Where to Bring my New 2021 for Frame Rust Prevention Treatment

Living here in the nw corner of connecticut, it doesn't seem to get any rustier then other places i've been. Stuff like fluid film is fine long as you plan to repeat the job every year. I did my truck with cosmoline for the 1st time last year...after its first salty winter the truck appears not needing any further attention, still looking the same as i left it a year ago. It'll cost a bit more initially for cosmoline, but you'll make it up down the road.

 

No, we're not cute, we're serious. If we're being honest with ourselves - I mean really honest - how many of us, statistically keep our trucks long enough for rust to ever be a real, structural problem? Low single digit percentage. And of that tiny number that keep them for that long, how many will ever develop rust that compromises your vehicle in the first place?

It happens, but it's just not that much of a problem at all. Do this: go buy a new cast iron skillet and leave it in the yard. On the day you think your (at that moment) elderly Tacoma has developed too much rust to be safe, go jump up and down on the skillet and see if you can even bend it. I realize that's an imperfect argument, but you get the point.

We in the hail and tornado belt who can lose a truck in 2 hours from storms each and every single spring think your decades-long rust aggregation is cute. I guarantee you I'll get sick of the truck long before it rusts in half...just like I did with the 24 year old 4Runner I just sold. That bastard is somewhere out there right now about hit 300k miles with no end in sight...and it's first 14 years were in South Florida soaking' up the salt n sun.

 

I have used POR 15 expensive but works well can brush on just dot get on hands tough to get off

 

You don't think 14 years owning a 4Runner that lived outside either in the swamps or beaches of South Florida counts? Either way, I stand by my original assumption: there are just too many infinitesimal assumptions and leaps to think salt will eat your truck alive before you either wreck, sell or move to another climate.

 

I just received a 1/2 dozen cans of fluid film from Amazon this evening. Gonna try it out this weekend for the first time. If it works as well as everyone says then I'll apply another coat this fall in preparation of the winter then would apply yearly.

 

I just love people who speak for “most” of us. Get with the program... the question was “Where to bring my new Tacoma for rust prevention”, not “predict how long I’ll own my truck”. Got nothing? Say nothing! I’ve owned vehicles, including a Tacoma for a decade + Rust prevention was a great decision.

 

Woolwax it.

Can either do it yourself or find a shop (I had a shop do mine).

 

Not speaking for anyone, really just speaking to the odds. I like my bet more. If the OP or anyone else wants to do it, go for it. I just think it's a fool's errand.

I'm just saying, if one magically could somehow drive exclusively on briny winter NE roads, then park inches from the hot humid ocean every night, I'd bet you'd still either get tired of the truck or wreck it or both decades before it rusted to pieces. Plus, for every 1 that had real, structural steel failure due to rust, there are probably 100K tired old Tacos covered with bumps, scrapes, bumper stickers, slightly saggy older lift springs and someone's really cool dog near every mountain/ocean/park/resort. I know that's the image many of us have in our heads when we think of keeping the truck forever...cool, tough, icon...insert your own adjective. That's why we love these trucks: they're extremely good at lasting for decades.

 

Or not.

And having a protected frame is a good resale tool. Don't believe it? Think about all the posts around here that show photos and ask 'would you buy this truck?'.

 

My 2002 Tacoma needed a new frame due to rust after only 7 years in the NE. I kept it until 2016 when the 3rd gens. came out. At that point there were several spots where the body had rusted through.

 

Seconded. It's the same as Fluid Film, but a bit thicker to resist being washed away as easily.

 

@old_and_in_the_way I'll second this statement. There's a reason southern vehicles are desirable. Even if by the ocean, they don't compare with the yearly beating vehicles take in the rust belt. Hell, I was amazed with the vehicles I saw in Huntington Beach, CA that were 20 or even 40-50 years old (as is the case with a Mercury pickup that doesn't look like the owner has done anything special to preserve it)! Even Colorado trucks looked clean compared to here!

Between the brine sprayed down and the rock salt/sand and gravel that's constantly being blasted up into the frame and every nook and cranny. Let's not even begin on the damage (and micro damage) caused by those things in your paint and coating. It's all about mitigation.

As was pointed out, some day people may want to sell their vehicles and get a better value for them. In Michigan, if you have a 10 year old vehicle with no rust, you're working miracles. Hell, I've seen trucks newer than that that are missing rocker panels due to rust. Most manufacturers are known for the frame issues that Toyota is due largely to their past. However, you should check out some Chevy and RAM bodies up here. And before you say, "you could just replace that," the vehicle likely isn't even worth it by then.

 

Is that a men only TW forum special?

 

This a vehicle specific enthusiast forum, why are people promoting others to not take care of their truck?

 

All i can say after comparing much of the frame on these tacoma's to the frame of my old tundra....the taco frames appear paper thin in places. If one lives in the rust belt with one of these trucks i'd seriously thing about some sort of rust inhibiter on them. I use to do my tundra frame every year with fluid film, and even after 19 years it still got pretty rusty. An independent shop brought my 2001 tundra for a customer of theirs. They were pretty amazed it still in good condition, and had the same frame it was built with.

 

My neighbor got rid of his 2011 ram last year due to excessive rust...the rear quarter panels looked 20 years old being 1/2 there. I've seen older chevy's and fords just as bad or worse. The salt here is as bad as battery acid.

 

This is why I had a shop do my woolwax, I wanted them to get in every nook and cranny. I also purchased a package they offer that is lifetime reapplications of woolwax, I plan to go twice a year - spring and fall.

 

@Aqualoon I don't believe anyone is saying "...to not take care..."

They are saying that the cost/benefit of the care may not be worthwhile depending on location and owner situation.

As stated, the odds of an accident, selling, weather damage (ie hail), theft....etc are much greater than the frame rusting out in 10+ years.

For a corollary. I've reshingled several of my homes. The basic asphalt shingle comes with several warranty levels, 20, 30, 50 years. Some types are "lifetime". Many people forget, 1 short hail/wind storm can wipe out any roofing material. Severe storms generally happen every year to some degree. Chances are the roofing material will likely need to be replaced well before the "warranty" expires due to other factors. If not weather, the owner will probably sell the home before the shingle warranty is out.
So, I don't bother with 20+ year warranty shingles. My home is a much larger investment than my truck.

Same thought process as "rust proofing" the truck.

 

Yeah but when it comes times to reshingle your house you're not trying to sell your old shingles or use them as value to use against the purchase of your new shingles. In some parts of the country just making sure you go through a car wash a few times a month that hits the undercarriage is just fine. Lots of places however need a bit more TLC.

 

Not precisely, Aqualoon.

The home is sold and monies used to purchase next home. No, you don't sell the old shingles...... Just like you don't sell the pistons from the truck.

I live in the rust belt. I do not "rust proof" our vehicles. Although, each year, I do completely and thoroughly clean the undercarriage. I have learned that rust is a force of nature which can not be stopped, only delayed. I will likely sell or lose my truck due to some situation within the next 10 years. So, screwing around with twice annual spritz of goo hoping to prevent rust is not worth my effort.

Our oldest vehicle is a 2002 Chevy Trailblazer. Yes, it has rust on the frame, nothing has compromised the structural integrity. This vehicle has never been "rust proofed".