Frame Full of Mud...

Hey,

The frame on my 04 TRD was replaced 3 years ago but I was looking at the frame tonight and I see that it is full to bottom of the hole in the frame over the rear wheels.

What an awful design! How do I clean it out? I want this truck to last for a few years.

Thanks!

 

you could put the nozzle of a pressure washer in the holes and start blasting. If you want it to last a long time you could also use fluid film.

-Charlie

 

mine is full of dirt in same spot up level with the hole. I couldnt get pressure washer nozzle at a good angle and i couldnt really scrape it out so i left it for now.

 

You Canadians can Rust Check or Krown for them. If you get enough liquid in there the mud will keep it there forever.

 

if this is a pocket that cant drain, and it is trapping mud and dirt, then drill a hole in the lowest spot so it can drain, flush it out good the rust treat it inside and out before spraying a sealer in there. it should keep itself clean after that

 

i used the krown every fall. Only way a 1st gen will last here in NL.

 

Is the 1st gen frame a boxed-section over the rear wheels? I thought the boxed section terminated at the cab and transitioned to C-channel from that point rearward.

 

this is what my 98 has, ie not boxed over rear wheels, just c-channel

 

that's because its a crappy second gen

if you want a "good" truck you need to buy a first gen

 

The whole boxed section on mine under the cab is full of mud up to the bottom of the cross holes. Tried sticking the nozzle on my hose in but it didn't do nothin. Thought about drilling a couple drain holes but haven't got around to it.

 

...get that dirt out

then clean up the frame surface (around the hole/opening at least)
and cover that hole up with a piece of quality vinyl tape.

simple and effective
adhered properly... would likely survive repeated offenses.

mud sucks... gets into everything.
mechanical failure is assured.

 

This for sure. Mud is abrasive when dry and retains moisture for sometime when it gets wet. Not to mention the added weight.
Get that garden hose out and make a day of it, scoop it out wherever you can, flood that frame until it's clean. I'd be careful with hole drilling, frames are already weak enough, unless you have the ability/knowledge to weld it back up.

 

And if you do a real good job of sealing it up, it will likely rust from the inside out? That's a lot of mud, do you go mudding or live on a dirt road?

 

I'm capable of welding so not afraid to drill some holes. I do a good amount of wheeling in the spring while there's still snow in the hills so ya, there's definitely some mudding involved.

 

^2nd gen Frontiers are even worse...

 

Cleaning it out at the carwash with the pressure washer was super effective, I'll always keep an eye on it from now on.