Old Ram New Ram

travelnutz wrote:
SouthpawHD,

I've always lived in West Michigan and the same winter conditions and salted roads you have. Sold our purchased new 1993 2500 Chevy Silverado ext long box 4X4 truck in 2004 to an asparagus farmer friend and we see it several times a year. Still NO rust other than where he dented it in the door and top of the front fender where he hit it with his bucket loader while turning the loader around. A little rust just starting in a box corner the last time I'd seen it last Fall. Was 22+ years old and had 381,000 on it and he said it still has the same engine (350 V8 and auto tranny and were never rebuilt. Hauls crates of asparagus to farm markets etc and much of the stuff needed for the farm and says he'll "keep driving it till the wheels fall off". GM uses all 2 sided G-60 galvanized exterior sheet metal except for the roof. Not all pickups rust fast!

Our 2004.5 Chevy 2500 HD D/A diesel CC LB 4X4 still doesn't have a bit of rust anywhere and still looks new and is getting close to 200K in miles on the clock. Neither of these trucks where ever garaged either as our other vehicle's occupy them. Probably was a help staying outside as the rain helped keep the salt somewhat washed off and the air flow helped dry them out.

Good to know about the GM trucks! My previous 2003 Explorer was really starting to have some rust issues. It ran great otherwise. But from what I have seen, the Ford SUVs of that generation were prone to some rust and paint bubbling after several years.