I'm actually opening this thread because I found rust on the bed of the truck and rather then hijacking the "what did you do to your truck today" and asking questions.

That said, I'm hoping for help and advice as well help others. Right now, my bed needs attention. I don't have $1500 for a used truck nor a bed plus paint, I can buy steel or whatever to make it good and last I hope. I have a welder set too for anything I need.

This is what I need to fix so far, the rest of plan is to scrape, clean and all the undercarriage and paint or prime + paint, then put whatever on top to prevent more rust or any since I'm in Western New York.










I don't think cutting and welding in new metal, grinding, then painting will come out to be more then a few hundred bucks vs $800+ for a bed plus paint to match color.

What do you guys think?

 

So I'm thinking before making any type of bed fix, I'll take care of any rust I've got like surface rust on frame and areas. I'm actually amazed that doors, rocker panels, wheelwells, etc don't have rust like friends trucks do.

To treat the rust, I'm thinking;
-- spray on rust converter, full area
-- spray on rust preventative
-- spray on primer
-- spray on black top paint

 

To start I'll do a good pressure washing to get it all off as much as anything I don't see and wants to come off, comes off.

Than I was thinking I'll give Corralseal a try... Spray it on. Complete under carriage with frame. See how it works out before putting on a preventative solution.

 

I'll post photos on the finished product of each step I do. If it works, great, if not, worth a try.

I'll also post pics in this thread a year after, after winter and salt. Give myself and everyone some idea. Maybe it's been done like this before, but its just for my records if anyone will post objecting.

 

Keep us posted on your progress.

 

That's a waste of time and money...not kidding. Yea don't fall for that, too many have. I almost did lol.

There's only two ways to handle rust, get rid of it completely. That's blast or replace. Best way to fix that, find something solid around the area. Cut it out, then use one of those cheap little spot blasters that will dig the rust and corrosion from the pitted metal. Weld in the new metal, grind the weld, hit one more time with that little balster, then clean the area and hit it as fast as you can w/epoxy primer. That repair will outlive you and it's easier and cheaper doing it the correct way.

 

I appreciate that little info, however that's not the only area I want to protect, get rid of surface rust, etc.. I was hoping to do the entire bottom of my truck so that it last little longer then five years, specially being in the rust world here in NY.

I get what your saying, don't get me wrong. Right now I'm looking at something I can do in the driveway with OK results. I think it'd worth a try. Worst case, whatever rust there is or rust I can't see will just continue.

If I had the friends, garage, experience, money, etc... I'd take everything apart like cab, bed off the frame, flip blast, replace, fix ... Clean and paint, put it back together. That's just it, not worth the effort either. Who knows I might walk in 3 years and grab something newer or cleaner if I get sick of something falling apart because of rust.

After all, just looking to have a clean looking truck and I did my best to keep it or slow down the progression of rust.

 

Not exactly sure what your saying, - but okay.

Your welcome for that little info....that I understood

 

I was just saying that rather then blasting rust off, which I'm not specialized in at all nor setup for it to do under body also; I thought that the best I can do is spray one, two, three solutions in, cover it up with paint from all other stuff too. It's not just the bed I'm hoping to rust proof. If none of this stuff in gallons works, well, at least I tried and maybe slowed the process down.

The second part, well, if I had a full shop at my disposal and better experience then a diy; I'd take the bed and cab off, flip it, blast it down, coat, paint, done.. same with frame.

However, I don't so I do what I can possibly do in my driveway or garage.

Make better sense? hey ... last night those couple beers got to me it seems, sorry for the confusion.

 

Specialist ? Who is ? I guess I'm not getting you, I posted the easiest and cheapest way. I guess your looking for a different answer ? Was attempting to save you some cash with my first post. Yea, not sure what you mean lol.