Rust question

My 2002 Tacoma is rust free now. I’m thinking about taking it to Ohio this deer season and leaving it for 3 months instead of hauling my atv every hunt.
What’s the chance of rust in that time span?

 

do they use winter salt and chemicals there? That's what the real killer is. Makes cars rust much faster than they normally would (only takes a few years of exposure to turn a car into swiss cheese).

If it is going to be driven in the winter salt season, I strongly suggest you get it thoroughly rustproofed or do it yourself with some fluid film

 

I may just use my Honda Pioneer instead, don’t won’t to ruin my Tacoma

 

If you just coat the bottom in fluid film and make sure to also wash off the under side after you dive over road salt you will be fine

 

Thanks for the advice.
I could also limit the use of the truck to the property. At most it would be driven a few miles pavement between our stands. Maybe 50 total miles of highway use for the season.

 

Coat it all in this

$38 Fluid Film (3 Aerosol Cans) Rust & Corrosion Protection; Metal Surface Penetrant & Lubricant, Marine, Automotive, Industrial, Home, 11.75 Oz

https://www.amazon.com/Fluid-Film-1...film+spray&dpPl=1&dpID=61WLDzwkaDL&ref=plSrch

If you have a compressor you can get a gun and buy the stuff in bulk and its alot cheaper and easier to apply

 

I’ll do that, already have a few cans of it.
Going to order more, thank you for the help.

 

Fluid Film is great!

Used it on my '03 went through this past winter in Ohio and it looks like I just applied it even after rinsing the salt off several times. Pay particular attention to the bumpers, especially the rear at the hole for hitch, under the license plate. The way the bumper is constructed invites moisture to build up and rust in between the multiple metal plates. Also, the front bumper seems to rust from the inside out around the headlights. Take a look at any untreated rust belt Taco and you'll see what I am talking about.

 

I agree with all of this. Fluid film works. My truck originally came from Arizona but has seen two winters here in Wisconsin, which has the shittiest winter drivers in the country and thus some most aggressive road salting, so I've been religious about keeping the underside coated with Fluid Film. So far, it's worked like a charm. I'd also recommend hitting the inner rockers/cab corners through the weep holes, as well as the doors. Mostly though it's your frame you have to be careful with, I really only see significant body rust on 01-04 Tacomas when the truck is obviously totally neglected.

 

I appreciate the replies, I’m familiar with fluid film just never used it for that purpose here in North Florida. Ohio winters are a different animal for sure. I plan on spraying, and then spraying again the undercarriage of my Tacoma before hauling it up there.

 

My California truck went so far through two winters is in Poland (salt on the road). Treated with Fluid film every year. So far zero rust. Keep my fingers crossed.

 

I'm effin sold

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpTz8iaOEVo

 

I had to go a whole winter in Northern Michigan last winter, you literally cant find a spec of rust on my truck because i was VERY on top of fluid film and properly washing and taking care of the truck. You will be 100% fine if you fluid film it and wash it 4-6 times while its there

 

I wouldn't worry about it at all. The roads are only treated when it ices or snows. Chances are you won't even be driving on a treated road. I live in SW Ohio and I don't think our roads were treated more than 10 times all last winter. Northern OH is probably a different story. Besides driving in salt and snow one or two times won't ruin a vehicle if you properly spray it off. It takes years for vehicles to start rusting here. 3 months of sitting around won't cause any problems. Try to park it on pavement if possible. Parking in dirt or gravel in any state for long periods isn't good.

 

I’ll be in the Newark, Ohio area. Last year we had 2 hunts that had snow and only one of them the roads were salted.