Undercoating/Rust Prevention

Anyone have experience with undercoating first gens? My 06 has been babied and has almost no rust, I'm hoping to keep it that way even though I live on a gravel road and constantly overland. Any suggestions as to where I should take the truck and how much I should expect to pay?

 

Where are you located?

 

Two jars of STP Moly Lithium Grease ($11) along with a days worth of elbow grease and you can crawl under your truck and DIY.

Pictured is a fabbed up fiberglass rod with a sponge inside a rag wrapped tightly to fit inside the box frame up front. Load up with grease and plunge it. Use another sponge and dip and wipe the grease on the other open framed areas.

6 hours of meticulous work plus $11 grease and she is way better protected than any method out there.

 

I wouldn't pay to have this coated. I've heard horror stories after this has been done. PHM has the right idea below. Grease rub with an occasional touch up with a product called Fluid film for those cracks and crevices where you may not be able to get grease in.

This reminds me, where did you find that fibgerglass pole? I've been meaning to ask.

 

Found it in my attic. Maybe a sparky left it behind?

You may be able to purchase one at the big box.

 

I like your improvised tool! (I know... that's what she said! ) I'll add that boiled linseed oil is an old farmers solution to rust resistance. Goes on as a liquid, then dries to a tacky film, and leaves a nice "skin" -- cheap and easily found at any hardware store. That's what's going on the frame of my recently acquired 2000 AC. I just spent the weekend stripping and applying POR-15 to the frame and body mounts. It should be well protected for years to come.

 

What are the horror stories? Thinking of buying a '04 4Runner and would be getting this done.

 

When Toyota was doing the frame recalls they coated them with something and I've heard many still rusted. Others have reported that the coatings still allow moisture to get in but not out. I think a grease rub is a lot better alternative. Also a lot cheaper.

 

It's the rubberized undercoating that is an issue since it doesn't do anything beside hide the existing rust and trap water behind it.

Nothing wrong with oily type undercoating. No issue I've heard of with Krown or Ziebart. When I had my rocker panels Rhino lined the shop that did it included a Ziebart spray, besides smelling like a dead moose it's held up well and I plan on making a trip to get it done again this summer.

 

grease or fluid film.

 

It might also be worth noting someone else here on the forum did something with some of the rust areas under their truck. They cleaned them up and used some type of hardener and then paint if I'm not mistaken.

If I remember who that was I will be sure to get that info on here as I am looking to do that process myself. When done correctly it can really protect from that rust for a long time!

 

Fluid film or crown
Probably the most popular and easiest to apply
Fluid film for me.

 

I've been wondering about that too. We call em fish sticks. And I've left one or two behind in an attic. They're about $45-50 for a good set.

 

I’ve recommended Ospho and used that on rust. Its a primer basically and can be painted over once dry.

 

They sprayed my frame rear portion last summer when I took it in for inspection. They did not get my permission first, but its sprayed now. It went on like an oily grease and has dried to a tacky shell. Seems to be holding up well. Its hard to scratch off. Everything they sprayed was from the rear cross member back to the bumper frame which was rust free.

Only had a few small bubbles where the cross member tied into the c-frame almost like the metals were fighting each other bubbles. Cured all that with heavy grease coating and PB Blaster drownings.

Anyways, since they sprayed the frame Toyotas hands are clean from frame replacement so thats why I went crazy on the greasing of the frame.

 

Farmers know how to get it done with simple items. I’ll have to remember the linseed trick. This grease trick with the Moly Lith is starting to form a nice shell due to dirt and road dust building up in its protective layer.

 

I'll have to try some off these out. I usually just spray some engine oil mixed with diesel fuel (to make it a little thinner) and used a small hand-pumped herbicide sprayer to spray it everywhere. On the panels, the insides of the bed, undercarriage, etc. I live in SW Minnesota and it has held up great. A couple of sprays and it creates a nice layer of protections from salt and water that stays on very well.

 

We used to use ospho by the 5 gallon buckets full on ships at sea. Constant battle against rust. Start at one corner, slowly work our way completely around the deck for weeks/months, then start again. Really is easy to use. Scrape the loose stuff off, coat liberally, prime and paint the next day. Often wondered why they didn't pre-coat the whole ship during building and then paint. But then again, how would I have gotten all that overtime?

 

Solid! Thanks for all the insight guys. Much appreciated.

 

I thought that was you that used the Ospho but I didn't want to call you out and be completely off base! Thanks for chiming in. I will be using that stuff here very soon!

 

I recently did my entire exhaust system. Removed all the covers and treated with Ospho. Let dry and rattle can big box high heat ceramic painted everything. Reassembled.

Wear long sleeves and long gloves. It isn’t super caustic, but will give you an itchy feel if skin contacted.

I just used an old paint brush. Goes on thin and spreads far.