Rate my Frame - How should I treat it?

Hey Yall!!!

I bought my truck in salty Michigan back in 2016 - The previous owner had it sprayed down with the black CRC recall stuff 1 month before I bought it. I've read about fluid film, wool wax, Por-15, chassis saver, Eastwood, and a lot of options. The black greasy/waxing stuff is starting to wear off (I accidentally power washed it almost clean from the outside frame rails) and I'm not sure if I should chip and wash it all off and apply POR-15 or spray it with black wool wax every year and call it a day. It looks like there is rust under the recall undercoat. The truck is in Colorado now so the salt isn't anywhere as bad as Michigan.

Overall I want the frame to look great (clean dark black) and hold up for as long as possible, I plan on keeping the truck for 7+ more years. What would you recommend based on the pics? I think the rust is minimal and I caught it early.

 

If you want the shiny black look, use a wire cup to clean it, then a coat of chassis black.

 

Looks decent. Check by the cats with a hammer

 

lots of different opinions on to what to use , good luck

 

Wire brush or wire wheel. POR-15, following their instructions. Rust treat every year with Krown or Fluid Film. If you see rust again, which you will, break out the wire brush again and repeat. My 2010 looks great and that's what I've been doing for the past 11 years.

 

Pressure wash it, sand it or wire wheel where you can. I use this. Good luck with your truck.

 

That is a clean looking frame!

 

Thanks. It's a 2012 also that I bought in October on 2011. I also drive through salt states too. Takes alot of work to keep the underside cleaned and painted. If you don't, these trucks just rot away.

 

I also spray my bumpers, skids, and side bars with it. I wheel my truck too. If you use this, spray it on with a large spray tip or it will sputter. Check out the paint on my truck, like a mirror even when it’s dirty.

 

The first crc coating Toyota came out with was a flop, it peels and cracks and doesn’t protect. I would only spray with FF this year, let it soak into the old crc and hopefully soften it up and next yr power wash it good. Just maybe it will help remove that old crud. Then apply wool wax or whatever you choose.

 

How often do you notice rust poking through the POR 15 after applying? Do you just wheel the area with the rust then use a small can to spot fix it? POR 15 seems very legit if you can get the prep right.

 

Yeah, the black shiz is super caked onto the frame, especially on the inside of the frame - It's like a baked coating of oily fine sand. Every time I crawl under the thing I end up wearing a good bit.

I'm curious if there's a heavy power cleaner that I could spray on the CRC to break it up for power washing....

 

I would find a commercial guy with a hot water power washer. Try something like that first.

 

That is a beautiful frame!!! And the exact look I'm dreaming of. I haven't heard of that Rustoleum paint type though, I'll have to look into it a bit.

 

Evening,

I agree doesn’t look bad. I am a lazy guy. I would start with a rust remover. Spray it on and see what comes off as surface rust. It may not be as bad as you think. If only a few spots remain that need more aggressive remediation then you are good. Then do an undercoat like mentioned above.

 

Good Evening!

I get a bit too active with projects like this lol If it takes multiple days of work I'll do it if the results pay off. I'll likely take the topper and bed off so I can get at the frame a bit better. I'm hoping I don't unearth a different story when I scrape this crud off....But if it's there it's there.

 

I had a lot of surface rust on my used 2017 and I went with clear Woolwax. I didn’t scrape anything off or wire wheel it. It all looks jet black now and stays on great. I know some say you need to reapply yearly, but it would only need it on the high wash areas. Highly recommend the spray gun kit that you can use with a small compressor. I went crazy with my first application and it was quite easy...almost enjoyable.

 

When I got my truck 11 years ago I painted it with POR-15. Every 3 or 4 years I touch the frame with more POR-15....mainly the welds. I just wire brush, use the metal prep, and then POR-15. Every year I get it treated with Krown. If you stay on top of it, you'll be in good shape. Your frame looks pretty good. I'm not a big fan of the CRC.... I'd prefer to see what's going on under the CRC.

 

The only thing I saw, and not bad was on the inside of the c-channel of the frame. Pic 7 and 8 may need a bit of sanding or grinding before paint, but it may just be dirt also. Hard for me to tell. And by the fuel lines may need some clean up before paint. Nothing to worry about.

 

Rust Prevention/Treatment Consolidation Thread | Tacoma World