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Should I Undercoat ?


Trock85

Active Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2025
Messages
29
City
US
Vehicle Year
2024
Transmission
Automatic
HI everyone, first real question lol. Never had a Fors anything in my life

was reading about it being a good idea to undercoat this truck ? I didnt for mY RAMS or Colorado I had, but I am fine doing it if you think this should be done

2024 ford lariat

also, if so what kind ? lol I know nothing about undercoating

thanks so much
 
Depends on a lot of things, but mainly your location. If you're up in the rusty areas where lots of salt and brine are put in the roads each year, I would strongly recommend it. Of you're here in the southeast, it still wouldn't be a bad idea. But more optional. If you're in the dry southwest, I would consider it a waste of money.

As for what treatment to use? I'll let the northern guys guide you in that. I know that when I grew up in Pennsylvania, Dad always got undercoating by a company called Ziebart or something like that. I've also heard some of the salt nelt guys mention DIY coatings that are applied each fall. I think it's basically the same stuff that we call "cavity wax" here at the BMW plant where I work. It's a waxy liquid that you apply to everything on the bottom of the vehicle and even into cavities like inside the frame, between door skins, etc.

How ambitious are you? What's your budget? And where do you live and drive?
 
If you live in the rust belt, I would not recommend uncoating. When new and in perfect condition it works great, until pin holes develop. Then salt and water will intrude and rust the metal, hidden behind the undercoat. By the time you find out there is a problem, repair can be pretty extensive and expensive.

There are several brands of wool wax products out there, as Curious Hound mentioned, that work very well but it is not a "one and done" treatment. The thicker, professional grade stuff holds up better than the rattle can variety. So, touch ups are less extensive and if done by a shop the is experienced with it, they can get into places that the average person would not be able to. Of course, there is the shop rate cost in getting it done. A benefit of wool wax products, besides the fact that it is a natural by product from sheep wool processing for clothing and cloth, is that it will wick into cracks and crevices of the structure that rubberized undercoating will not.

Doing it yourself with the rattle can product will do a pretty good job of protecting things but more areas will need to touched up in the fall. Expect to need about 8 cans, possibly more, with the first application. Less the following years. You will be able to tell what needs redone and what doesn't by looking at it.

Of course there is a down side as there is with anything. If you do your own work, everything under the vehicle will be a greasy, grimy mess. So, if you don't want to deal with that, rubberized undercoating may be the thing for you.

Another consideration is how long do you keep vehicles? Until the lease is done? Trade it in after it has been or almost been paid off? Much longer? That may factor in to which treatment is right for you as well.
 
We used to do the Ziebart rubberized undercoating… until we realized what was happening. Even if you get it recoated every year like they recommend, they can still rust. And once you get rust started behind that thick almost bedliner-ish coating, it grows like wildfire and eats everything. You’re better off doing nothing than that junk. Literally.

The best stuff is the wool wax or the other waxy/oily ones out there. Not recommended to park on a concrete driveway or in your garage for a day or two after it gets coated. Best is if you can hit a dusty road right after getting it coated. Leaves everything a slimy mess, but it keeps the rust away. It will even stop rust that’s already there from continuing to rust. Down side is you should get it recoated every year, and ideally you want to find a shop that will drill into the rockers and doors and stuff to get it properly coated.
 
I hear good things about a product called Noxudol.
 
Depends on a lot of things, but mainly your location. If you're up in the rusty areas where lots of salt and brine are put in the roads each year, I would strongly recommend it. Of you're here in the southeast, it still wouldn't be a bad idea. But more optional. If you're in the dry southwest, I would consider it a waste of money.

As for what treatment to use? I'll let the northern guys guide you in that. I know that when I grew up in Pennsylvania, Dad always got undercoating by a company called Ziebart or something like that. I've also heard some of the salt nelt guys mention DIY coatings that are applied each fall. I think it's basically the same stuff that we call "cavity wax" here at the BMW plant where I work. It's a waxy liquid that you apply to everything on the bottom of the vehicle and even into cavities like inside the frame, between door skins, etc.

How ambitious are you? What's your budget? And where do you live and drive?
Hi,,thanks for the help here ! And all of you

so I’ve in western pa, we get snow nd salt all winter mostly. Budget is probably around600 mark since I budgeted that due to a ziebart advertisement for undercoating

i am hoping to keep this truck til it falls apart so at lest hoping 8-10 years or more



thanks !
 
If you live in a salt state and drive in the winter the answer is YES.

Specifically oily undercoatings. Avoid rubberized because they make the rust worse.
 
Hi,,thanks for the help here ! And all of you

so I’ve in western pa, we get snow nd salt all winter mostly. Budget is probably around600 mark since I budgeted that due to a ziebart advertisement for undercoating

i am hoping to keep this truck til it falls apart so at lest hoping 8-10 years or more



thanks !
Where about in western PA?
 
Just north of Pittsburgh about an hour or so
There is a Ziebart on Rt. 19 in Wexford. Literally walking distance from my office.
That's where I took my truck and our last several family vehicles. The liquid calcium chloride they put on the roads now is much more corrosive than the old rock salt.

You are cordially invited to the Ford Nationals in Carlisle, PA on June 6-7.
On the online registration form go to the drop-down for clubs and select The Ranger Station (we are the only Ranger club listed), we will have a club tent in the Ranger area.
I bring my tent and camp but it's an easy enough day trip from Pittsburgh if you just want to come on Saturday.
The highlight for me is the Starsky & Hutch Torino Club.
 
I'm about an hour south of the Burgh, this is where I had both of my older vehicles undercoated. Just do it.. You'll be happy later.
 

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