Tacos In The Lower Mainland & Winter Frame Rust Prevention

We are lucky we have relatively mild winters here (Lower Mainland).

I have a 1 year old Tacoma that I bought new last year. Prior to this I had a brand 1992 Toyota 4X4 Truck. Owned It for 14 years and the only thing to rust was the rear chrome bumper & Hitch. Everything else was okay AFAIK.

Just wondering if there are any local, original 1st, 2nd or 3rd gen Taco owners in the Lower Mainland who use any products to prevent rust. I don't like undercoating, I'm speaking about only using Fluid Film Or Krown. Just wondering if anyone living here full time bothers to apply a rust inhibitor on their Tacos Frame/Undercarriage?

 

I'll be doing fluid film, rinsing the under carriage and then just shooting the frame and other components with it. You can buy it from Amazon. Look it up. Most likely you can get away with just rinsing it at your local car wash in the winter every other week without any coating. I got away with it on my 2019 tundra and it looked brand new still when i sold it.

 

I Fluid-Film mine every year.... (Victoria)

 

When I used to on the coast I just hosed the salt off my frame. And everything still looks good.

 

I am in the Lower Mainland and just make sure I hose down the frame a couple times a year. I am lucky to be able to put the truck on a hoist at work and can steam it down. I have not sprayed anything on the frame yet. I did buy fluid film from Princess Auto when it was on sale. Used it on my lawn mower.


I like the looks of that Cosmoline stuff too...

 

So yes, interesting some apply a rust inhibitor in the LM / VI. I’ve never felt compelled to spray a rust inhibitor in the past. Generally mild winters. Big dump of snow and then heavy rain not long after. Washing all snow and salt away. There are some winters where we do get more salt days but I have then gone out of my way to hose underneath of my 92 it in the past. Last winter was mild and I never hosed off the underside of my new 2020. Just don’t know if it’s worth the effort here. Then again the rusty frames of the 1st & 2nd gens had me a little concerned for my 3rd gen and rust issues while looking to keep my truck long term.

 

The only reason that I have considered it, is that this is my first new vehicle. Everything else was used, and then some... but truth be told, I have had the truck 4 years now. If I was truly worried about it I would have done it already. Also when I go under the truck, it looks pretty good. No serious rust even on bare hardware. So maybe... someday...