Frame Rot on Prior Generation

[JCsTruck]

My 2001 Tundra with 200k miles had a badly rusted frame within 8 years that I could poke my finger through in some spots and it also had an open C-channel frame too. I traded it in for a Mazda CX5 at the time that got great fuel mileage.

I have used Fluid film and many of my vehicles including my 2014 F-150. Although it does slow down the process it needs to be applied every year and it attracts lots of dirt and makes the underside a black grimy dirty mess. If any part of your clothes touches it then you may have issues getting the stain out and mechanics hate it too because it gets all over them if they need to work near it. I wont be doing this to my 2024 for sure for this reason.

I think running your vehicle through a car wash with undercarriage wash frequently during the winter months adds years to your vehicles life and is the easiest way to keep the salt off. I also proactively paint the frame and other metal suspension components too. I may try that frame rinsing tool also. ?

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[Larrymoe]

I may invest in one of these for piece of mind, if nothing else.

https://www.saltshift.com/en-us/pro...uvTOmTcyajfmMp3a3oNTeJt2PkPKMATaOcVnrWiPItjIN

I think I just found my next purchase

 

[Sojourner]

Wow! The responses in this forum about this topic are light years more respectful than a good percentage of the responses over at Bronco6g!

Nice work, folks!

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/😱-attention-bronco-frame-rot-incoming.116571/

 

[Je1279]

Wow! The responses in this forum about this topic are light years more respectful than a good percentage of the responses over at Bronco6g!

Nice work, folks!

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/?-attention-bronco-frame-rot-incoming.116571/

Im over there also and I agree. While many posts stay on topic and try to be helpful, others go off the rails quickly...

 

[SWONT2.7]

If you're city is dropping salt/brine and you don't flush the frame out a couple of times per year with your garden hose then I would expect the vehicle to rot. Doesn't matter what brand of car or truck in this area of the country, they all rot if not maintained properly.

My 2009 F150 was sprayed numerous times with https://oilgard.com. I had them apply their "no drip" product which doesn't wash off like their thinner product that is similar to Krown. That truck should have rotted out 10 years ago but it's still in mint condition and still has the original cab corners that have not rotted yet. There was so much product in the frame and inside the body panels my mechanic told me to stop as it was not required. I've had my 23 sprayed by oilgard twice now with "no drip" and it is immaculate underneath despite enduring two winters in southwestern Ontario. My 23 will be immaculate in 15 years from now because I will maintain it like I did my 2009.

When I was flushing the frame earlier this week I noticed an abundance of drainage holes in the bottom of the boxed frame which is fantastic as the truck in the video obviously had no way to evacuate the salt/brines. It would appear that truck in the video was neglected, ridden hard and put away wet.

It's an added expense that I wish I didn't have to deal with but we won't be moving south so I will have to be diligent each year with proper maintenance.

 

[Azstroke]

This exact thing happened to a friend living just east of Pittsburgh. He took his 16 in for inspection and the frame was toast. The truck otherwise was in great shape, but no longer safe to drive and he picked up a 23.

 

[Rinn69]

Since I live in N Iowa, I run my truck through the car wash in winter whenever I can, but a springtime flush wouldn't hurt either. So, I picked up a 10' length of 1/2" ID clear vinyl tubing, a 1/2" plug end used for poly pipe, and a FWHT x 1/2" barb (female water hose x 1/2" barbed end). I drilled 6 -- 3/32" holes in the end plug and worked it into the tubing.....the holes must be drilled at an angle, like 15-20 degrees outward. I tested it and it sprays pretty darn good. I need to get a hose clamp for the end with the garden hose adapter on it, but the poly pipe plug is very snug. I'll test it out next week once the weather allows and report back. Only about $20 into it

 

[Larrymoe]

Crawled up under the truck today and soaped up/rinsed the underside and frame. The frames on the 14th Gens (at least on my 24 RCSB) have several holes on the bottom of the frame and several large holes on the side. I sprayed a lot of water in all the holes and it all drained out the bottom of the frame rails. There was no residue that came with it.

Also noticed a spot of surface rust that I'll buy some rustoleum and spray down.

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