So we've had a relatively mild winter so far here in New England but now every time we have a dusting the local DPW is throwing a ton of salt down (making up for lost time it seems). After just investing an additional $10,000 into my 06 Screw its making me nuts. I have every intention of keeping this F150 for a loooooooong time and i'm going to start going crazy thinking about it rusting out. I have no need to think that way now because its only got 9000 miles on it but my obsessive/compulsive disorder is kicking in and i'm like stressed out to even drive the freaking thing. I know i'm nuts but I think we all are a little bit. I need you guys to tell me to stop worrying about things I cant control and go to the self serve car wash when ever its feasible. If I was to spray it down on a regular basis (once a week or so) how resilient are these trucks to corrosion?

 

We have had a ton of salt/sand here too, but we have had anything but a mild winter. What i do is just whenever it dries out i break out the power washer and spray down the underside pretty good. I never wash the underside of my truck, just spray it down. I have never had a rust problem, only small spots and the trailer hitches, most of our cars the black underside just gets dull. Im not a clean freak though so it doesnt really bother me that it looks like crum under there. It will be alright!! if it makes you feel better spray it down all the time, i bet the soap from the power washer deal (not the brush) at the self serve car wash might help a bit. I dont think you should really have to worry about rust a whole lot, i could be wrong, somebody probably knows much more than i. This is just my personal experience, i wouldnt let it stress you out though. Nice truck though, im liken that 4" rancho more and more. I think the rancho lift w/ red components would look good on my truck. . ))laughs cause he has no money!!((

 

Hey Muddyape, you should check around for any shops that do undercarraige rust-proofing. I had mine done when I first got my truck because I live in North Dakota w/ the snow ice and salt. and it works great! My drive shaft is probably the only one that isn't covered w/ rust like I see in a lot of the pics in this forum, mine is still black as it was when I bought it in 05'. I had mine done at Ziebarts check them out at ziebarts.com. I can't remember what I paid but I want to say about 200-300, and it is well worth it.

I hate salt

 

no biggie. My vehicles last 100sK and after 10+ years - NO rust at all. hand wash and wah undercarriage once a month and your truck will have a long life!

 

Regularly getting your under carriage power washed after a snow down-pour thru one of those brushless car washes works like a charm.

 

Simple yet effective go to harbor freight and pick up a power washer.You can get them for a decent price and they will blow the salt off that truck.It's not the salt you need to worry about it's the chemical truck spraying the Calcium carbonate on the street.That stuff eats metal and paint.I'd say Power washer is the way to go if your OCD over it.I live in RI after dealing with road salt for years I bought a beige ford and wash it when I feel it needs it.Which isn't even monthly.She still shines and undercarriage is not rusting out.If the powerwasher is not an option then try some xanax on a daily basis.You'll be alright.

 

Sounds good...i'll just keep it clean. Cant do much more than that. The OCD is mild by the way. I'll pound a truck in the woods and on the rocks but just dont want it to corrode.

 

Hmm, I love Florida!

 

we get a sand & pea gravel mixture on our highways
the front end, windsheild (#2 so far- will get it replaced AGAIN this spring), sides of my truck are annihilated. on our interstates they use sand and magnesium-chloride gel

sometimes i wish they just used salt.
but then the elk, moose, deer come down and camp out on the street licking it up.

 

As far as the frame is concerned, I think that the whole frame is actually dipped from the factory. This way it even coats the inside of the hollow cross members. I had mine undercoated by the dealer b4 I picked it up. Not helps with the corrosion prevention, but also cuts down on road noise.

 

Lol that must be a sight.

 

X2!

 

That's what my heated garage is good for....washing down the truck weekly to keep salt accumulation to a minimum. What?! You don't have a heated garage with a built-in drain?! Sorry to hear about that - then take it to your locak Ernie's Touchless Wash or Scrub-a-Dub and get the undercarriage wash.

Dave

 

Gentle under body spray as much as possible, not high pressure because it will just drive salt & dirt in deep. My previous truck went through 11 Wisconsin salty winters and 168,000 miles. No rust and I mean none. Annual waxing and under wash every week or two in winter at self wash- low pressure only. Got out the garden hose and did a real good gentle under wash once or twice each winter during warm spells and another good one in the spring I have everything Ziebarted when brand new so I think that helps a lot if you plan on long ownership like I do.

 

To be honest, a heated garage is the worst place to park a vehicle. It provides the perfect environment for the salt to act on the metal. The salt doesn't start to work until the temp gets to about -10C and above. I would wash it 2 or 3 times a week to counteract the effects of all that road salt.

As for the durability of our trucks, just look at the older models. The ones that have been maintained still look showroom new (within reason).