OhioLariat

My nerf bars mount through two of the oval inner RP holes via brackets, plates, and bolts, and grab the pinch welded areas in only two 6-inch sections. If you grease or undercoat where those attach (between the brackets and body), I don't see how this would add to the rust potential. Actually, mud flaps, depending on how they're mounted could probably hold more goop.
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10thGenScab

Agreed, but the caked-on mess I've been cleaning off of mine as I go shows several areas where salty grit was trapped between the mount points and pinch welds that (anecdotally, of course) seem to be where most of the rocker rot started in my case. I've been thinking about flaps because they would at least stop *some* of the crud thrown up there by the front tires. But, you are correct... the bottom line is that without regular cleaning (which I know the previous owner didn't do) there's no hope on rustbelt roads in the wintertime.