Any suggestions on how to protect the undercarriage of my 1994 Toyota RV while I spend time camping on the beach? Is there some cheapy method that would last a month or so? Or should I go to the local car wash and wash it frequently? Thanks!

Constantly washing off the salt is the only way to prevent corrosion.

From 30 years living on the beach: Cars and boats, keep them washed and waxed ( painted and chrome parts ) rinse as often as practical with fresh water between washes, including under the vehicle. I would not spray wd40 randomly under the vehicle. It will protect but will also catch dust / dirt which will hold moisture and make it harder to clean next time. Spray as often as practical with fresh water. If there is a particular area where rust is starting you could use wd40 or even better get some crc spray from a marine supply place. There are several kinds. One I use is similar to wd40 in thickness, the other is almost like spray grease. I spray the ob motor bracket with that where it will be sitting in salt water. CRC is more expensive than wd40, but much better corrosion resistance. Basically if I decide to spray something I spray cheaper items with wd40, expensive items with CRC. Newer cars / trucks are much better about not rusting than older ones, unless they come in direct contact with salt water which a real no no. Yours is a 1994 so you may have some places you need to spray if they are already starting to rust.

I use fluid film on the underside of my vehicles.

On the extreme side, I've seen some people get the bottom of the vehicle cleaned, then an epoxy bedliner (Line-X for example) sprayed on. If applied correctly, it will stop rust, even if salt sprays directly on it... but if there are any gaps or holes, the water would have a pocket that would allow for rust to happen out of sight.This is debatable -- a quick search shows people happy with this method, others not.

Corrosion protection when on the coast | Good Sam Community

John_Joey
Explorer
Dec 10, 2013
Also the Laguna Madre is a hyper saline body of water. It is 1 of only 6 in the world.
Veebyes
Explorer II
Dec 10, 2013
wbwood wrote:
We go to myrtle beach every year and spend several weeks there. Not always at once, but we did two weeks straight this year. We've also kept our tt stored there at three different times for several months at a time and had no signs of rust on anything. And the park is oceanfront. Thousands and thousands of people live there and have no issues and most take no extra precautions.

Big difference if prevailing winds are onshore or offshore. Wind driven waves on a rocky shore will put much more salt spray into the air than onto a beach. Also the salinity of the water. Yes, there can be huge differences.
wbwood
Explorer
Dec 10, 2013
We go to myrtle beach every year and spend several weeks there. Not always at once, but we did two weeks straight this year. We've also kept our tt stored there at three different times for several months at a time and had no signs of rust on anything. And the park is oceanfront. Thousands and thousands of people live there and have no issues and most take no extra precautions.
jauguston
Explorer
Dec 10, 2013
http://saltx.com/
spoon059
Explorer II
Dec 10, 2013
wbwood wrote:
First of all, how much time are you talking about spending at the coast?

We used to go to the North Carolina beach coast for a week every year. I would wash and wax my motorcycle and bring it with us. Our house was about 150 from the waveline. By the end of each week I had visible rust forming on the chrome. Any amount of time that close to the shore with salt water spray will lead to rust if any of that salt spray sits on a surface for any extended period of time.
John_Joey
Explorer
Dec 10, 2013
vtchris wrote:
wbwood wrote:
First of all, how much time are you talking about spending at the coast?

Not sure, maybe a week, maybe a month or two.

If you're in the Rockport area on the beach you'll see rust pretty fast. Most don't understand how salty that area is compared to the rest of the country.
vtchris
Explorer
Dec 10, 2013
wbwood wrote:
First of all, how much time are you talking about spending at the coast?

Not sure, maybe a week, maybe a month or two.
pitch
Explorer II
Dec 10, 2013
Expensive firetrucks rust because they are washed and then parked in a dead air garage. No circulation = little evaporation. Same as parking a car on grass for years,the brake lines will rust,drive that car for the same number of years, no problem.
wbwood
Explorer
Dec 09, 2013
First of all, how much time are you talking about spending at the coast?
down_home
Explorer II
Dec 09, 2013
Boeshield. CW I think sold it for a while. Boat places and aircraft places do or did.
It's basically a grease/polymer? that is nigh impossible to get off without solvent.