Hi, I have been asking around some and I am getting the impression that getting my new truck rustproofed may not be necessary. I would be interested in your opinions on the subject. I am in Ohio so we do have snow and such. I will be kept in a garage when not in use. A lot of people say it is not needed, just makes a mess if you need to work on the truck underside.

If anyone has opinions, I would appreciate em.

Thanks,

hut

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Order - 2001 XLT, Flareside, 4x4, loaded, offroad package, 4.6 with standard transmissom, island blue,
Going to install Superchip and K & N filter for now, has factory bars (tubular), adding Mannis (sp?) Brush Guard, Westin Rear Light Brush Guards, Lunds Interceptor Bug Shield, inside mount vent visors (not from Vent Visor), Rhino Coating the bed, maybe a Grizzly Roll Bar depending on whether truck will fit in the garage.

 

I've had my last two trucks rustproofed as I sold the one prior due to rust problems. The last truck was a '95 Ranger Supercab and it had 130K + miles on it when I traded it off for the F-150. Not a speck of rust on it anywhere. I had the new truck rustproofed before I read their warranty and before I found out the hood is made of aluminum and the bedsides on mine are fiberglass. Ziebart must not know of this either as they sprayed both areas.

I did it for peace of mind more than anything, it helps quiet some of the roadsound, and it definitely makes it messy to work underneath. (a place I don't plan on spending much time anyway)
I have good faith in properly sprayed rustproofing using my last two rangers as standards and would recommend it if you are concerned about rust.

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all4chem@aol.com
Y2K XLT Supercab Flareside, Oxford White, Medium Graphite, Captains Chairs, 6-Disc, 5.4L, 3.55LS, Tow Pkg, Block Heater, Sliding Glass, Remote and Keyless Entry, 5-Spoke Al Wheels, P235/70R-16 OWL Tires, Clear Corner Lenses, Eaglite Plasma Headlights, Al Striker Plates for the rear doors, Oxford White Lund Interceptor, Line-X Liner, and White Faced Gauges.
Ordered: 01-17-00
Built: 02-23-00
Delivered: 03-13-00

 

Double post

[This message has been edited by all4chem (edited 09-04-2000).]

 

Thanks for the reply All, I really don't know what I am going to do. All of my other previous new vehicles have been rust proofed, like you said, for piece of mind.

Anyway, I was reading your signature and have seen these striker plates mentioned a lot. What exactly are these? Do they go inside or out side of the truck? Please excuse my ignorance here.

Thanks,

hut

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Order - 2001 XLT, Flareside, 4x4, loaded, offroad package, 4.6 with standard transmissom, island blue,
Going to install Superchip and K & N filter for now, has factory bars (tubular), adding Mannis (sp?) Brush Guard, Westin Rear Light Brush Guards, Lunds Interceptor Bug Shield, inside mount vent visors (not from Vent Visor), Rhino Coating the bed, maybe a Grizzly Roll Bar depending on whether truck will fit in the garage.

 

A waste of money. The places that rust the most are plastic or fiberglass on the new F=series trucks. They are just selling U something U do not need. I live in Washington state have a 97 F150 and have no rust any place on my truck Brit

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TRUCKBLACK 97 F150 XLT FlareSide SC.
4.6 MODS: Lowered 5 inches, SnugLid
Hard Tanneau,K&N plus air mods,
Plat+4/8mm wires,Prolong engin
treatment,Amsoil Synthetic oil
and Filter,Bug&Rain guards.
SUPERCHIPED,No Step Under door nurf,
Interior Visor Shelf. My truck looks
like Ford used it as a model
for the Lightning but mines LOWER!
JACKS ANTENNA HEAD The easiest MOD

 

HI. I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW THAT AS I SPEAK I'M HAVING THREE DOORS AND A TAILGATE REPLACED ON A 1998 F150 4X4 BE CAUSE OF RUST .THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 33,000 MILES ON IT. THE RUST IS ON THE INSIDE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE DOORS . SO YOU DO WHAT YOU THINK BEST. THANK GOD MY DEALER IS PAYING FOR IT.IF NOT IT WOULD BE ABOUT A 4,000 DOLLAR JOB.

 

Thanks Brit and Mad. This was not going to be dealer rustproofing but still it is around $250. I got the opinions from a Line-X and an Arma-coating dealer while at our county fair yesterday.

Mad, as for your truck, I don't know if rustproofing would have prevented your problems or not. Ford does have a 5 year, 100,000 mile rust through warranty yes??

I would be interested in more opinions if there are any.

Thanks all respondants,

hut

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Order - 2001 XLT, Flareside, 4x4, loaded, offroad package, 4.6 with standard transmissom, island blue,
Going to install Superchip and K & N filter for now, has factory bars (tubular), adding Mannis (sp?) Brush Guard, Westin Rear Light Brush Guards, Lunds Interceptor Bug Shield, inside mount vent visors (not from Vent Visor), Rhino Coating the bed, maybe a Grizzly Roll Bar depending on whether truck will fit in the garage.

 

When you get it rustproofed, make sure they do the insides of the bumpers too. Not sure if it's still an issue, but there was a problem with bumpers rusting on the insides in '97 models. Haven't heard much since then, though.

 

The striker plates were being offered by a member here and they replace the clear plastic sticker Ford puts on. It's just a piece of polished aluminum with double sided tape on the back. It's on the end of the front door above the latch. There is a plastic piece that sticks out of the back door and is pushed in when the front door is closed. It hits and rubs on the plastic sticker. I was probably OK with a white truck as it was hardly visible. On a darker color the shiny aluminum definitely looks better.
I didn't see if you are getting a supercab or not, these are only on a supercab.

[This message has been edited by all4chem (edited 09-04-2000).]

 

Thanks for the information on the striker plates, now I know what you are referring to.

hut

 

As for the rustproofing... My first vehicle was a 87 Dodge Caravan handed down from my grandfather and undercoated religiously since day one. We sold it a year and a half ago (and keep in mind we live in MI) with 175,000 miles on it without a speck of rust on the body. (Was handed down to the first two of my older sisters as their first car also) The frame and drivetrain were starting to show their age, but the body was immaculate! The vehicle that followed that one for me was a '90 Ranger. In '95 I had the hood replaced under the factory rust-thru warranty, as well as both doors and the tailgate repainted thanks to the rustproofing warranty. Another testament to rustproofing... My dad's current car (again handed down from my grandfather) is an 88 Lincoln Town Car with 140,000 miles on it, again religiously undercoated every year, without a speck of rust anywhere!

I agree that on the flare-sides, the bed sides and under-hood are wholly unnecessary, but the doors, inside the tailgate, and the floor-pan and quarter-panels are still worthwhile. Whether or ot it's worth the $50 every year to have it re-sprayed is a matter of opinion. It would be nice to find somewhere that could apply it once and forget about it. If anyone knows of one, I'd buy it in a second.
-Joe-

 

I always clean the truck real good underneath before taking it in and have never been charged a annual maintenence fee from Ziebart.

Just lucky I guess.

 

Mad1998, Where is the dealership that you are having the work done at? I just was told last week that all ford dealers have been told not to replace any doors.

 

JP99FLARESIDE, THE DEALER IS IN FORT WAYNE INDIANA. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE THE RUST PBOBLEM OR THE CRACK IN THE DOOR. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO FORT WAYNE I SHOWED THE BODY MAN THE RUST AND SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE THE DOORS AND TALLGATE. I THINK THE DEALERSHIP IS PAYING FOR THAT WORK NOT FORD MOTOR COMPANY.BUT WHEN I SHOWED HIM THE CRACK HE DID NOT HESITATE HE SAID FORD MOTOR COMPANY WOULD REPLACE IT. THAT IS IF IT STILL UNDER 3YRS OR 36 MONTH