is a fact of life in the wasatch. Water, snow and salt beat the crap out of undercarriages.

[zion zig zag]

That fluid film and wool wax has to be applied every fall right? Seems like a lot to spend every year?


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[cat in january]

500 would be high for around here. My guy uses fluid film and it was $150. He did say he was going up on his price next year. Definitely good to go with someone who is familiar with the process so they stick the nozzle in all the frame openings

[criscam]

That fluid film and wool wax has to be applied every fall right? Seems like a lot to spend every year?


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

i think he said it should be good "up" to 5 years with a 2 year warranty. so if i needed some touch up w/ in 2 years it's covered. i'd want to double check that though.

[criscam]

Bob is always a good first call. If this is beyond his ken, I would give Ethan at Impulse Off*Road a call. It won't kill you to get a quote, or at least insight.. They are just west of Fashion Place. I just had work done there on my truck and can recommend them. We talked about rust, and unfortunately it is a fact of life in the wasatch. Water, snow and salt beat the crap out of undercarriages.

thx for the recc.

[criscam]

500 would be high for around here. My guy uses fluid film and it was $150. He did say he was going up on his price next year. Definitely good to go with someone who is familiar with the process so they stick the nozzle in all the frame openings

looks like i could buy everything for around $250 and diy. but prob not doing as good a job as a pro esp w out a lift.