Undercoating Yes or No in the PNW?

Just wanted to gauge some thoughts from the group. Do you guys typically get undercoating done for your tacomas out here in the PNW? I'm assuming no but i just want to make sure i'm not missing anything.

If you do where do you recommend?

 

https://www.ecpinc.net/corrosion-protection-sound-shield-the-protector/

 

I don't like undercoating personally... I mean, if done right, and done soon enough, it will certainly help; but if not, it can also lead to just trapping in moisture and causing a lot of hidden issues that you won't catch until it's too late, because of the undercoating layer.

Some like to do the fluid film or other protective oil coatings before winter, which is not a bad idea at all. Myself personally, before winter, and then again after winter, I'll just take a look underneath and wire brush any surface rust I see developing; then I spray a rust converter for good measure; followed later by some satin black rustoleum.

 

I had mine done as soon as I got the truck in the spring. I wouldnt wait a year to do it. And definitly in a place like where I live where they salt the hell out of everything every winter.

 

Sold my 2005 in 2018. Zero rust on the frame, it lived it's entire life in the PNW. The 2nd gen frames would rust just looking at them in some areas. Mine just had a few spots of surface rust as you would expect with any vehicle. The east coast uses a different salt on their roads which causes the rust to appear and spread much faster than what they use in this region. Reading about their woes makes us feel uneasy, but it's not an issue as far as i know.

 

Thats what i was thinking also. None of the other cars i've ever had really had this issue. But then again i never really ever took them out much on the roads during/after snow. And back then i also lived in the City so didn't really drive much.

 

I have a first gen with a pristine frame. We don't have enough snow/salt for this to be an issue. I don't know about the guys that frequently cross the passes over the winter or trips out to the coast. I never do any special washing or anything after driving in the snow or beach sand.

 

I do it once per year around this time. I would only recommend fluid firm though. As someone else mentioned, do NOT get one of those plastic, rubber, foam, whatever coatings done that hardens. It will for sure trap moisture and prevent you from monitoring rust that is building. fluid film is awesome. WSDOT starting using salt in the mountains as well, I ski a lot so it's a no brainer for me.