Holy smokes, folks. For the first time my 2005, 2500 Dodge Ram Laramie will be stuck in the cold Canadian winter, this winter. It was never rust proofed as it spent it's winters in the southern US over it's entire life span.I figure, with the proper anti-rust treatment - the body may survive a few more years and I hope someone can tell me exactly what they recommend.As I have zero experience in anti-rust options, please let me know what - if any, treatment is best. :hp.s. Local garage owner says - due to it's age - all treatments are a waist of money.

boston blacky wrote:p.s. Local garage owner says - due to it's age - all treatments are a waist of money.This

A couple cans of this stuff sprayed as a DIY. It works great and lasts a year or more.

boston blacky wrote:p.s. Local garage owner says - due to it's age - all treatments are a waist of money.This is the right answer.You will have trouble getting anything to stick properly......and what DOES stick will just seal the contaminants firmly against the frame.

ib516 wrote:A couple cans of this stuff sprayed as a DIY. It works great and lasts a year or more.X2. This is what i use. It is made from lambs wool oil. Not toxic and is safe for plastic and rubber. Needs to be applied yearly, but after the first application it is more like a touch up. I buy it in a gallon and use an air compressor with undercoating gun to apply. The gallon coated a minivan and two full size suvs.

I have had my new vehicles Ziebarted and never had rust problems with them. My Ziebarted, big Buick sedan is going on 10 years old, now. I'm in the very cold, harsh winter climate of the prairies.I've never Ziebarted a used vehicle. But if it has no rust, I would give it a shot.

What rust proofing is best for 11 yr. old Dodge Ram 2500

25 Replies

B_O__Plenty
Explorer II
Jun 16, 2016
Thunderbolt wrote:
I would never rust proof any vehicle and I live in Minnesota. The only vehicle I ever rust proofed was rusted out faster than any other vehicle. The key is to wash in regularly.
Same here. Regular washing works as good as anything.

B.O.
Perrysburg_Dodg
Explorer
Jun 16, 2016
kevden wrote:
ib516 wrote:
A couple cans of this stuff sprayed as a DIY. It works great and lasts a year or more.

X2. This is what i use. It is made from lambs wool oil. Not toxic and is safe for plastic and rubber. Needs to be applied yearly, but after the first application it is more like a touch up. I buy it in a gallon and use an air compressor with undercoating gun to apply. The gallon coated a minivan and two full size suvs.

Zbart actually has this product or something like it that they can spray areas you will never be able to reach. Beware though it stinks to high heaven for about a week after. I left my truck outside after they applied it to my 04.

Don
Chuck_thehammer
Explorer
Jun 15, 2016
if the Rust HAS STARTED... way to Late..

my 2004 Ram 1500.. was rusting badly in 2007.. and Dodge would not cover it under its 7/70 warranty...

and YES I purchased it NEW in June 2004.
Fisherman
Explorer
Jun 13, 2016
CaLBaR wrote:
Go to Canadian Tire and have them spray Corrosion Free Rust Proofing. Three options to choose from so you can do the whole truck or just the underbody.

Here is the website.

http://www.corrosionfree.com/

Corrosion Free was actually tested along with a few other brand name products by the US and Cdn Military. Corrosion Free came out on top by a long way.
bguy
Explorer
Jun 13, 2016
Everything on the Hibernia Platform was treated with Fluid Film. You can't get much more extreme conditions than that.

http://www.hibernia.ca/
Community Alumni
Jun 13, 2016
That Fluid Film is some good stuff. Last year I did my whole trailer undercarriage with it and spent a month pulling it around Canada in the winter. 8 months later, it's still there and no rust. It's pretty clear that it worked as evident by the areas that were mistakenly untreated. You can either spray it with cans or brush / roll it on with one of the paint cans. Also you can also find a shop that will spray it for you.
ib516
Explorer II
Jun 13, 2016
srt20 wrote:
The main rust problem with 3rd gen dodge trucks is rust forming around the wheel wells of the box.

The outer box panel and the inner fender well come together here and hold road debris, i.e. Road salt.
Do something there, whether it's rust proofing, cutting that seam out, or whatever. You would be very hard pressed to find a 3rd gen dodge here in WI that doesn't have rust around the box wheel wells.

Some trucks have plastic fender liners so you might have to remove that to access the area.

Much easier to pop a tail light out and spray from there forward.
garyp4951
Explorer III
Jun 13, 2016
WD40
srt20
Explorer
Jun 12, 2016
Grit dog wrote:
There are products you can get inside the frame etc and all kinds of crazy stuff, but never heard of a frame rusting out on anything in the last 25 years even in the rust belt.

Agree with getting all the debris cleaned and washed out of fender wells, rocker panels, door seams etc. as primary care.

Toyotas frames rust through. My FIL forerunner wouldn't pass inspection because of this. It was an 04 MY and it failed inspection in 2014. He repaired it an traded it in.
Toyota trucks frames rust through as well.
Thunderbolt
Explorer
Jun 11, 2016
That is what I do and my 03 with 160,000 miles on it is rust free and seen every Minnesota winter since new. My 98 has rusted rocker panels, bottom of doors and tailgate. All fenders , quarter panels and cab corners are rust free and it has almost 372,000 miles

spoon059 wrote:
Thunderbolt wrote:
I would never rust proof any vehicle and I live in Minnesota. The only vehicle I ever rust proofed was rusted out faster than any other vehicle. The key is to wash in regularly.

I agree. Rust proofing will not get every nook and cranny under your truck. The price is absurdly high.

The best solution is to wash the car and rinse off the salt that is accumulating on the underside.