How to prep my truck for living in the north?

Hey TW, I just relocated to the St Louis, MO area from the south. Never lived in an area that salts roads or even gets snow regularly. So, what do I do to keep my truck from rusting and giving me other issues not present in the warmer climates?
Thanks in advance

 

Paint the frame and axle with Magnet Pain chassis saver.

 

get your truck rust checked, fluid filmed, etc and check it regularly each year. apply it in the late summer of each year or early fall.

 

Fluid film or krown the underside, at least twice a year.

 

St Louis is north? Does it get that cold there? I would think multiple applications of rust inhibitors is a bit overkill unless you're near the ocean or the great lakes.

We just do a standard undercoating and call it a day up here (prairies canada), and we use shit loads of salt.

 

Learn to live with rust.

 

I live in the mountains where we get a lot of snow and the roads are salted. I don't do anything different, just take it through a car wash that hoses off the undercarriage once a week in the winter. I get some rust but nothing major. Just a way of life. And, St. Louis is not north lol.

 

I buy a new truck every 3 to 5 years and rust is just somebody else's problem.

 

North??? Umm

 

A quick google search says St. Louis gets 15” of snow a year and the lowest average temp is +23°F...that’s pretty serious.

 

I just moved from TN to Michigan and was wondering the same thing. Its scary how many vehicles are rusted out here.

 

I did some instrument work near Mobile Alabama some years back. One of the pipe fitters I was working with, in some conversation said that he had been “north”, didn’t like it, people were unfriendly, in a hurry, etc. I asked where he had been, he goes “North Carolina”.

 

Parking in an above freezing temp garage after exposure to salt is not good. Get salt off asap.
Fluid film or Krown work well but need to be applied at least yearly (~$125). Co worker has a 2006 Silverado he has been applying Krown for 6+ years... Stuff works well. Not sure if there are dealers in MO. I've applied it once and will do it yearly.

Spent some time in Ft Leonardwood Mo. It does get cold and snows but not as bad upstate NY.

 

Here in NH I simply wash my under carriage once a week or every other week. Some folks oil there undercarriage of trailers and trucks, but most folks simply just get in and drive....

 

^^ This ^^

But I'm right next door in Maine.

 

Fluid Film! https://amzn.to/2KsWOgy They even make an entire kit to do your undercarriage: https://amzn.to/2IMq6RF

 

15” per year? We get 15” per storm!

I’m from NH, and live in MA. Salt is always terrible in the winter here but I’m not aware of many people who undercoat their vehicles. I just clean it regularly (top and bottom) and try to check for and touch up any rust as it happens. Never had any issues. Rust is bound to happen in some form, just keep it from getting serious and stop it early.

 

Unrelated to rust, but good winter tires are a must

 

If there were civil war battles fought in the state, then it doesn't count as north, that's right Pennsylvania, I am looking at you

 

Fluid film or any other oil undercoating.

My 2016 TRD Sport just rolled over 45k miles and it looks brand new underneath because I've gotten the oil undercoating done every fall since new.