I want to remove are replace fender flares because of salt. What is the best thing i can do?

^Driveline shudders, though...

 

... high clearance rear bumper is on order.

But on a more serious note, the frames seem to let go in the center.

 

My truck without flares. Holes are plugged with cheap inserts from NAPA



Side view



Side view with front flares (back p side got ripped off wheeling)



Here's one with both flares



Plugs



I thought I had pics with the holes exposed. I was wrong.

 

That's where the most stress is, least amount of support by suspension because it's centered between the front and rear axles.

 

Makes sense.

... and back to the fender flare/rust question. Just have the truck Krown anti-rust sprayed every year, touch it up with rattle-can spray over the course of the winter, and you should be good to go. My frame and undercarriage still looks brand new. Mind you, I repaint the frame every fall before I Krown it for the winter.

I do agree that they use some very brutal liquid calcium in the US north east, as exemplified on one trip to Utica, NY in January. The border guard could not see my license plate numbers when I arrived at the crossing, so she asked me if I new my plate numbers. The entire truck was incrusted under an 1/8" of salt. The front and rear had about a 1/2" of salt. It took two drive-throughs to get the shit off. I also went to the coin wash and spent another $10 to get in every nook and cranny. It was unbelievable the amount of salt that was used on those interstates.