LariatDude

Yeah do NOT use any rubberized undercoating.

McGuillicuddy

At this point I'm wondering if it's worth doing now or if I should just hold off until spring? Here in the Toronto region winter has hit with full force so the salt and slush has already coated the bottom of the truck. Best I could do now would be to get the underside washed at a car wash and then apply the Fluid Film to a wet truck. Not sure if it goes on well in that situation or not.

It does remain parked outside so presumably little rust progression would occur over the cold winter until the temps get higher in the spring.

Notbn

In my opinion you have two options. Book an appointment at Krown now, as they won't have availability for a while, and the day of, go to a local car wash and try and spray off the undercarriage of the truck as much as possible, then have them coat it.

Option two is wait until spring and do the same procedure, but you can have a little more confidence that you aren't trapping salt anywhere.

I don't claim to be a chemist and have no idea the formulation of Krown's coating (or anything similar) but I would bet that it's still better to have the truck sprayed even with salt on it, than to leave it uncoated. I have a 2013 that's been to Krown once a year, usually after the first snow because they're always booked solid, and the truck looks basically brand new underneath, minus surface rust on components that get really blasted by water and salt.

Edit: I'm in the GTA too for what it's worth, so we're dealing with the same salt!

DonCherry4thePeople

I went and got my 2020 rust checked a week after owning. The amount of road salt and whatever else they lay down all winter long eats vehicles alive. I figured rust check is cheap insurance.

Blown F-150

If you're in the TO area, take it to a Krown place to get it done. they will clean it up and do it all for you at a pretty reasonable price. I use a combo of Krown and Fluid Film on my truck every fall. It makes a pretty big difference.

The Bull

I recently bought a 2018 f150 lariat. This truck had only 5000 miles. Now I am wondering did I pass the time to undercoat it, professionally or would it be okay to have it done. I got a quote from the Linex guy for 500. Is that a resonable price. I live in Massachusetts and salt on the road can be a problem to the frame. I had a ranger for 16 years without undercoating, and the bed rotted out as well as the shakles. BUt the frame was just fine.

Notbn

If linex uses a spray on tar coating that covers the frame and hardens, stay far away from that. The only worthwhile undercoating is a oil based coating like fluid film or Krown. Undercoating that stays wet repels moisture and won’t trap it between the coating and the frame.

Some of the most rotted frames I’ve seen have seen have been ones covered in rubberized and “painted” undercoatings.

Also it’s never too late to do an oil based undercoating, just give the truck a good rinse underneath in the spring and have it done, and then again every year before winter hits.

Anth88

I had Ford do undercoating on my Ranger. 10 years later the frame was about 90% clean of rust. It went through some very harsh winter's. I live in Michigan. My dealer used coating from a company called vesco oil. It's not that but may be rubberized. I'm not sure. But it's a thin coat. Did my 150 the same but they do not spray the inside of the frame. I'm thinking of having that done this spring with fluid film.

​​​​​​But to be honest if you keep the truck clean and wash off salt as soon as possible you will probably only exhibit surface rust/scaling. My sister and brother in law Never get a coating and their 150's don't have frame rot. Sure there is surface rust but that is all after 10 years. Frame rot usually happens with bad frame design/prep, just plain bad owner care imo or bad thick undercoating. Most owners will never keep their trucks long enough anyhow.

Anth88

Forgot to mention....try to hit every weld. That where I see rust start a lot. Usually i see it from under the paint so it's not coming from inside the frame but I will bet every truck or vehicle out there even off the lot has some surface rust on the inside frame at the welds. It would be very hard to reach all the inside welds yourself. I would just concentrate on the exterior frame for now and maybe get a good fluid film spray in the inside of frame the in the spring time. Even if there is surface rust on a frame fluid film can slow neutralize it.

Also in spray around all the drain hole openings. I see surface rust that forms perfectly around the openings.

Ryan Jaanusson

Find a Krown dealer. Closest one I know to the GTA is just east of keswick off the 404. They will pressure wash for 40$ I think. They remove tail lights and spray inside etc. I watched them do my previous truck. Very impressed. You’ll notice come spring the oil seeps up the tailgate and rockers so it works it’s way into every nook and cranny