Saint Louis: Undercoat or not?

Looking for input from people in the Saint Louis/Southern IL latitudes to help me decide if I should undercoat my frame or not. I bought my 2022 SR5 at the end of August so it's still relatively new.

Not looking for recommendations of what kind I should use at this point, just whether or not I need to do it based on where I live/drive.

(I appreciate if you're from the great white north or the dry southwest and have opinions, but at this point I'd like to hear from folks in my general area and their experience. No offense intended.)

Thanks for your input!

 

I can't help your specific regional question.

But you used the word undercoat, not the term frame treatment.

So. I can say if you decide it's good to proceed, do not 'undercoat' in the traditional sense of the rubberized products.

Tip. Call your local DOT office and ask what products they treat the roads with when you do have snow/ice events. Any chemicals, you'll want to treat your frame IMHO

 

Thanks, if I do it, it would be cosmoline just based on my own research.

 

I summon @CygnusX191 ................

 

I'm not in your area, but I'll throw my change in your face anyway...

All Tacoma models have worthless factory coating on the frame. Wherever you are, spend a few dollars having the frame treated with something.

The typical go to is some sort of lanolin oil spray.

Don't over think this, just have woolwax or fluid film applied liberally and get it done.


There are many Tacoma owners regretting not doing this years earlier.

 

Areas where trucks lived that do not have salt issues never qualified for frame replacement.

My '13 has no treatment (other than paint, if you're considering that treatment) and my frame is fine, even the paper stickers are all still intact and legible. But it's never seen salt country either.

Your thought that everyone should be spending money to prevent something that won't be an issue? Just send it to me. I'll give to a charity.

@Gerberdude has done well to explore his situation, and will get good info discussing with his DOT and maybe some locals. He'll also have to consider if he will regularly travel in other salty areas or not.

 

A few cans of fluid film and 30 minutes is definitely worth doing, no matter where you live. Calling the government to ask their opinion on your truck's frame is a joke.

 

Not what I said. At all.

See the difference?

 

I live 4 hours east of St Louis and I've been getting it done every Fall the last 3 years(since new). I believe you have a Krown in St Louis as it was closer for me, however, to drive up to Ft Wayne, IN. Highly recommended!

 

Doesn't matter.

Toyota doesn't treat the frames on tacomas property.

Get the frame sprayed. It's cheap and effective to make the truck last longer

 

I did not know this, thank you!
I have done my own, but for what their price list looks like? I don't think I want the mess anymore.

 

Unless you will never drive on salty roads then it's a good idea.

Will it hurt anything? No.

Is it prohibitively expensive? No.

Will it give your truck a better resale value? Probably. All other things being close to equal, having a completely rust free and indefinitely protected undercarriage vs even a partially rusty one will pop in the eyes of a buyer. Alternately, if you plan on keeping the truck indefinitely then you'll have peace of mind that your hard work will pay dividends far into the future. It's just one less thing you need to concern yourself with. Plus, as I'm sure you've read, Cosmoline just needs to be touched up not extensively re-applied on a regular basis. Seems to me to be about the most set-and-forget thing I can think of in terms of preventative maintenance.

 

I’m near Saint Louis, my frame is toast. Though my truck was in Illinois for five years before here.

 

Fluid film or wool wax. Never rubberized coating.

Getting set up to do 5 trucks here in a few weeks. 2 Tacos, a Frontier, a Titan, and a Ram

 

more people should buy the kit for an air compressor. makes this a super quick and easy job. Once you'd done the first coat, annual touchups dont take much.

 

Rubberized coatings are garbage and cause nothing but trouble. Go for Fluid Film or something similar.

Rubberized coatings end up trapping moisture and holding it against the frame until it rots. And they are a nightmare when they spray over connectors and suspension parts. Makes it horrible to work on.