Bought new pickup should I get it undercoated ?

[DK35vince]

40 years ago it made sense. Today, you are throwing your money away. Do what you want with your money. The OP was buying a NEW truck. New trucks don't need it.

Anecdotal 'evidence' is like eyewitness accounts. People see what they want to see. The data just doesn't support rust proofing modern trucks.

My good post to your reply was by accident. (I hit the wrong button).

You live in Texas.
Claim whatever you want, I see what salt/brine does to newer trucks here. 6- 10 year trucks I can put my hand through the holes the quarter panels. Rocker panels and front fenders rusted through

 

[Torvy]

My good post to your reply was by accident. (I hit the wrong button).

You live in Texas.
Claim whatever you want, I see what salt/brine does to newer trucks here. 6- 10 year trucks I can put my hand through the holes the quarter panels. Rocker panels and front fenders rusted through

Well, I grew up due west of Minneapolis for half of my life and lived just west of Milwaukee for six years before moving to Texas. So ya, I know a bit about driving in snow and dealing with salt and brine. FYI, TXDOT puts down brine anytime they think we might get a trace of snow or ice. Since there are almost no plows, it is all they know...bless their hearts.

I'm not the one claiming. I posted an article by a professional. There are many more like that. All of the sites promoting coatings are selling them. On old cars, it was of some use to slow rust. In modern cars it is literally a waste of money. The risks are the same with or without the added cost.

Here is another one. Nothing to gain for me or anyone trying to save people money.

https://www.cartalk.com/blogs/dear-car-talk/just-say-no-rustproofing

 

[coobie]

Well, I grew up due west of Minneapolis for half of my life and lived just west of Milwaukee for six years before moving to Texas. So ya, I know a bit about driving in snow and dealing with salt and brine. FYI, TXDOT puts down brine anytime they think we might get a trace of snow or ice. Since there are almost no plows, it is all they know...bless their hearts.

I'm not the one claiming. I posted an article by a professional. There are many more like that. All of the sites promoting coatings are selling them. On old cars, it was of some use to slow rust. In modern cars it is literally a waste of money. The risks are the same with or without the added cost.

Here is another one. Nothing to gain for me or anyone trying to save people money.

https://www.cartalk.com/blogs/dear-car-talk/just-say-no-rustproofing

Its fun to read the honest comments underneath this article they seem to ridicule car talks advice..

 

[Torvy]

Its fun to read the honest comments underneath this article they seem to ridicule car talks advice..

Honest comments or hype from people in the business? I liken this to people who swear by unsubstantiated claims about eating some food item and how it makes them healthy. Ditto people who claim there is no difference in quality among truck brands. When you have confirmation bias, every time you see a rusted truck you assume it was not 'protected' and the rust free ones must have been undercoated. The reason experts don't recommend the dealer or aftermarket products on a new vehicle is that there are the same odds of a rock or similar chipping/cracking the 'extra' coating as the factory stuff. Once you have damage to the coating, rust can form. I'm not saying to never add a coating a few years later. There is simply no rational reason to add to the factory coating on a brand new truck.

 

[coobie]

Honest comments or hype from people in the business? I liken this to people who swear by unsubstantiated claims about eating some food item and how it makes them healthy. Ditto people who claim there is no difference in quality among truck brands. When you have confirmation bias, every time you see a rusted truck you assume it was not 'protected' and the rust free ones must have been undercoated. The reason experts don't recommend the dealer or aftermarket products on a new vehicle is that there are the same odds of a rock or similar chipping/cracking the 'extra' coating as the factory stuff. Once you have damage to the coating, rust can form. I'm not saying to never add a coating a few years later. There is simply no rational reason to add to the factory coating on a brand new truck.

And you know what they say about opinions.

 

[brokeasajoke]

Wool wax, fluid film, or similar product applied minimum once per year two in really salty places. Wash with low pressure water so less chance of washing it off. This has worked well many. I heat the fluid film and stir vigorously as it thins and gets stiff as it sets. I have a woolwax brand gun I apply it with which has a sideways spraying hose for body plugs. I also have a $20 HVLP (high volume low pressure) with the pick up tube bent to pick up more product as the nozzle is pointed up while spraying. It takes longer for me to get everything together than it does to actually spray. These guns are dedicated so I don't clean them up. Where the tires haven't splashed water, it looks just as good as when I sprayed it last November with the exception of some dust it's picked up. 5gal or gallon is best way to buy. My 87 long wheelbase super cab F250 took a half gallon on the first spray an maybe a 1/4 to 1/3 gal now.

 

[deezler]

I'm not saying to never add a coating a few years later. There is simply no rational reason to add to the factory coating on a brand new truck.

Agree 100%. Just keep it clean. After a few years, poke around and see if it's time to start coating it.

 

[crashz]

My father has a 2011 Chevy 2500 that he plows snow with. Not new, but I would consider it fairly modern. It needs a third set of rocker panels and cab corners, a new bed and probably at least a patch in the frame. About 60k miles. Granted, not diligently taken care of, but still, 10 years of New England winters and its ready of the scrap heap?

"Even third party rust-proofing is considered a bust, “after-market rust proofing is a waste of money regardless of who’s applying it,” says Quincy. “Factory rust proofing is all you need.”
I bet Quincy lives in California. And- he's gambling with your money not his. I'm no fan of Ziebart but Fluid Film has worked very well for me. I will be self applying though from now on.

 

[deezler]

^ yeah the 07-'12 chevy/GMCs are horrendously bad at rust resistance. I remember being shocked to see the "new" body style chevy trucks rusting through the rear fenders already, some 10 years ago.

 

[PotatoPotato]

My father has a 2011 Chevy 2500 that he plows snow with. Not new, but I would consider it fairly modern. It needs a third set of rocker panels and cab corners, a new bed and probably at least a patch in the frame. About 60k miles. Granted, not diligently taken care of, but still, 10 years of New England winters and its ready of the scrap heap?

"Even third party rust-proofing is considered a bust, “after-market rust proofing is a waste of money regardless of who’s applying it,” says Quincy. “Factory rust proofing is all you need.”
I bet Quincy lives in California. And- he's gambling with your money not his. I'm no fan of Ziebart but Fluid Film has worked very well for me. I will be self applying though from now on.

Every post I have seen online about snow plowing swears it will destroy the car. Has he done any mods? Like better suspension or bigger wheels?