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Truck frame rusting

Geo-TH,In

Geo-TH,In

Well-known Member
When I asked when do you decide to get a new truck I was surprised to see how many
Said when the frame was rusted so bad, it wouldn't pass inspection.

I know of two twenty year old F150 where frames rusted. One around where spring attached to frame. The frame cracked in the pic below.

How long did it take before your frame was unsafe?
Ford, Dodge or GMs?

cvphoto80269.jpg

George
 
99 Dodge 3500. Crack developed on front frame horn. Apparently w/o cross tie, the steering box stresses it. Shop spliced in salvaged horn. Some surface rust but now sound. So, 22 years.
 
Look closer it's where the 2 parts of the frame overlap. Just behind
the bracket where spring attaches.
George
 


I have seen frame rust on trucks and cars both. When my '06 F-350 was showing some rust after four years I decided to stop it and instituted the procedure that I have posted here a number of times. It has now been through 14 New England winters.
 
In western Pa, my trucks last about 10 years (Ford and Chevy) before the frames and bodies rust bad enough that I decided it was time for them to go down the road. My current truck, 2013 Dodge has been treated with oil every other year since new and so far is not showing any significant rust.
 
Ugh, I'll have to check my E-150. It is 31 years old with 200k. The only thing I've had to do to the frame was reinforce the rear most spring saddles that were getting a bit thin.
 
'95 F250 in Michigan. Rear spring hangers changed but frame is solid. Transmission cross member I'm looking for, or I'll have to fab one. I can get a new frame, but not cross member. Frame is $1700 from a dealership, but doesn't come with trans support. Figure that one out.
 
I wonder with sedans, vans, and SUV's nowadays with the under-body "pans" (no frames) what rust is like? I suspect that rust proofing a pan from the factory is easier than a frame since there might be fewer nooks and crannies for moisture and salt to accumulate.
 
I had a 67 barracuda. The unibody rusted out. Where the torsion bar attached to tin frame.
Everything was rusty. When from end dropped the upper A are come lose exposing rust Good thing this happened in town going 30 mph.
George
 
My 93 Mazda runs great but I parked it until I get a chance to inspect it underneath. Friend had a front suspension rust off a near ten year old Chevrolet while driving .

Had a 1980 Datsun engine fall over on it's side at 14 years. It spent it's first 129K miles in Dallas then came to Mn.
 

For a frame to rust through, in general terms, maybe 10 years, but that depends on the vehicle. Jeep Wranglers are notorious for rusting badly in 8-10 years or even less. Of course, if you are like most of us and never, ever wash a vehicles underside, much less the interior of the body cavities and frame, it happens faster. I just found out I can buy cosmoline. At least 3 of my vehicles are hopefully going to get the above mentioned areas washed out, hit with rust converter and then cosmolined this year. I can't afford NOT to take care of this stuff anymore.
 
My '97 F150 is still rust-free!. OK doesn't see many snow events that require salting the roads. And when they do happen, it (and my '13 Tundra) get treated to an underbody wash at the local automatic wash. Every time. Then in the spring the rains and poor drainage on most roads, means it gets washed really well by just driving through all the standing water!

And, I have a 56 Dodge 1/2t. Minor cab rust, but frame is fine. It was a KS truck for most of its life.
 
I have a friend who had the frame replaced on a Toyota Tacoma. He said that the dealer had a stack of new frames and a bigger stack of rusted frames.
 
Here in Minnesota it takes about ten years for the frames to get soft. Not cracks, just gone. The worst are Ford and Chevy in the early to mid 2000s. Dodge seems to hold up frame wise, but the bodywork not so much. Oil the underside is the only solution. washing and staying off the road when its really salty helps.
 
You must be in an area with relatively low snow fall. In the northern states it is common to see rust issues due to the constant salt on the road.
 
I believe Rambler, American Motors was the earliest or one of the very early ones to use unibody construction. That would be over 40 years ago the local Sinclair service station put one up on the hoist and it buckled .

Wife's cousin had one buckle while hitting a pot hole in Mpls and he has been gone for over 30 years for sure, maybe more.
 
I wish they would quit salting roads, and the magnesium chloride is worse! Isn't it poluting the ground too?
 
89 Toyota 2x4 extra cab. I knew it was driving odd. I had a flat tire and when I jacked it up the rear wheels stayed on the ground and the truck went up. The boxed frame was was open on two sides from the front wheel well to past the rear shackle mount.
 
This is an interesting discussion. Each truck that I have owned in the last 25 years, new or used was undercoated with Ziebart. Also, each truck box was Rhinolined. My 1996 Chevy 3500 crewcab, dually, diesel, manual 5 speed, had 170,000 miles when I sold it with my 5th wheel camper. My 2003 Chevy 2500 extended cab, 4x4 had 208,000 miles when I sold it to my son for his wife. She has since given it to their sons to share. (I don't know the current miles)
For a short time, I had a used 2014 Chevy 2500 Crewcab 4x4, diesel. It had 49,000 miles when I decided that I did not need a diesel that need Diesel Emission Fluid. I sold it for what I had in it.
I bought new my 2018 Chevy club cab, 4x4, 5.3 v8. I installed Michelin E rated tires. I added air bags to the rear axle for load handling. It has Ziebart undercoat and Rhino lined box. Today, it got an annual underbody/frame inspection and touchup at Ziebart. I bought this truck in early January 2018. It has 35,000 miles. None of those trucks above had rusted out frames. Unless something happens, I'm hoping this will be my last truck. I'm 78.
 
(quoted from post at 19:32:30 03/03/21) This is an interesting discussion. Each truck that I have owned in the last 25 years, new or used was undercoated with Ziebart. Also, each truck box was Rhinolined. My 1996 Chevy 3500 crewcab, dually, diesel, manual 5 speed, had 170,000 miles when I sold it with my 5th wheel camper. My 2003 Chevy 2500 extended cab, 4x4 had 208,000 miles when I sold it to my son for his wife. She has since given it to their sons to share. (I don't know the current miles)
For a short time, I had a used 2014 Chevy 2500 Crewcab 4x4, diesel. It had 49,000 miles when I decided that I did not need a diesel that need Diesel Emission Fluid. I sold it for what I had in it.
I bought new my 2018 Chevy club cab, 4x4, 5.3 v8. I installed Michelin E rated tires. I added air bags to the rear axle for load handling. It has Ziebart undercoat and Rhino lined box. Today, it got an annual underbody/frame inspection and touchup at Ziebart. I bought this truck in early January 2018. It has 35,000 miles. None of those trucks above had rusted out frames. Unless something happens, I'm hoping this will be my last truck. I'm 78.
Click to expand...


John, that is a very good testimony for Ziebart. I had one car done many years ago when my brother was working for a Ziebart agent. My '06 F-350 is not showing rust either, I do just a little DIY job on it annually.
 
(quoted from post at 10:17:46 03/04/21) Two on road trucks 1999 Ford F550 and 06 Toyota Tacoma double cab both have frames in excellent condition.
Click to expand...

But where do you live? we have calcium chloride on the roads here from roughly late Sept to mid May. If you live where salting roads is a 2 week a year thing, your experience is going to differ.
 
(quoted from post at 23:32:30 03/03/21) This is an interesting discussion. Each truck that I have owned in the last 25 years, new or used was undercoated with Ziebart. Also, each truck box was Rhinolined. My 1996 Chevy 3500 crewcab, dually, diesel, manual 5 speed, had 170,000 miles when I sold it with my 5th wheel camper. My 2003 Chevy 2500 extended cab, 4x4 had 208,000 miles when I sold it to my son for his wife. She has since given it to their sons to share. (I don't know the current miles)
For a short time, I had a used 2014 Chevy 2500 Crewcab 4x4, diesel. It had 49,000 miles when I decided that I did not need a diesel that need Diesel Emission Fluid. I sold it for what I had in it.
I bought new my 2018 Chevy club cab, 4x4, 5.3 v8. I installed Michelin E rated tires. I added air bags to the rear axle for load handling. It has Ziebart undercoat and Rhino lined box. Today, it got an annual underbody/frame inspection and touchup at Ziebart. I bought this truck in early January 2018. It has 35,000 miles. None of those trucks above had rusted out frames. Unless something happens, I'm hoping this will be my last truck. I'm 78.
Click to expand...


Obviously you had the time, money and desire to take care of them. I wish I'd done the same to my vehicles. The trick is to get the salts washed out of the cavities and body spaces, including inside the frame if it's a box frame. And you have to make sure the drain holes are opened too. Or, as in your case, get it done after buying a new one. It's a project if it's a vehicle that's seen a few winters.
 
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