Your gladiator after a year or two in the rust belt

[chorky]

As the title suggests. I am curious about those who live in areas where salt/sodium hydrochloride or some other sort of solution is used on roads.

How has your frame, body, components faired after a year or more of use?
Did you use any sort of treatment or is it stock?

I ack because parts of the frame paint on my truck is flaking off already - probably bad adhesion from the start. Its less than 2 weeks old (to me) and had 0 miles on the lot when I took it for it's first test drive. Whatever sort of semi-gloss paint they use these days doesn't seem to hold up - which is odd as the government Dodge trucks we use have a different type of non-gloss paint that seems to hold up very well.

I live west of the divide - so not technically in the 'rust belt'. However, they still spray the roads with their terrible horribly no good very bad crap on the roads - I absolutely hate this crap they use.

I did spray the entire outside of the frame, under body, and components with a good layer of Amsoil HD metal Protector. Have not been able to get to anything inside of the frame yet.... Hoping to before much more dirt accumulates.


So I'm just asking if folks could maybe share some pics of their frame/under body after a year or more of driving in salty conditions to help me determine if it will be worth my extra financial cost to get a little beater pickup to be my primary grocery getter/errands runner in the winter. Not really wanting a third vehicle. But if these trucks rust as bad as they did in the 90's it might be necessary to protect this investment.

Thanks

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[Gvsukids]

As the title suggests. I am curious about those who live in areas where salt/sodium hydrochloride or some other sort of solution is used on roads.

How has your frame, body, components faired after a year or more of use?
Did you use any sort of treatment or is it stock?

I ack because parts of the frame paint on my truck is flaking off already - probably bad adhesion from the start. Its less than 2 weeks old (to me) and had 0 miles on the lot when I took it for it's first test drive. Whatever sort of semi-gloss paint they use these days doesn't seem to hold up - which is odd as the government Dodge trucks we use have a different type of non-gloss paint that seems to hold up very well.

I live west of the divide - so not technically in the 'rust belt'. However, they still spray the roads with their terrible horribly no good very bad crap on the roads - I absolutely hate this crap they use.

I did spray the entire outside of the frame, under body, and components with a good layer of Amsoil HD metal Protector. Have not been able to get to anything inside of the frame yet.... Hoping to before much more dirt accumulates.


So I'm just asking if folks could maybe share some pics of their frame/under body after a year or more of driving in salty conditions to help me determine if it will be worth my extra financial cost to get a little beater pickup to be my primary grocery getter/errands runner in the winter. Not really wanting a third vehicle. But if these trucks rust as bad as they did in the 90's it might be necessary to protect this investment.

Thanks

You've got a bad situation if you are already experiencing flaking. My 2020 Gladiator in Michigan isn't having any issues, but I use a car wash in the winter.

 

[chorky]

You've got a bad situation if you are already experiencing flaking. My 2020 Gladiator in Michigan isn't having any issues, but I use a car wash in the winter.

Yeah I'm not happy about it. Nothing is rusting so far that I can see. But its kinda strange. it could be rock chips too I suppose. I should try and get a picture I suppose to put some reference into the discussion.

 

[DAVECS1]

I am at 30K and two Illinois winters. My truck is doing good. Couple spots on the axle I treat with rust converter, the rest seems good. I am having issues with my Rockslide steps. I stripped and recoated one already and it has started rusting again.

 

[chorky]

For reference - I do not have significant rust. To me however, even a spec of rust is considered rust no matter how small it is.

I can't actually tell if this is even rust, or if it's some sort of Fram adhesion treatment process. Nonetheless, you can see specs of paint is not there. Rock chips, maybe. Bad paint adhesion, more likely. Either way - I really hope its not a problem. Just curious to see what others who actually are in the rust belt deal with for such a new vehicle.

I have a significant hate toward the DOT who sprays this crap on our roads.

 

[seanmh72]

For reference - I do not have significant rust. To me however, even a spec of rust is considered rust no matter how small it is.

I can't actually tell if this is even rust, or if it's some sort of Fram adhesion treatment process. Nonetheless, you can see specs of paint is not there. Rock chips, maybe. Bad paint adhesion, more likely. Either way - I really hope its not a problem. Just curious to see what others who actually are in the rust belt deal with for such a new vehicle.

I have a significant hate toward the DOT who sprays this crap on our roads.

Much better to have ice on the roads, right?

 

[chorky]

Much better to have ice on the roads, right?

IMO - yes. I would much prefer to chains up on all 4's and take 3 hours to get to town than deal with this crap they use on the roads. It's pathetic. Not to mention the ecological harm it does but cut a tree and everybody is all up in arms for damage to fish streams.

Anyway, yes, I would prefer dealing with ice and simply driving slow than destroying a vehicle in 10 years.

 

[Mac]

2 winters in MA, they used rock salt, liquid brine and magnesium chloride on the roads. Hardly any rust on the underside except for exhaust which you can’t really do anything about. I sprayed everything with Fluid Film when I purchased it before the first winter.

 

[jac04]

Unfortunately, the welds will typically have some paint flaking because the slag wasn't removed from the welds prior to the paint process. I would clean the welds thoroughly to remove any loose paint and then coat with RustOleum brush-on satin or semi-gloss black paint.

 

[chorky]

2 winters in MA, they used rock salt, liquid brine and magnesium chloride on the roads. Hardly any rust on the underside except for exhaust which you can’t really do anything about. I sprayed everything with Fluid Film when I purchased it before the first winter.

thank you I really do appreciate the photos. ? I did order some fluid film also for next year. Summer is almost here so not much more road spraying going on.... But still wanted to lay down a layer of that HD metal protector first because it doesn't wear off nearly as easy as fluid film.

Unfortunately, the welds will typically have some paint flaking because the slag wasn't removed from the welds prior to the paint process. I would clean the welds thoroughly to remove any loose paint and then coat with RustOleum brush-on satin or semi-gloss black paint.

I was thinking the exact same thing. Because the only spots of flaking paint is on the welds. I had figured it was maybe a rushed manufacturer process since so many people want these things super fast. I mean at least its not like the process of the 90's where bodies rusted out in a couple years... But I wanted to cross-reference with folks here to just make sure I'm not an odd duck with problems before things get too crazy. Its a big investment for me so gotta make sure it lasts a good long time.

 

[Glad_he_ate]

I too would prefer just deal with poor road conditions. Salt is bad for roads, vehicles, the ecosystems around the roads, the waterways way away from the roads… if your going to put shit down that eats vehicles then they should pay to have my vehicles treated for such things. Cuz I live in ny I can’t own a vehicle that last as long as a vehicle in the south! I’ve never gotten rid of a vehicle due to mechanical issues. It’s always been cuz the body or frame was not worth fixing. If the body’s and frame are in good shape I can justify an engine or transmission replacement or even doing it two times if the rest of the vehicle is holding up… but who’s going to sink 10k into a rot box ?? I rust proof and maintain as best I can but in the end there is not much to do Sadly. However Im just finishing my first winter on my gladiator and had it undercoated and rust proofed and ceramic coated and it’s held up fine so far. In June I’ll take it back for the rust inspection and retreat what’s needed. I use z Bart.

 

[chorky]

if your going to put shit down that eats vehicles then they should pay to have my vehicles treated for such things. Cuz I live in ny I can’t own a vehicle that last as long as a vehicle in the south! I’ve never gotten rid of a vehicle due to mechanical issues. It’s always been cuz the body or frame was not worth fixing.

This sentence right here!! So to add to it - well this is off topic but in my area the fish and wildlife service is trying to stop a huge forest restoration project because they are claiming it will cause damage to a critical fish habitat. now. that's fine and all. sure I understand. But they dont say a freaking word about the highway and interstate. Apparently cutting trees and driving on roads a few hundred feet from streams causes significant and irreversible impact - but spraying mag chloride and whatever else it is directly on top of bridges that run directly into said critical fish habitat is of no concern and no big deal.

ok rant over. sorry...

Not sure what Z Bart is? I did look up a couple things folks talked about in other threads. Can't remember the names now but the closes place that does any sort of treatment or undercoat or anything really is more than 500 miles form me. So that's not gonna work. Fluid film though seems to net some pretty solid results for a DYI.

 

[IAGLADI8R]

My 20' Overland has faired well, but I get a full service car wash membership in the winter months and wash it 2-3 a week usually. $156 for 3 months of unlimited washes is well worth it to keep salt away

 

[chorky]

My 20' Overland has faired well, but I get a full service car wash membership in the winter months and wash it 2-3 a week usually. $156 for 3 months of unlimited washes is well worth it to keep salt away

I'm going to try and figure out something for next winter. I think I saw someone posted a link to a under carriage sprayer they got on amazon here a few days ago. Not sure if hooking it up to my stand pipe would work or not... but then the frame would get iced up. Not sure if that's any better.

closest car wash is 60 miles away.

 

[XJFanatic]

My 20 had spent two winters in Indiana salt prior to me picking it up. There are a few minor spots at welds that I will clean up this year. It will get sprayed with fluid film before the next winter. My JLU has been treated with that and shows no rust so it definitely helps IMHO

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