Do I need to rustproof a new truck??
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2002
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Do I need to rustproof a new truck??
I have a new 2002 F150 Supercrew and have heard differing information regarding rustproofing/undercoating. Of course my dealer says the vehicle comes with nothing and gave me a price to get it done.
I live in Minnesota where there is lots of winter salt.
One more thing...anybody ever seen or used the CounterAct product for rust? You can see it at www.counteractrust.com. Thought maybe this might be an interesting alternative, but haven't received pricing info yet.
I live in Minnesota where there is lots of winter salt.
One more thing...anybody ever seen or used the CounterAct product for rust? You can see it at www.counteractrust.com. Thought maybe this might be an interesting alternative, but haven't received pricing info yet.
Last edited by pos1; Dec 31, 2002 at 03:16 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,248
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From: Rochester, NY, USA
I'd suggest that the answer to your question lies in how long you plan on keeping your truck. If you plan on keeping it for more than 5 years, I'd suggest at least the undercoating. If you plan on keeping it for longer than that, consider the full undercoat / inner body panel job. Anything less than 5 years, I'd say skip it.
I used to have the full job done on every truck ('90, '93, '95) by Ziebart. When they started to improve the factory corrosion protection, I started just getting the undercoat ('97, '99). My latest truck (a '02) didn't get anything - and this will be a big experiment.
I only keep my trucks for 3 years (and about 60,000 miles) in the salt capital of the north - Rochester, NY. I wasn't noticing much difference between my recent truck and my friends without the stuff. Since the factory paint / corrosion protection package is so much better than it used to be, the need for aftermarket stuff seems to have gone down - even though Ziebart will tell you otherwise. Take a look at 3,5, and maybe 7 year old trucks to see what they look like. Then make your decision. By the way, I'd never trust a dealer to do any rustproofing. Thay want you to buy another truck ASAP remember?
I used to have the full job done on every truck ('90, '93, '95) by Ziebart. When they started to improve the factory corrosion protection, I started just getting the undercoat ('97, '99). My latest truck (a '02) didn't get anything - and this will be a big experiment.
I only keep my trucks for 3 years (and about 60,000 miles) in the salt capital of the north - Rochester, NY. I wasn't noticing much difference between my recent truck and my friends without the stuff. Since the factory paint / corrosion protection package is so much better than it used to be, the need for aftermarket stuff seems to have gone down - even though Ziebart will tell you otherwise. Take a look at 3,5, and maybe 7 year old trucks to see what they look like. Then make your decision. By the way, I'd never trust a dealer to do any rustproofing. Thay want you to buy another truck ASAP remember?
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2002
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They stopped offering an undercoat special at my local California Ford/SVT dealer. They said that very few people have been getting it done recently. I know that the metal is treated, but you cannot go wrong if you decide to spray it. The only drawback is the price...is it ultimately worth it in the long-run? Is it cost effective? Of course our winters aren't as harsh in California.
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Under the flightpath of old ORD 22R
Myself, never 4 trucks later.
'81 F-100 Custom, 9 years old 120k miles no rust through at all ( or signs of it when you looked under the body panels.
'90 Dodge Dkota, 5 years old, 200k miles. Only the bottom of the door, wher the skin is folded over. Typical Dodge.
'95 Dodge Ram, 6 years old ( friend has had is for almost 2 additional years now ), the only parts that rusted were the typical : under the ruber at the bottom of the window ( all seemed to do it, rust proofing would not have helped it ), and the bottom edge of the door, where the door skin was folded over ( again the way Dodge made it, the rust proofing would not have gotten betwen there to do anything about it, inside the door is fine, the door skin is fine ).
I live in Chicago, and right now, the roads are white, not blacktop from all the salt.
Keep it washed ona regular basis, and the salt does not seem to get a chance to do damage.
Want to talk about rust, look at the calipers. Damn ! that is some ugly stuff.
Keep meaning to do something about those
'81 F-100 Custom, 9 years old 120k miles no rust through at all ( or signs of it when you looked under the body panels.
'90 Dodge Dkota, 5 years old, 200k miles. Only the bottom of the door, wher the skin is folded over. Typical Dodge.
'95 Dodge Ram, 6 years old ( friend has had is for almost 2 additional years now ), the only parts that rusted were the typical : under the ruber at the bottom of the window ( all seemed to do it, rust proofing would not have helped it ), and the bottom edge of the door, where the door skin was folded over ( again the way Dodge made it, the rust proofing would not have gotten betwen there to do anything about it, inside the door is fine, the door skin is fine ).
I live in Chicago, and right now, the roads are white, not blacktop from all the salt.
Keep it washed ona regular basis, and the salt does not seem to get a chance to do damage.
Want to talk about rust, look at the calipers. Damn ! that is some ugly stuff.
Keep meaning to do something about those