Ziebart Undercoating/Rust Protection? Should I?

I know there are a ton of posts on rust, corrosion, the holy church of fluid film, etc. I'm starting a fresh one tailored to my situation, looking for input. I've heard the conflicting opinions on undercoating 'locking in moisture' and those that say it is effective. A great man once said, "Opinions are like assholes; everyone's got one."

I live in Northern Virginia. We get a fair amount of rain and snow each year and they do use salt on the roads.
I've had my '17 Tacoma TRDOR DCLB since June and it has 4k miles on it. The vehicle is not garaged.

I'm considering the Ziebart (franchise/brand) undercoating and rust protection, which is $500 total for the tacoma.
The undercoating, according to their front desk guy who seemed relatively lucid, is a rubber-asphalt mixture. Their 'rust protection' is something totally different where they use something like fluid film in door cavities, tailgate etc. He said they verify weeping holes are clear. The job supposedly takes 4-5 hrs where they clean the undercarriage and use an alcohol-ish drying agent before applying the undercoating itself. They supposedly warranty some component of the undercarriage for 10 years if they apply the undercoating within the first 12k miles of the vehicle (but that's likely marketing). He said it is not applied to the drivetrain or exhaust system. Also, that it reliquifies at 270degrees F or something like that.

If I am going to do this, I would like to do it before the winter season, as the vehicle hasn't been through one, and it is relatively new. I do intend to keep it for the long haul.

Thoughts, warnings, input, etc. solicited and appreciated!

 

Doesn't work, but if that's what you want. Fluid film works great for me, applied a year and a half ago and still on there.

 

I live in one of the worst rust belts on the planet (Atlantic Canada), where undercoating is a must if you plan on keeping your vehicle for more than a few years. I personally wouldn't touch undercoating that has the potential to trap moisture or clog drainage. I've seen older cars where that shit got brittle and cracked... well, the metal underneath was toast. Anyway, I use Rust Check (very similar to Fluid Film). You have to get it re-applied every year, but if done correctly it seeps into every nook and cranny. Heck, they spray that shit everywhere on the underbody - drivetrain, exhaust, don't matter. You get warned when you leave - she's gonna smoke for a bit and for god's sake tap the brakes a few times before you get into traffic lol.

 

So that recipe of stuff is known to be a moisture trapping culprit?

 

I'm not bashing a particular brand of undercoating, to be clear. I just don't have faith in the rubberized coating type. Too many chances for failure. Let's put it this way - are those guys applying that stuff 100% familiar with your vehicle and where all the drain holes etc are? If they miss a spot, will the product creep to cover it? And if the prep wasn't 100% done right, will it adhere properly? And that dude that's possibly hating life because he's gotta undercoat your car before he sees his GF on a Friday night.. you think he cares? While this can also be true for Fluid film type product, it's much more forgiving in my books. It creeps everywhere and actually displaces moisture. And you can touch up yourself if need be. Listen, I don't have stock in Rust Check or anything but it has worked for me..

 

I've seen firsthand rubber undercoating fail, leading to Tacomas needing new frames. Doing nothing would be better then using that stuff. Rinse it off with cold water once a week would be a better choice.

 

Did you do the fluidfilm undercoating yourself or did you have a shop do it?

 

I have a shop do mine. It's more expensive to be sure, but I don't have to deal with the mess and they have special wands they use for application (inside doors, frame, and the space between the truck bed and metal quarterpanels). They remove the tail lights and jam it waaaay in there. Oh, and they have to do it for the warranty.

 

Do you have Krown Rust Control up there? I see there is one kind of close to me, and they say on their website that they are "Canadas Number One Rust Protection Company". I've never heard of them and was wondering what they were all about.

 

Yes Krown is up here too, although I can't speak for the validity of their claim. I've never had them undercoat a vehicle of mine, so I can't comment as to the product. If it's the rubberized shit though, I'd steer clear.

 

I'll have to do some more research on it. It says a Krown treatment is $140 on a crew cab pickup.

Edit: it says it's a petroleum based Rust inhibitor

 

I'm a firm believer in "Corrosion Free"... MY Rust Check guy changed to this stuff as he said it was way better.... I don't know how much better it is or not, but this is his life and his business.... He is VERY anal about this stuff.
I trusted him and have been doing it for 30 yrs now. It saved my 2006 Taco's frame...! Looked like new at 10 yrs. old.
It's a fluid like Krown, and I suspect Fluid Film (mainly a US thing?) The fluid creeps into every crevice and pushes out the H2O..... It even creeps right up the outside of the doors to about 6" on the outside.... Gotta wash yer truck a few times/ yr. to keep that "creep" from making yer truck look yeauchy..!

I live in the "Salt belt" of Muskoka Ontario and they are now using Calcium Chloride....it's even more corrosive that salt...!!

Gotta protect her if ya wanna keep her..!


EDIT... Sorry, I forgot to mention that I had 1 GMC truck done by Zeibart and the shit crfacked and water got in and rotted the fenders all to shit. THERE IS no product that a 1 time application will protect you.... Zeibart want you to come back each yr. to repair cracks or chunks that fell out, but by that time the damage is done..!!

DO NOT do Zeibart....!!

 

Yup yup, I go to krown for both my Tacoma and 99 Runner...if your curious about it, go buy a can of it for like 5 bucks then find yourself some rusty metal and give the rust a squirt. You will see the reaction...kinda like hydrogen peroxide on a cut, bubbles up.

I have 2 krown franchises near me. Buddy arc welder I go to does an awesome job and gives the buggies a real good wash after completing. The other franchise is sketchy af, so ymmv

 

FFFTW.

 

Stay away from rubberized undercoating .
It is by far the worst crap on the planet for trapping moisture .
Mechanics that have to work under your truck will refuse to work on your vehicle . You cant get sockets on rubber coated bolts . If you manage to get the socket on , the bolt is just going to snap with all the rust underneath the rubber . Cant use a torch , you will burn the vehicle because the rubber is flammable .
Ask any mechanic who has had to work on a vehicle that has rubberized undercoating . The mechanic is covered in the stuff by the time he finishes the job he was doing and it took him twice as long because of that crap

 

I have Krown on my truck, and as long as you get your truck treated early enough + the annual touch ups they will honor the warranty. I'm actually due for my touch up in about a month.

https://www.krown.com/warranty/

 

I recommend krown. I do it every year, and they let me watch them do it. They do a very thorough job, even the insides of the sheet metal, and its nowhere near 500.00.

 

Hey stranger!

 

I've been reading a lot of great things about Krown, I'm probably going to go that route this fall. Does power washing your undercarriage remove it, or will it hold up through the winter?

 

i asked them these questions. Don't powerwash or use those underbody washes. Just have it treated and drive as normal. I do it every fall and there is not a spec more rust on the frame than the day I bought it. I did a writeup a few years ago of my krowning. Let me find it.