I am going to be moving up north soon and i need to protect my frame from rust. i currently have no significant rust at all on my 1986 4runner. I tried to do some research on my own to find a way to do this and I know that the frame needs to be protected inside and out. I'm still a little confused as to best protect both the inside and outside of the frame and am considering any way possible. i have very little mechanical/paint experience and am willing to take it somewhere if need be, unless it is really easy and i won't mess it up. Money is not a huge issue as there is no way i am going to let my toyota rot. any advice would be greatly appreciated to best protect my frame!

 

get something else to drive in the winter...seriously.

 

About the best thing you can do is get a half decent pressure washer every trip out into the winter slop give the under carriage a good washing.

Thing is it is not just the frame you need to worry about this liquid brine it also destroys the brake and fuel lines which to me are more of a pain to replace then the repairing the frame .

The other option is stay home in bad weather,

Which really might be a good idea since people seem to forget from day to day how to drive in Ice and snow.

Just how far North are you going??

 

rusteum spray paint for spots that need it. Crawl under your truck and just start spraying.

 

Fluid film, inside and out.

 

Weld all the holes in the chassis from front to back on each side, and when you get to the last one, fill the chassis completely full of transmission fluid, or eng. oil. I live in Newfoundland near salt water and they use salt to melt the ice in winter. Idiotic, I know but my 94 pickup had no patches and no weak spots.

 

I've never seen that one done but I don't doubt it works. But yea, here in NL I personally think we have it the worst by far in North America for rust. It's ridiculous.

Honestly though if you grind off your minor rust spots now and seal everything up with some good rust inhibiting paint you'll do fine if you spray off the truck once a week or more if you DD it. As mentioned though the brake lines and such are actually the first to go long before the chassis.

 

Oil undercoating.

If your moving to a place that uses salt.. wash it every time it gets warm and the roads are dry.

I hate rust so much.

 

I agree. 50/50 mix that, and automatic trany fluid. Works great.

 

Por15, Chassis Saver, Sem Rust sheild, Zero-Rust, there are so many products to do what you are looking to do. Go to your local autobody supply/paint shop they will be able to help you out, and remember spray cans suck, a product that takes a hardener will last much longer.