Beware of rotting frames on 2011 to 2021 Chevy Silverados

[21incher]

I bought a new 2018 1500 Silverado about  3 years ago and a couple  months  ago noticed black flakes of undercoating on the garage floor. At first  I thought  it was Ziebart related but turned out they don't  touch  the wax frame coating.  At 2 1/2 years and 6500 miles the frame was badly rusted and coating falling off. My 13 year old F350 this replaced had less rust then this. Chevy has a TSB about  this issue and seing  how it was under 3 years old agreed  to repair it. Seems they removed a washing process before the wax dip. It took over 2 months  for my dealer  to get the chemicals and coatings required  for the repair and it went in Monday morning.  Well they are still working on it. It is so bad the bed and mount desert package had to be removed and they are still not sure about the cab. Never expected  this with  a 65k truck but it appears to happen often. So if you have a fairly new Silverado be sure to inspect the frame before  the 3 year warranty runs out. The wax coating will flake right off and serious rust can be hidden behind it. If you are buying  used in this year range also take a good look at the frame. Just want to warn others still in the warranty period. They won't  fix older ones so just check they don't have the problem before buying one. Should have stuck with Ford.

[VB-Milling]

Ouch, that's terrible.  At least they are fixing it under warranty in your case.

[Tom King]

My '01 3500 frame is still almost as good as new, but that truck gets parked in a shed, and doesn't go on the road if they are going to put salt, or brine down.  It does have 357,00 miles on it.  I'm having a harder time feeling like getting a new one the more I hear about newer ones.

It not only doesn't take DEF, it doesn't have a catalytic converter, or even an EGR system.  It was the last year before all that stuff started piling up.

[SwampDonkey]

I have 12 year warranty on the frame of my 2014 Tacoma. 8) They did an inspection on it this year and did a fresh undercoating, no charge. It's not drove much in winter. Most miles is warm weather and salt free.

[21incher]

This one spent it's whole life in my garage and only went out on a handful of snowy days. Up here it's an ag district so they only can use sand so it doesn't  seem to be caused by that. The rust is actually  sealed under the wax coating on much of the frame so it must be caused by something used for manufacturing sealed in by the wax. From the pictures  I have seen  either you have this issue on the whole frame or you don't.  I lost the lottery.  
Just got a call they sold the loaner car I am using and they are sending  out another Silverado to replace  it tomorrow. The local dealers have no stock.

[HemlockKing]

I have 12 year warranty on the frame of my 2014 Tacoma. 8) They did an inspection on it this year and did a fresh undercoating, no charge. It's not drove much in winter. Most miles is warm weather and salt free.

Same here, and they sprayed the inside of my frame as well. I guess the newer ones are also having rust issues.

[Southside]

Toyota either bought back or installed a lot of frames on pickups a few years ago. You would think the other mfg's would learn from events like this.

No plans to ever sell my '06 LBZ. 

[Ed]

The Chevy frame rot goes all the way back to 88, first year after the "square body" trucks.
Gen 2 Dodge Dakota's have the same issues.

A friend just parted out a beat 99 Chevy half ton ext cab. The frame broke on the hoist, when he set it down, the top of the box was pushing against the cab.
Newest I've seen break is an 02, 2wd regular cab. Low mile truck that lived outside its whole life.

Ed

[SwampDonkey]

Up here it's an ag district so they only can use sand so it doesn't  seem to be caused by that.

They have to put salt mixed in the sand or you would get sand boulders. :D  All country (rural) roads here are sanded, but it's mixed with salt.

Owned an '87 GMC S15, after 10 years it was totally rotted out and not high miles. Well under 200,000 miles (not km). The bed on the back was ready to fall off. The square tube frame under it was shot. :D

I see a lot of real old vehicles people are videoing and using, but they are also very low miles and bought used. Old Bernstein's M37 is well  below 100,00 and got it used when it had only 5,000 miles.

Mom's uncle would buy a new vehicle and it would hardly leave the garage. ;D

[jb616]

Spraying off the underside a few times in the winter and especially the spring goes a long ways. Trying to keep dirt from accumulating in the frame. I have a '91 GMC that is just fine yet. Lately I've watched some interesting stuff on Youtube. These guys spray off the underside, let it dry, and spray on Fluid Film or a new product from PB Blaster called Surface Shield. You need to reapply every year or two but they had a 4 year old vehicle in the rust belt with no rust on the underside. Fluid Film is available in aerosol or 1gallon and 5 gallon buckets. Surface Shield will be coming out with the bulk product soon but currently has aerosol only. These also work well if you spray it into your doors, rockers, and insides of wheel wells as they have a penetrating feature as well. They both have tested far better than plain old drain oil which is what I used for years on my '91. Most often the traditional undercoats like "Z" are detrimental and actually hold moisture in and rot the frame quicker. Aerosol undercoating is no good either as it doesn't last. 

[21incher]

SwampDonkey I was told all they use is coarse sand and no problems  using it. We have thousands of acres of muck land for crops that anything else would contaminate them. The sand can really  make a dry road slippery so it may not be the best solution.  
It's  hard to stop rust like  this coming from behind the wax coating. Nothing  would penetrate  it . The only  way to stop it is strip the wax off the frame to expose  it all then chemically  treat it and apply a new coating. I wonder  if its really  caused by bad batches of Chinese steel contaminated with something  corrosive because  not all vehicles see it.

[Resonator]

Many municipalities use a blend of salt and sand when temps are around zero. Salt will melt into the ice, and the sand will refreeze on the ice overnight and leave a grit for traction. One of the worst things (for rusting vehicles) is the brine or beet juice they apply as it splashes into every nook and cranny.
As far as steel goes, the mills will test the steel as it is being made for quality. Each batch will have a test certificate showing grade, dimensions, chemical property, hardness, etc. So if GM was using material that met manufacturing specs, I doubt the steel itself would be contaminated.

[SwampDonkey]

SwampDonkey I was told all they use is coarse sand and no problems  using it. We have thousands of acres of muck land for crops that anything else would contaminate them.

Never seen anyone fuss about salt off roads contaminating their fields. That's a new one. ;)  Here it is just plain old top soil where maple forests grew. We have farm fields of most any size you can come up with. Could be 5 acres or 500+ acres without a bush standing.

Hmm, You've got to keep the sand from making hard masses so it can be spread. Wet sand will freeze up.

[barbender]

Although I haven't heard of it being an issue for agricultural fields, salinification dur to toad salt is becoming an issue in some areas if MN, mostly lakes around our Metro areas. I hate road salt.

[jimbarry]

I got a 2011 Silverado 2500HD ext cab. I took pictures when I bought it shiny new on Halloween Day 2010. I will get some camera angles and take comparable pictures tomorrow. I drive it year round here. Its got 146,000km on it to date. Mostly hwy travel. Road crews use brine the last 5-6 years. Sure it's rusty underneath. And every other year hose out from around the rear end and under the cab. I use to undercoat it every year, haven't done it in a couple years.  Surface rust is just starting to show around wheel wells. The doors are my worry. I am starting to see little bubbles show up. Scratch them off and there's rust underneath. A paint car guy told be Chev's are famous for their door skins falling away due to rust. Not looking forward to that. Been wanting this summer to get a soda blaster kit and do some touch ups with a paint match rattle can. Time never seems to be on my side. Last quote I got pre-covid from a local collision place they wanted $3500.00.  

[Bradm]

Calcium chloride will eat up frames and body panels faster than salt.  Had the wheel wells on my last truck go from chipped paint and mild rust to no steel left in less than 2 weeks after going down a recently sprayed back road.

[Ron Wenrich]

They replaced my 2005 Tacoma frame 2 yrs ago.  It wouldn't pass inspection.  Cost was free.  It took a month, but at that price, I wasn't complaining.

[Ed_K]

 When I was working for the highway dept here in town I talked the boss into trying 3/8 stone like they use to recoat tar roads. It's still being used on the dirt roads in town and a few other town are using it also.
 I had to buy a new to me 2010 dodge 1500 because the 05 gmc wouldn't pass inspection in 2020. In 2015 the frame was in great condition but needed a new fuel pump replaced along with $3500. in new rocker panels, cab corners and body work on the bed. While the bed was off I had the body shop spray the whole under side with fluid film. In 3 yrs the film was peeling off with chunks of metal frame coming off with it.
 The 2010 dodge came from Oklahoma and the frame still looks new so I'm going to keep it sprayed with hydro oil every fall. A lot of old car we've had over the yrs were sprayed with used motor oil and the frames lasted longer than the running gear.

[21incher]

When I was working for the highway dept here in town I talked the boss into trying 3/8 stone like they use to recoat tar roads. It's still being used on the dirt roads in town and a few other town are using it also.
I had to buy a new to me 2010 dodge 1500 because the 05 gmc wouldn't pass inspection in 2020. In 2015 the frame was in great condition but needed a new fuel pump replaced along with $3500. in new rocker panels, cab corners and body work on the bed. While the bed was off I had the body shop spray the whole under side with fluid film. In 3 yrs the film was peeling off with chunks of metal frame coming off with it.
The 2010 dodge came from Oklahoma and the frame still looks new so I'm going to keep it sprayed with hydro oil every fall. A lot of old car we've had over the yrs were sprayed with used motor oil and the frames lasted longer than the running gear.

That sounds like what they use here and call coarse sand. It looks to be between 1/8 and 3/8 diameter. Boy it is like driving on marbles when the snow melts.

Just for reference this is what my truck looks like





They sold the first loaner and had a salesman drive out to pick it up and replaced the loaner with a brand new Silverado that looks similar to mine but it definitely does not ride or drive like mine. They seem to have removed weight and its a bouncy ride compared to the smooth ride on the older one I have. The 5.3 in this just doesn't sound good compared to my 6.2, It really seems to be working hard compared to the 6.2 just loafing along. I definitely would not buy a 2021. They can't keep cars on the lot and are using new vehicles for loaners.


 
  
They have over a week of labor in mine already, chemicals, body shop charges to remove the bed , and a week of loaners with no end date yet. I am getting nervous now if the cab must come off next. This is costing Chevy a bunch and hopefully its put back together right. Dealer said they have never seen one so bad and hope they don't see more like it.

[snowstorm]

Since I am one of the guys that puts the salt on the roads this is what I do to keep rust at bay. If the paint on the frame is bad recount whith sw dura plate. It seems to bettter than most. On the fords pull the plastic behind the seat and spray with fluid flim. That will coat the inside of the cab corners. Same with the cover at the door sill and the door drains. Then I use used hydraulic oil inside the fenders frame everywhere. Do it in the fall and again in the spring. If calcium is used on your roads do all of the above and do not was the truck till snow season is over. Any moisture will reactivate the calcium same with parking it in a warm garage . Here some use salt brine to preset salt or salt sand. I do not but do have one truck set up for it. Salt dose not do anything till it gets wet. It needs traffic or sun. Prewetting helps make a brine quicker. Sand salt if any amount of traffic at 40 mph will be gone in a half hr. Even if put down the center. It moves out. Every yr I ask the town for more salt. I know everyone says it rusts there cars but has also saved a lot of lives. It's always quicker to melt the ice from the bottom up than the top down. That's why I pre sand when it first starts snowing.

[beav]

Road salt also teaches drivers it's ok to go 70mph when it's raining and 29° outside.

[Southside]

There is nothing wrong with going 70 in the rain at 29 degrees. Stopping or turning on the other hand...  ;D

[snowstorm]

with enough salt and traffic it will stay lucid. down into the 20,s 

[moodnacreek]

Once the rust starts you have to spray on some kind of oil at least once a year to slow down the rust. I have been doing this and more on a '71 and a '91 f 350's for years and they are both sound.

[farmfromkansas]

The frame on my 04 Chevy 2500 is rusty, has no coating at all.  Seems driving it down a gravel road keeps the rust worn off.  Knew about the older Tacomas having rust problems on their frames, so bought a newer one, 14 as well as all the others on the forum.  Have not noticed any frame rust yet.

[SawyerTed]

There is nothing wrong with going 70 in the rain at 29 degrees. Stopping or turning on the other hand...  ;D

Sometimes you get to go 70 in the rain at 29 degrees, turning and turning and finally abruptly stopping whether you want to or not! ;D  Freezing rain is the worst here.  We get more freezing rain than snow most winters.

[moodnacreek]

Road salt also teaches drivers it's ok to go 70mph when it's raining and 29° outside.

Wrong.  That's 80 mph here.

There is nothing wrong with going 70 in the rain at 29 degrees. Stopping or turning on the other hand...  ;D

Sometimes you get to go 70 in the rain at 29 degrees, turning and turning and finally abruptly stopping whether you want to or not! ;D  Freezing rain is the worst here.  We get more freezing rain than snow most winters.

Wrong. That's 80 mph around here.

[21incher]

Well 2 weeks later  it's still sitting  at the dealer.  Sounds  like they have a employee shortage  and keep pulling the guy off it to do other big jobs. They  had no one trained  to do the TSB and it's  the worst rusting they have ever  seen on a new truck frame. I still have the brand new Silverado  loaner and don't  know why anyone would  buy one with  the 5.3 and auto stop. The 5.3 is a dog compared to my 6.2 and a gas guzzler.  They also put a pin through the hitch so I can't use my trailer with the loaner. Hopefully next week I will hear more.

[snowstorm]

i know someone that bought a 20 last year with the 5.3 he is claiming 20 tp 24 mpg seems a bit high

[21incher]

I found the sticker they scraped off in the dash and it says 16 / 23. My 6.2  is between 19.1 and 19.6 local driving per tank calculated out. It drops to about  18.5 towing my 8k dump trailer. Hits about 23 to 24 Highway.  There is a big difference between them.  My 6.2 going  along at 55 mph is usually just running  on 4 cylinders.  If you step on it a little  to pass someone It switches to 8 cylinder  and smoothly takes off with no drama . This 5.3 if I step on it a little at 55 it kicks down 2 gears and screams like a sewing machine motor. I never  realized  there would  be a noticeable difference between the 2 because I only test drove the 6.2. I can't  imagine what those little  4 cylinders they are putting in them now sound like. 

[Tacotodd]

Screaming for their life.

[barbender]

Wow, that is incredible fuel mileage!👍🏻👍🏻

[HemlockKing]

I had the 5.3 and noticed the same, falling on its face then screaming like crazy 2 gears down. I imagine is even worse with the 4.8

[Hilltop366]

I used a 2014 (I think) truck with the 6.2 in it to tow my tractor home from the camp, I was rather impressed with the power and milage. I had towed the tractor to the camp with a 1995 dodge with a 5.2, talk about a difference! twice the power and used less than ½ the gas.

[Hilltop366]

On the other hand I was throwing some wood in the back of the Dodge and a block slipped out of my hand and hit the rear fender hard .... never left a mark, if that had been the newer GM it would have stove the side in at least a couple inches.

[snowstorm]

We were out west last spring and rented a new youkon the most I saw was 17 mpg for the week. What is up with the transmission in those things? Coming down the mountains of co. It would drop 4 or5 gears at once with a Big Bang 

[21incher]

On the other hand I was throwing some wood in the back of the Dodge and a block slipped out of my hand and hit the rear fender hard .... never left a mark, if that had been the newer GM it would have stove the side in at least a couple inches.

That's why  I bought the dump trailer 

We were out west last spring and rented a new youkon the most I saw was 17 mpg for the week. What is up with the transmission in those things? Coming down the mountains of co. It would drop 4 or5 gears at once with a Big Bang

That's what this one does. Drops a couple gears at a time but I think it's  because it's still in the learning mode.
Mine always shifts extremely smooth and you don't notice them during normal driving. Put it to the floor or in the trailer mode the shifts stiffen up but don't skip any up or down. I have the 8 speed but I think they changed to a new 10 speed last year. When they change transmissions there always tsb's to improve them That one probably was not treated nice during learning  period being a rental or could need an update. 
Those numbers I gave are for 2wd mode and drop slightly when I  go out in the winter using 4wd auto but we usually wait for the snow to melt and I haven't run a full tank in 4wd to do the calculation.
I test drove one of the new RAMs and that felt like something ran into the back of it everytime I stopped. It would  ban down 3 gears after  stopping shaking the truck.  I quickly took RAM off my list because of the tranny.

[Ianab]

What is up with the transmission in those things? Coming down the mountains of co. It would drop 4 or5 gears at once with a Big Bang

If it's downhill it will be for engine braking. Dropping one gear in an 8+ speed isn't going to do anything to hold you back as the ratios are so close together. 

With an old 4 speed you might drop one gear and get the same effect as 3 gears on an 8 speed. Doesn't mean the have the shifting program perfect of course, but downshifting one gear would be pointless. 

[Peter Drouin]

I like my 06 6.0 5 speed standard 2500 4x4 oiled every year, goes like a hot rod. Just turned 100,000 miles.
I hope you do well with your truck in the end.

[21incher]

Thanks  Peter still no word on when it will be done.

What is up with the transmission in those things? Coming down the mountains of co. It would drop 4 or5 gears at once with a Big Bang

If it's downhill it will be for engine braking. Dropping one gear in an 8+ speed isn't going to do anything to hold you back as the ratios are so close together.

With an old 4 speed you might drop one gear and get the same effect as 3 gears on an 8 speed. Doesn't mean the have the shifting program perfect of course, but downshifting one gear would be pointless.

I guess you haven't driven one of these 6.2s. I have a button to drop one gear at a time when going down a hill loaded and each gear does make a big difference at holding the truck back. Cruise control could probably overreact and drop a couple gears if you are using that.  The biggest cause of low gas mileage on them is usually under inflated tires and that's why there is a reading of the pressure  in each tire on the display.
I just read the 2022s will have the ability  to run on from 2 to 8 cylinders pushing the mpg of these engines even higher. It's my favorite engine of any trucks I have ever owned and gets over 3 times the gas mileage of the 460 I had with  much less hp and torque than this.  

[snowstorm]

I run 6.7 fordsso I don't have trans problems. The gm shifting thing is well known. I just don't like gas engines. None will get the fuel mileage or pull with a diesel. The only one that comes remotely close is the 7.3 gas

[Jeff]

https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=104711.msg1678996#msg1678996

[21incher]

I remember that one Jeff. That's what I am hoping to avoid because we love the truck and it was supposed to be our last. They use a neutralizing chemical that's supposed to eliminate the rust for good but I have my doubts and there is no corrosion warranty after 36 months.

[21incher]

Another week gone by and still sitting at the dealer.  The tech starting on it had symptoms of Covid so he got sent home  for 10 days.  Then right after that another tech got the same symptoms and was also sent home. First one had covid and the second has the flue but still both have 10 days off. I don't  think businesses with vaccinated employees can trust the vaccine to work at this point.  Anyway they just can't find qualified help so I am on hold along with those scheduled behind me. Still  have the new Silverado so it's not so new anymore.  Checked mileage  last fillup and it's  19.8 combined local and a couple  longer trips. Can't  complain they are being  totally honest with  me and I bet they have buyers lined up for the loaner.

[21incher]

I figured that I would do a final update to this. The dealer had it for 3 months and kept promising to have it done in 2 weeks. At the end of 3 months I got a call that it was to bad for them to fix and there were no GM dealers in the area that would touch it. They were sending it to Ziebart to remove the bed , strip the frame then neutralize the rust, and coat the frame. Was told it would take a couple more days. Well the next day they dropped it off in my driveway and picked up the loaner with zero contact or paperwork. There was Ziebart dripping off everything and they just sprayed over the peeling undercoat and rust under it. I made a video for GM
- YouTube
It's private but this link should work
To see how the TSB was handled and GM said it was past the 36 month warranty period and they didn't care that it was started before the warranty ended and all Chevy truck frames rust like that in a little over 2 1/2 years. GM really sucks and no longer applies this TSB even though it's still a problem on the 21 models. Apparently they had the dealer park it out back till the warranty expired because it would have cost to much to fix it. I made the video above for the dealer and told them to spread it wide. Turns out the owner of this dealership and 4 more was never told about this problem ( even though I asked the service manager to notify her ). I got a call with a offer to buy back the truck for what I paid for it but seeing how it was over 3 years old they couldn't refund the sales tax.
My wife's car needed replacing and the owner also has Subaru dealerships so we came up with a deal for a new Subaru Forester for my wife to get most of the tax back with a discount and a big check. Well only took 8 weeks to have a new Subaru my wife wanted built and shipped to the US. Today we picked it up and traded in the rust bucket. She loves it


 

 

 

Now I am still looking for a new truck which is another story. I had a deposit on anew Tundra but started seeing so many problems with the new generation online that I got that back. Would have been full MSRP and a 9 month wait with the people in line in front of me plus 68 k for a truck and you may not get the color or options you ordered. They just make what they have parts for and you have the choice to refuse it after waiting 9 months. Looking at going back to a Ford now but it could take a year to get what I really want. I want a V8 and they are becoming dinosaurs. looked at Ridgelines and can get one so may pick one up to hold me over. It's a terrible time to to buy new trucks even with gas prices rising.

[TroyC]

i know someone that bought a 20 last year with the 5.3 he is claiming 20 tp 24 mpg seems a bit high

I have an 04 Silverado 1500 5.3. I can get 21 actual mpg driving 60. Pulling a 3,000 lb trailer it drops to 17, pulling 7,000 lbs it drops to 12-13. Its got the 3.43 rear I think so its not a banshee offf the line towing.

Also have an 02 Silverado 4x4 5.3L. 17.5 is the best it will do.

[TroyC]

They use a neutralizing chemical that's supposed to eliminate the rust for good but I have my doubts and there is no corrosion warranty after 36 months.

I wonder if they gonna spray it with Ospho?

[chet]

Toyota brought my 2011 Tacoma in for that frame inspection this fall.  Even though they found no rust issue (I seen the inspection video) they still cleaned, wax filled, and plugged all the boxed frame areas, no charge to me. 

[21incher]

Toyota brought my 2011 Tacoma in for that frame inspection this fall.  Even though they found no rust issue (I seen the inspection video) they still cleaned, wax filled, and plugged all the boxed frame areas, no charge to me.  

That's the difference  between  Toyota and GM. Toyota stepped up and has taken care of customers with  problems they had with a vendor part. GM is trying to hide this and refusing to apply TSBs for a known problem they caused cost cutting back in 2011 and it still exists today. I made a big mistake switching from Ford to GM  trucks and should have done  more homework because it's a common problem  for GM vehicles. They used to fix them but now just blow off the customers saying their frames are made to self destruct in a couple years so just plan on replacing their trucks often. The 6.2 in it was getting a start up ticking at 6k miles so I am guessing it was starting the lifter problem also.

[kantuckid]

The Chevy frame rot goes all the way back to 88, first year after the "square body" trucks.
Gen 2 Dodge Dakota's have the same issues.

A friend just parted out a beat 99 Chevy half ton ext cab. The frame broke on the hoist, when he set it down, the top of the box was pushing against the cab.
Newest I've seen break is an 02, 2wd regular cab. Low mile truck that lived outside its whole life.

Ed

Frame/cab supports being rusted out goes far back, well beyond the 1980's! Very true for GM trucks and made a few old trucks a tough fix as they became unsafe to use or restore. Restoration parts do exist for them but not a panacea. Extends to other brands  too.
 Very large subject here really. I've done enough use and repair to know it kills some old trucks.  

[moodnacreek]

Mufflers and frames are the same, the more you drive them, the longer they last. Don't park on the grass, the rising moisture activates the salt you picked up in winter or late spring. Rust likes heat. If you drive on salted roads don't ever park in a heated garage, leave it in the cold. Heavy spring rains need to be driven in to wash the bottom of sand, salt and mud, then park on pavement or gravel. Low milage and garage kept have little to do with the underneath of a vehicle.

[Ron Wenrich]

I have 12 year warranty on the frame of my 2014 Tacoma. 8) They did an inspection on it this year and did a fresh undercoating, no charge. It's not drove much in winter. Most miles is warm weather and salt free.

My '05 Tacoma failed inspection 2 years ago due to frame rust.  Toyota replaced the frame at no charge.  It took a month, but was worth the price (free).

[21incher]

Mufflers and frames are the same, the more you drive them, the longer they last. Don't park on the grass, the rising moisture activates the salt you picked up in winter or late spring. Rust likes heat. If you drive on salted roads don't ever park in a heated garage, leave it in the cold. Heavy spring rains need to be driven in to wash the bottom of sand, salt and mud, then park on pavement or gravel. Low milage and garage kept have little to do with the underneath of a vehicle.

If that was true all 7 of my previous Fords would have had issues like this. Last 05 F350 this replaced was still in good condition at 13 years of the exact same mileage per year and conditions. Had less rust then this had at a little  over 2 years. My wife's 2010 Focus is still good. Chevys rot from behind the  frame coating pushing it off, Fords don't. The last 7 new Fords I bought prove that to me.

[moodnacreek]

It is very true. I did auto body work for 33 years and have seen and worked on rusted cars. The people who commute to the city have the highest milage and the least rust on their cars.

[moodnacreek]

Mufflers and frames are the same, the more you drive them, the longer they last. Don't park on the grass, the rising moisture activates the salt you picked up in winter or late spring. Rust likes heat. If you drive on salted roads don't ever park in a heated garage, leave it in the cold. Heavy spring rains need to be driven in to wash the bottom of sand, salt and mud, then park on pavement or gravel. Low milage and garage kept have little to do with the underneath of a vehicle.

If that was true all 7 of my previous Fords would have had issues like this. Last 05 F350 this replaced was still in good condition at 13 years of the exact same mileage per year and conditions. Had less rust then this had at a little  over 2 years. My wife's 2010 Focus is still good. Chevys rot from behind the  frame coating pushing it off, Fords don't. The last 7 new Fords I bought prove that to me.

I was not referring to your Chevy at all, just making a statement that in general is true. Some how your truck got an early start with rust that is trapped, like powder coat does to rust.

[snowstorm]

i deal with more rust than most with plow sand trucks. my 04 f550 finally need a patch on the frame where the salt sand comes off the bed chain. this truck has sanded roads since it was new. every fall and spring i spray the frame and under cab and body with hydraulic oil. fulid flim works but cost more. and do not wash it till winter is over. i pull the floor mat up coat that the door drains the plastic cover where you open the door pull that and coat it. pull the plastic behind the seat and spray the inside of the cab corners. if you are in snow country and do nothing to preserve it rust will get it. if calcium is used on the roads the car wash will not get it all and the water reactivates it same as parking it in a warm garage. when winter is over drive it in every rain storm there is and drive through every bit of standing water you can find 

[rusticretreater]

My 2004 Chrysler 300M has 240K on it and still has the original exhaust.  My 2000 Dakota Pickup which has 150K sat more over the years and I have replaced the tail pipe twice and the muffler once.

The real problem with the Dakotas is the brake lines rust out bad(accident one time) and the frame rusts away at the bed joint.  Dodge made a two piece frame so they could put different cab/bed configurations on the truck and they bolted on different frame components in the rear.  The State Inspector told me not to bring it in again without fixing the frame, so I have to take the bed off, remove the gas tank and weld it up.

[21incher]

Well the new truck finally showed up at the dealers Thursday and it's home today. Had to wait for the trailer brake controller to be installed. What a joy to drive and has a 7500 pound tow rating. I will soon find out how well a tiny 4 cylinder tows. I can't believe how cheap the insurance is on this compared to the 1500. Exactly 6 months from the day it was ordered with 8-1 week delays waiting for a truck to deliver it.


 

[Jeff]

I know I've watched a LOT of your videos now. I just read that, and I could actually hear you narrating it in my head!  8) :D

[Bruno of NH]

Well the new truck finally showed up at the dealers Thursday and it's home today. Had to wait for the trailer brake controller to be installed. What a joy to drive and has a 7500 pound tow rating. I will soon find out how well a tiny 4 cylinder tows. I can't believe how cheap the insurance is on this compared to the 1500. Exactly 6 months from the day it was ordered with 8-1 week delays waiting for a truck to deliver it.

I have a customer with the Ranger and pulls a dump trailer when he picks up his orders .
I asked him about towing with it.
He said it pulls like a dream. 

[21incher]

I know I've watched a LOT of your videos now. I just read that, and I could actually hear you narrating it in my head!  8) :D

Unlike  your videos  that are exciting and I never know  what's coming next,. 8)

Well the new truck finally showed up at the dealers Thursday and it's home today. Had to wait for the trailer brake controller to be installed. What a joy to drive and has a 7500 pound tow rating. I will soon find out how well a tiny 4 cylinder tows. I can't believe how cheap the insurance is on this compared to the 1500. Exactly 6 months from the day it was ordered with 8-1 week delays waiting for a truck to deliver it.

I have a customer with the Ranger and pulls a dump trailer when he picks up his orders .
I asked him about towing with it.
He said it pulls like a dream.

That's what I  have also. I plan on pulling my 6 x 10 dump trailer. Just will have to watch what I put in it. Always  had a V8 truck before but this little  2.3 engine  really  comes alive when the turbo kicks in. It has the 10 speed transmission from the F150 so it should be strong enough. It has almost 1500 pounds carrying capacity that is more than the Silverado had. 

[Bruno of NH]

My customer leaves with a big load every time and lives in the White Mountains. 
He's very impressed with the truck

[Bruno of NH]

Every GM I have had except the 4.3 v6 has ticked (1) 8.1 , (2) 6.0 , (1) 5.3 and 4.8 it's annoying. 
5.3 has 2,030.00 hard miles on it and is rusted like a champ.

[Cornerstone]

What a terrible experience that was 21incher... wow. I sure hope your new vehicles last you a long time without incident. I guess most of these frame issues and general rust problems are primarily due to the way the northern states handle the icy conditions. I remember when I lived in Connecticut (30 years ago) it was common to see full quarter panels missing as well as being able to see the road through the floor boards. Since I've been in Texas I've not seen it at all, unless it was a car that was moved from the north. I generally drive Chevy's and all the V8' do tick as mentioned above, but now that I need a heavier duty 1 ton truck I'm thinking to go with a Ford Diesel. It'll be the first daily driver I've had that's a diesel. Not sure how I feel about that yet!

[21incher]

What a terrible experience that was 21incher... wow. I sure hope your new vehicles last you a long time without incident. I guess most of these frame issues and general rust problems are primarily due to the way the northern states handle the icy conditions. I remember when I lived in Connecticut (30 years ago) it was common to see full quarter panels missing as well as being able to see the road through the floor boards. Since I've been in Texas I've not seen it at all, unless it was a car that was moved from the north. I generally drive Chevy's and all the V8' do tick as mentioned above, but now that I need a heavier duty 1 ton truck I'm thinking to go with a Ford Diesel. It'll be the first daily driver I've had that's a diesel. Not sure how I feel about that yet!

It's a known problem with a TSB out and they rot from under the wax coating. There  are videos showing the cross members rotted away on 3 year old trucks.  My previous F350 was 13 years  old in the same conditions and still in good shape underneath. Toyota had the same problem and replaced the frame on many of their trucks made with the Dana frames. The Ranger frame looks to have an epoxy  type coating and hopefully  it stands up as well as my previous  Fords. That 6.2 was developing a tick when first started and I see they are replacing  lifters on many of them now. Up here the farmers all seem to be going with super duties with gas lately. Good luck finding one as they stopped taking g orders for them several weeks ago.