Bought new pickup should I get it undercoated ?

[Mcdust]

I use a product called Rus-Fre. It is a thick liquid that turns to a soft wax. I warm it in my shop microwave and spray it on with an undercoating gun, being very careful to get inside bed supports and other nooks and crannies and get all brake lines etc. I did my plow truck in 2012 and just did another coat. No rust except 2 spots I missed by not removing the front fender liners the first time. I live in Mass. where they use an incredibly aggressive liquid that makes salt look tame. Highly recommended but a lift is desirable. They have recently changed the label to "inner panel undercoating" but works great on all exposed surfaces and doesn't wash off like fluid film or NH oil.

 

[Kschwennsen]

get the goopiest stickiest non-drying tar sprayed under the truck and you should be fine. I work At Curt in Eau Claire and I see a lot of rusted trucks up on this end of the state and the GM trucks that have the undercoating sprayed on stay like new for at least 5 years.

 

[A-P]

My experience in NH is that in the rust belt, you should undercoat. I have it done by a local guy that sprays hydraulic fluid (I think). I lost the battle with rust on my 1996 Ford F150 with only 190k miles. I really loved that truck. I tried scraping and painting with rust converter twice at huge expense. It hardly slowed the rust down. On my 2012 Ford F250 I've undercoated with oil once a year every year and it looks fine after ten years. A huge difference over my F150. I also undercoat my 2020 with the aluminum bed because... it cost $43 thousand dollars! So, in my experience, yes you should undercoat. Pick something you can live with and go with it. Oil smells strong for a few days and it creeps everywhere, but Im still driving my old truck and still missing my F150.

 

[rustyash]

I bought a new Ram in 2020 and the first thing I did (within 300 miles) was have it ziebarted and a rhino liner sprayed in the bed. Ziebart guarantees no rust for 10 years with the annual check-up. I'm 65 now so I'm hoping this truck will last as long as I can

 

[CaptFerd]

Dont do it. This happen to me took 5 years to destroy my truck

 

[I Piddle]

I am not able to give you an answer based on experience, just have some thoughts that were bounced around to me when I bought a new Ford in 2018. These trucks have some type of rust protection that comes from the factory. Undercoating is just another money maker. Most of us spend hundred or thousand more for add-ons.
I do know that my step bars are rusting. That is an issue I see bouncing around on the internet. I didn't buy the undercoating and I am not sure if undercoating is that effective. Nearly all cars made in the 1970's rusted out. Then manufactures did something and rusting went away. Now we are seeing body panel rust again.
You may want to crawl under the step bars and paint undercoating there.

 

[NWOH_Grizz]

My 2011 F-150 started rusting the rear corners of the cab. Took it to a body man I trust, he said he could fix it but it'll come back in a year or so. He put it on a lift and showed me several holes in the frame and body where Ford didn't put any seals, and that allowed water to intrude. When you first get it, put it on a lift and check for areas that would allow water to get in and seal them up. I would also get a couple of rattle cans of undercoating spray and hit those pinch welds and other suspicious places. Spray it on sparingly (not real thick), don't spray it all over, and avoid electrical items.

 

[c50ge]

2022 Ford F-150 extended cab. Would love to hear some of your opinions-experience about undercoating. Living in Wisconsin rust is a really big issue.
I’m definitely not a high miles driver and at 68 years old this could be my last new truck.

after driving in salty conditions take your vehicle through a car wash with undercarriage wash, I’ve also seen where guys make an undercarriage wash that hooks up to your pressure washer that you pass under your truck or drive over to rinse off the frame of the truck.

2022 Ford F-150 extended cab. Would love to hear some of your opinions-experience about undercoating. Living in Wisconsin rust is a really big issue.
I’m definitely not a high miles driver and at 68 years old this could be my last new truck.

 

[edmoor]

All trucks are junk anymore...can't stop the rust..recycled steel.?

 

[Cycledude]

Did you buy the optional rear wheel-well liners or install some after-market wheel-well liners?? That's the first thing I'd recommend on a new F-150. I still can't believe they sell them without the liners. What a cheap way for Ford to save a very few dollars on a vehicle . . .

First line of defense is to keep your rear wheels from slinging all that road crud everywhere under the frame and suspension.

Mine seems to have fender liners made of some sort of fabric not plastic or steel, I have also heard that the fabric stuff doesn’t last very well and really have no idea if that’s actually true or not.

 

[5030]

Mine seems to have fender liners made of some sort of fabric not plastic or steel, I have also heard that the fabric stuff doesn’t last very well and really have no idea if that’s actually true or not.

Actually, it does. My 14 Ford Focus has the textured fender liners that you refer to and they hold up just fine. Live on a dirt road and the buggy gets pressure washed underneath and the fender wells regularly and they have held up just fine. In fact, no degradation has occurred at all. Of course I added plastic mud flaps as well. Keeps the rockers from getting sandblasted by stones.

 

[5030]

I am not able to give you an answer based on experience, just have some thoughts that were bounced around to me when I bought a new Ford in 2018. These trucks have some type of rust protection that comes from the factory. Undercoating is just another money maker. Most of us spend hundred or thousand more for add-ons.
I do know that my step bars are rusting. That is an issue I see bouncing around on the internet. I didn't buy the undercoating and I am not sure if undercoating is that effective. Nearly all cars made in the 1970's rusted out. Then manufactures did something and rusting went away. Now we are seeing body panel rust again.
You may want to crawl under the step bars and paint undercoating there.

First thing I do is remove and sell the step bars or running boards from any vehicle I buy unless it so high that they are required for ingress and egress. All they are, are crud catchers and rust magnets that trap crud and cause corrosion and in most cases are totally unnecessary.

Guess looking 'macho' is more important than a rusted out body. In my view, totally unnecessary.

 

[Rebeldad1]

as a retired mechanic..... absolutely no. what a mess to work on.

 

[JohnDeereJoey]

as a retired mechanic..... absolutely no. what a mess to work on.

A very valid negative to rust proofing.

Pro and con. Take your pick. Me, I rust proof.

Funny, related story. My truck was on a lift with multiple mechanics looking all under the vehicle. I asked why and was told there was a serious oil leak and they can't find the source! (Yep, the truck was rustproofed very shortly before!)

 

[BravoXray]

All trucks are junk anymore...can't stop the rust..recycled steel.?

Recycled or virgin steel, it all rusts the same. Rust prevention treatments, powder coating, galvanizing, primers and paint are what helps keep rust at bay.

 

[jayhawk238]

2022 Ford F-150 extended cab. Would love to hear some of your opinions-experience about undercoating. Living in Wisconsin rust is a really big issue.
I’m definitely not a high miles driver and at 68 years old this could be my last new truck.

When I lived in Wisconsin years ago the DOT poured TONS of salt on the winter roads. So yes If they still do get the undercoating. I worked in a service station and we did hundreds of undercoatings, but also saw a lot of NEW rust buckets for the ones who didn't. Now please understand this was back in the 60's and early 70's before I moved to Idaho.

 

[Cycledude]

i asked about mudflaps a week after buying the truck and they threw in a complete set of Ford flaps for free, the flaps use the existing holes so no new holes required, they plan to install them for free this week before I pick up the truck. The dealer Medford Motors has been very easy to deal with .

 

[CH4Ohio]

i asked about mudflaps a week after buying the truck and they threw in a complete set of Ford flaps for free, the flaps use the existing holes so no new holes required, they plan to install them for free this week before I pick up the truck. The dealer Medford Motors has been very easy to deal with .

Take a good look at the rear wheel wells on the truck you're buying. I'm not sure what the "fabric" liner is that you're referring to, but according to Ford, REAR wheel well liners are still an aftermarket or dealer-installed option. I bought a pair from Husky, but WeatherTech and others also make them. See pics below of stock F-150 before and after installation of plastic wheel-well liners. (Installing them in warm weather or warming them before pushing them up into the wheel well makes getting them positioned properly much easier.)

Good call by others and you on the mudflaps. Another good obvious protection. I added them at the same time but not shown in the pics.

F-150 2021-2023 Rear Wheel Well Liner Pair

Why Buy: Protect the rear wheelhouse of your F-150 with a wheel well liner from Ford. Easy to install, each wheel well cover shields body-colored parts and underpinnings with no drilling required. Details: Heavy-duty liners help cover up and shield body-colored parts and numerous underpinnings...

accessories.ford.com

 

[dodge man]

My wife’s 300c has fabric in the wheel wells. Not all of it but I always figured it was for sound deadening.

 

[CH4Ohio]

My wife’s 300c has fabric in the wheel wells. Not all of it but I always figured it was for sound deadening.

That makes sense. But it also looks like it would catch a lot of mud and debris.

I'd be interested in knowing what the dealer recommends / suggests for a new truck.

Also wonder if they install the after-market plastic wheel-well liners over the carpet / fabric or if it has to be removed. Looks like installing plastic to protect it and still have the sound-deadening quality would be the best of both worlds.

Thanks for the info.