New member, new truck

Hi everyone,
I am from Newfoundland, Canada, road salt capital of the world I believe. I have a new Tacoma 4x4 being delivered next week and I am wondering what advice you can give with regards to things to do when I get the truck. Number 1 on the list would be rust check I guess. Should I have it done at the dealer or do it myself. I have read some nightmare stories on frame rust. Is there any way for me to get 10 years out of this truck in a North Atlantic environment? Thanks all.


GC

 

Welcome

 

have underside coated?

 

Welcome to TW

 

Thanks guys. No, there is no undercoat Should I get that? Are there better alternatives than getting it done at dealership?

 

do a search for fluid film and you will get a bunch of ideas

 

Welcome to TW, mate. Poke around, there's a lot of good info here in places you might not think to look.

 

I used the following products on my former 2006 Ram.


I used this on the spots that had light rust



I used this on the parts that might move



I used this on the parts that did not move





I did that back in 2006 after I had the truck for 6 months, I pressure washed and degreased the underside then sprayed the above.


Last year when I was changing shocks out, I noticed the very few spots that the products did not stick, or maybe I missed. There was a solid 1 inch wide heavy rust line on the drive shaft the whole length. this must have been the top side that I did not rotate LOL. The rest of the underside was rust free and still had the coating.


so, 7 years later, these sprays held up to beach sand once a month, and a few class 1 & 2 trails. I only applied once, and never touched up.




But I did a search on the fluid film as suggested above. looks like customers swear by it. It is seasonally re applied?

 

If I lived in Canada, I would go to Krown. The old (rust magnet) VW crowd loves them.

Mike

 

Welcome! After you get the chassis treated, the next thing you have to do is take a photo of your truck with one front tire propped up on a big rock.

 

I also live in Newfoundland and can attest to the salt on the roads and in the air. On my previous Tacoma I would Krown rust check every year and I had mixed results. It was a 2004 and I did pass the frame inspection so i guess that classifies it as a success but I still had rust issues underneath. I now have a 2013 and decided to do the undercoating myself with Fluid Film. I have had the truck for exactly a year and have applied Fluid Film twice as I have planned to complete it twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring. At this point I am finding the underneath to be doing very well, I am very detailed on the cleaning and application of the Fluid Film so that helps!

Unfortunately you are never gonna win the rust battle living in an environment like we do but as long as you are diligent on keeping it clean and addressing any rust related issues as they arise you can prolong the inevitable.

 

Hi there deep. Do you think your fluid film treatment is better than crown. Thanks for your input.