New 2021 Tacoma - Need Rust Prevention Advice

I considered the same while avoiding any rubber, electrical devices, or connections when using cosmoline,rp-342 although the company claims it drys quick enough ( sets up in an 1hr.) to prevent any rubber or plastic damage from occurring. I did mine on a hot day where this stuff didn't have a lot of time to drip all over, but it did seem to seep into all crevices. I was real happy the way it turned out...imo appeared just as good as a fluid film job done in the past.

 

I did mine a few weeks ago with FF. I did the frame took off spare and the engine bottom cover. I did the frame everywhere i could get with the can by itself, with the straw and the 360 spray tube that came in my six can kit. I got some in the bedsides. pulled some of rubber plugs on the outer rocker panels did in there with the 360 sprayer. I didn't go in the doors or tailgate this time. I think there are some grommets up under the inner part of the rockers I should not have missed but I have a can left. I could crawl back under.

I just looked online and we have a place in my town that does Krown rust protection. I looked before and there wasn't months ago. Looks like it's the local LineX shop that picked up the Krown product. Looks like its 149 to do our trucks per their site. is it worth going there next time over DIY with FF?

 

I personally would rather a shop apply the undercoat for 149 rather than myself doing it for less but that is just my preference. I know they will have all the different attachments to get into all of the nooks and crannies. Not to mention, I won't get dirty doing it, nor frustrated. If the undercoating was a significant cost, I would absolutely considering doing it myself.

 

To be honest with myself had I known a local place did that paying $66 to do it myself vs sitting in a waiting room playing on my phone for an hour while someone else does it and I stay clean for $149 don't seem so bad. I spent like 3 hours on it and I stunk.

 

Depends. I’m old now lol. I’ve done lots of “no fun” jobs on vehicles over the years. I now have the resources to pay others to do it, so unless it’s a “fun” job I’ll usually let someone else handle it provided I trust they’ll do a job with the quality that I would expect from myself. I would rank laying on my old back and spraying crap all over my frame as “no fun” so for $150? That’s definitely a job for someone else.

 

Im 46 but still in decent shape. It wasn't horrible doing it but having a lift and compressor to do it which i likely won't have ever would make it easier. I'm sure Krown has all that. Maybe next time since I put out the coin and time.

 

Wool wax . I bought the 5 gallon kit and sprayer and just did mine Friday. I used about 3 and a half gallons between my Tacoma and my Rav 4. I put it on really thick. I loaded every hole in the frame ,subframe, or crossmember. It has a very light odor , and a clear straw color. Fluid film is a lot thinner and smells like a pile of dead sheep rotting in the sun. Id definitely use woolwax again next year.

 

Honestly? Park it for the winter and buy a beater.

Sucks but that is about the only way you are going to beat the rust worms in any area that dumps copious amounts of salt and brine solution. Salt + water = Damn it!

LPS3 or Fluid film can help but in the end, rust WILL start where you don't see it.

 

Yea I have had beaters many times in the past. Part of me wants to get another but, for the cost of a decent beater around here given the shortage of cars because of covid, I could coat and repair any rust for over a decade. Not to mention I usually don't keep my vehicles as long as others on the forum. I imagine I'll upgrade the taco a couple years into the next generation after any bugs have been worked out. I don't like being first haha

 

Researching how to protect my future investment. Local vendor uses Rust Check as a product, not seeing much mention of that here. Little bit of Googling suggests it might not be as effective.
Any thoughts? I could apply something myself, my honesty the last thing I need is to be buying more applicators/tools for things I hardly use.

 

All i can say...maybe just me but i hate spending money to accomplish the same thing every year if i can still do it myself. Also the main reason for trying something different on this truck.

 

I spoke with the local 4X4 shop today. They HATE vehicles that have been undercoated. They said it makes their job so much more difficult. I can empathize with that. They stated they just touch up any rust every year with some spray paint. I think undercoating is probably a better option to actually save the truck for the long haul

 

Not from the horror stories i've seen and heard from other mechanics that had to deal with an undercoated vehicle. I'd never have anything undercoated i own.

 

Depends on the coating. Krown, Fluid Film. Ya, makes it pretty “greasy” under there, not a ton of fun to work with, it gets all over tools, hands, clothes etc. But it’s still 1000x easier than dealing with a rusty bolt or nut.

The rubberized stuff is likely a nightmare for no other reason than it’s thick and wrenches and sockets have a tough time fitting over coated bolts and nuts.

I don’t Krown every vehicle I own, but the Tacoma frames are NOTORIOUS, yearly coating is cheap insurance if i plan on owning it long term.

 

I hear that. I already had a frame replaced on a tacoma. I don't want to have to depend on Toyota to do the same again in the future. They may not. Not to mention this truck is the nicest vehicle I have owned and I'd like to keep it from rotting out.

One of my good friends has ran auto body shops for years. They dislike working on vehicles with undercoating or should I say, rust prevention coating but he would do it on a tacoma if it were his.

Given my truck is brand new, I'm hoping I won't require much maintenance for a long time anyway. Fluid changes won't be too difficult even if undercoated. I'll do the brakes myself.

 

I recently went over my 2016 frame with rust converter then an asphalt based undercoat. I wanted something thicker than the oil based products without rubberized etc since there was surface rust already. Hoping the converter + asphalt coating works, ill hit it at least annually going forward, might go with ff or krown next for better penetration or alternate..

 

Krown I debated just going with regular no drip oil spray but decided on Krown. I think the Krown is less viscous and reaches everywhere, but it does drip for 2-3 days so don't park in your driveway!

 

Can’t speak to Fluid Film but the Krown product has tremendous “creep” capabilities. Truthfully this is my biggest concern anyways. Even if Krown has a tendency to “wash” off like one poster has claimed (not been my experience but), it’s going to result in some surface rust. Big deal, the frame of every vehicle on the road where I live, regardless of manufacturer has surface rust. It’s the corrosion that you can’t see between laminations and mounting points that’s the major concern and something I think products like Krown do a good job of protecting against because of their ability to “creep” in.

 

I just had my 2020 completely ceramic coated from all the paint to the undercarriage as well. I'm here in the Indianapolis area and this coming winter will be my second one since moving here earlier this year. From everything I've read, a combination of ceramic coating the undercarriage and power washing underneath at least once a week should keep everything within check.

 

Oh wow! I hadn’t heard of getting the underneath ceramic coated. My last vehicle had the exterior ceramic coated and it was awesome. I’d much rather have the entire underneath ceramic coated. My concern is rust inside the frame.

Would you mind sharing how much it cost for the underneath?