1st gen Ranger rustproofing tips and tricks

[MISWFL]

Any specific areas that need extra attention? Best products for home applications? California truck will be used in Michigan during the winter a bit.

 

[Uncle Gump]

NOOOO!!!

Michigan will kill it...

 

[J_D43]

Drip rails tend to rust pretty commonly on these trucks, luckily they're hidden from sight if they begin to rust so a little sanding and a shot of primer and no one knows the difference.
Of course its hard to tell how much preventative maintenance will do on a steel body truck in the north

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Oil/wax based rustproofing is best. Get the whole underside sprayed. Down inside the doors too. Cab corners, up in the wheel arches. DIY, probably go with Fluid Film. May need to recoat every year if you’re in the rust belt in winter.

Do NOT, not ever, not in a million years, go with a rubberized or asphalt based undercoat. Unless you want rot to move at the speed of a forest fire under a 30 mph wind.

 

[MISWFL]

Drip rails tend to rust pretty commonly on these trucks, luckily they're hidden from sight if they begin to rust so a little sanding and a shot of primer and no one knows the difference.
Of course its hard to tell how much preventative maintenance will do on a steel body truck in the north

Where are those? Lower body pinch welds, like the bottom of the rockers?

 

[MISWFL]

NOOOO!!!

Michigan will kill it...

It's not a pristine truck and I'll be rust proofing the undercarriage beforehand. It won't be used all winter, probably just at the beginning of winter.

 

[RobWigglezz]

I fluid film pretty much everything. Inside the door drains, inside the fenders, inside the bed supports. Make sure you clean out the door drains and bed supports first so you don't trap a bunch of crap. I use about 3 cans to cover everything