Staying at the beach rust

[Daphnespaz]

We retire in 11 years and plan to spend winters on the beach in Galveston. I am worried about rust and corrosion from the sea air. Anyone spend their winters at the beach? How do you prevent rust?

[TXiceman]

We do not take our trailer near the beach. I do not want to deal with the corrosion and rust. Even a few miles inland, you will get salt all over the the rig.

Ken

[fitznj]

I buy 1 gallon of Marvel Mystery Oil and mix it with 1 gallon of WD40;
I put in in a garden sprayer and spent 1 hour under my TT every year - spraying EVERYTHING.....

The WD40 wicks into inaccessible areas and pulls the MMM with it. Eventually the WD40 evaporates leaving behind the MMM. 10 years later - My Frame is totally rust free.

[SlickWillie]

I wouldn't recommend Galveston, but would Fluid Film. We've been on the lower coast (Rockport/Aransas Pass for 9 years. I tried various things on our first fifth wheel....it still rusted. We moved back on the water 11/2015, so I started looking at other products. I ran across a fellow on Mustang Island that sprays the Fluid Film. Several of us in ICW RV Park had our frames sprayed. Very pleased with the results. Plans are to spray every six months or so.

Fluid Film is available at our local Lowe's. I bought a can when I first found it through my research. I sprayed the rusty metal handle of a garden shovel my wife has. Days later, I scraped the rust off, and the film had penetrated the rust. I'm sold on it.

There are other issues to be addressed on the beach. I changed all the exterior screws on our previous fifth wheel to a high grade stainless, and have started doing so on our Rushmore. Another thing is the AC coils. The salt atmosphere will eat the aluminum fins on the condenser. I have looked at several coil protection sprays, but have not decided which one to try yet.

Hope this helps!

[Sport45]

WD-40 isn't very good at all for corrosion protection for anything exposed to the elements.

Someplace like Ziebart might be able to apply an undercoating that would help. Otherwise, I'd suggest something like Fluid Film.

[Fulltimer50]

Note that even plastic chrome will pit.

[lee_worsdell]

11 years from now Galveston may not have a beach. short life span off a trailer living that close

[Strabo]

Great thread,

As I type this we have just returned from Pismo Beach after 4 days, everything has to be cleaned and I mean EVERYTHING. And it's all rusted even tho I covered the hauler and rhino in wd40. Now begins the slow process of recovery.

I still love the beach so I'm just gonna grin And bear it.

The wind blew 20+ the first few days so everything outside is covered in sea salt and dust, then choked in sand. Inside and out.

[SoCalDesertRid1]

Grease the heck out of it, and plan on it being sacrificial. Use it until it's done, then give it away, and buy another. That's the life when you want to play in the salt.

I survived coastal CA for about 2 decades. Now I live in non-corrosion AZ! 😛

[JohnG3]

OSPHO and Zinc Chromate. Ospho is a light blue chemical that reacts to rust turning it into an inert substance. Zinc Chromate is a great primer then if you don't like the yellow of the zinc you can paint over with your finish color. Make sure you use it early and often. Quart jar and cotton swabs or Q-tips to apply the OSPHO the container will last a long time.

Live on the west coast in a commercial fishing town. You can see which fishermen take care of their equipment using those three products.

[N-Trouble]

2oldman wrote:
WD-40. Apply daily.

Agree... Buy a few big cans and get to work About your best bet. Will attract all kinds of other crud though but still better than rust IMO

[gbopp]

Spray it with PB Blaster.

[2oldman]

WD-40. Apply daily.

[dave17352]

Daphnespaz wrote:
We retire in 11 years and plan to spend winters on the beach in Galveston. I am worried about rust and corrosion from the sea air. Anyone spend their winters at the beach? How do you prevent rust?

You don't! :). I grew up on the west coast and it seemed everything that could rust did rust. I a sure though with proper washing and waxing etc, you could prevent most of it.