The Rust Belt Tourist

Hello Friends,

Just a guy and his Taco living in Texas. In the future, I would like to road trip around areas during the winter when the roads are nice and salty.

Should I be concerned about rust on my shiny frame?
Would this fancy frame undercoating stuff be overkill for a week-long trip or month-long trip?
Or should I just powerwash the underbody when I get home or any chance I get?

 

Don’t think rust is common issue in Texas ... unless your in areas where they use salt on the roads in the winter .

 

Definitely not, it snows maybe once every couple of years where I am at. The threat of ice will cancel school sometimes

I was wondering about travelling up North in the winter.

 

Rust protection won't hurt, but it's likely overkill for a week long trip. Just do a good wash when you're done or after the roads dry if it snowed recently. That's when the salt really cakes on. The reason for rust here is that people can't keep up with washing every nook and cranny every couple of days or weeks so it gets neglected.

 

It wouldn’t hurt anything using a spray under the truck . There is some posts on here of products that people recommend.

 

Yes, just spend a bit of time to thoroughly rinse the undercarriage when you get back home.

Most times, people are only able to get into a automatic car wash during the winter. Then hope the doors don't freeze shut. This mostly gets the body, not many auto-wash rinse the under body.

Rust does not happen instantly.

 

could just film it before you go off on your trip, then wash it real good when your back home

 

It can't hurt to wash the dirt off your frame and underbody then give it a coating of fluid film, its cheap enough at about 66 dollars for 6 cans on Amazon. For just a weekend in winter wonderland I'd probably not bother and just power wash good when you get back. Now if its a month or more in snow it's more worth the effort to fluid film. then again some automatic car washes are now including a bit of under body spray. the one at the Apple auto mall near me does but it's not a touchless wash.

 

Fluid film the shit out of your truck, then when your back home flood every single part of your frame with fresh clean water. There are a good amount of parts on the underside of the cab that you will want to flush also, any place 2 panels are welded together salt will get into and start doing their thing.


While spending a week in the salt wont make your truck turn into a rust ball right away, it that much of that salt will seep into little cracks and holes that dont normally get water in them when you wash. After a few months of it sitting in there, it will start to rust.

Remember, rust is impossible to stop once its started. So stop it before it starts.

 

I was in Buffalo Ny for 3 months with my wife’s 4runner after we moved to the mainland. We got a monthly unlimited pass to the car wash and went almost every day to get the under belly sprayed

 

Short answer. Yes. Long answer. Yes.