What is the best way to protect your box from rust?

[sryan]

My box on my 86 4x4 ranger rusted around the fenders (im sure you have felt that pain before) and i have recently found a new box for it and i am going to take this weekend to flip it over and paint underneath it so i dont run in to this problem again. Have anyone have any pictures of this process (key area etc.) or a suggestion of what paint i sould use(I was thinking some sort of rock guard)? this will be the last time the box comes off (hopefully) so any other suggestions would be great as well.

thanks

Shawn Ryan

 

[BlackBII]

I would use something similar to this

http://www.autogeek.net/under-coating.html

 

[strvger]

i'd look at POR-15 or similar coatings. not cheap, but does a great job. it hardens on the metal and becomes part of it really. it is used regularly on parts such as frame rails, etc. normally, it would need top coating for UV protection, but on the underside of your bed, it should be fine without it. it dries very hard, so if you're planning on doing any drilling into the bed, i'd do all the holes first before putting the POR on. again, fairly expensive, but once done, you shouldn't have any more worries about rust from underneath the bed. a good Herculiner or equivalent on the inside and you should be good for years really.

 

[irishfan84n]

Use truck bed coating, or undercoating and that should take care of your problem!!!

 

[sryan]

I'm new at the painting so do i lay the undercoating on bare metal or do i use a primer first?

 

[strvger]

if you are using the POR-15 underneath the bed, everything just needs to be free from grease and oil. there are prep solutions specifically for it that can be used that will take care of that for you. for inside the bed, just follow the kit instructions. usually just need to have all the paint shine scuffed off really good, and again, all the oils and grease removed for sure. instructions that come with both these products are pretty good and you shouldn't have any problems hopefully. you can probably search those products and find their instructions online. good luck!

 

[mattpresley]

My box on my 86 4x4 ranger rusted around the fenders (im sure you have felt that pain before) and i have recently found a new box for it and i am going to take this weekend to flip it over and paint underneath it so i dont run in to this problem again. Have anyone have any pictures of this process (key area etc.) or a suggestion of what paint i sould use(I was thinking some sort of rock guard)? this will be the last time the box comes off (hopefully) so any other suggestions would be great as well.

thanks

Shawn Ryan

I would do a Spray on bedliner. Maybe even herculiner.....