How rusty is your frame and suspension?

[ratfink11]

My frame and suspension seem very rusty for an `09. I have posted this question on another forum and many others see the same condition. How about you?

[richfaa]

Well no on my 06 3400. There is some surface rust but nothing serious. Maybe because it has never seen snow and salt???

[jjackflash]

Hardly any rust on my 2008 3400RL,of course we live in the high desert in Southern California.
Jack

[ratfink11]

Hey jjackflash....how do you like your Goodyear G-614`s? Thinking about getting rid of my GY Marathon tires in the spring. Thanks!

[KTManiac]

I think that a lot of it may have to do with when the trailer was delivered, the weather, what route was taken, and whether or not the undercarriage was washed after the delivery. Indiana and a lot of States surrounding it, use salt during the winter.

In August of '08, when I was looking to buy mine, the local dealer had an '08 3605RL sitting on the lot that had been delivered in January. The frame, axles, lug nuts, and gas line to the kitchen were rusty as all get out. When I voiced my concerns over the issue, I was assured that it would all be taken care of in the Pre-Delivery process. I am quite certain that their idea of "fixing" the problem was a $3.95 can of black spray paint and swapping lug nuts with another trailer in their inventory. Why they didn't take care of the problem before hand, I don't understand, and it was a warning sign about a sketchy dealership for me. ....I didn't buy from them, and it turned out to be a good decision on my part. They went T/U last summer. The trailer was still on their lot when they went out of business, 20 months after it was delivered to them.

Instead, I bought an factory ordered '09 with the options I wanted, for way less money, from Walnut Ridge RV in Indiana. Picked it up just before Thanksgiving 2008, and beat feet out of town just before the snows hit and salt got laid down. I got a free fresh water undercarriage wash, courtesy of Oregon's famous liquid sunshine, and all is well with my frame and suspension.

It sounds as though you have your work cut out for you. I see some sandpaper, a good rust converting primer, and finish coat of black paint in your future.

[SlickWillie]

Rust? You ain't seen rust til you park next to the bay for a couple years. There is a product made by Quest Chemical in Houston, called Restore. We get it here from the boat haul out yards. It is a rust converter (not like ospho)that leaves a touch acrylic coat on the surface. Can be painted or left as it is.

[HamRad]

We've got an older rig.... 2002 model 3295. We have very little rust but like some others we live in a desert climate. Lots of "dry" heat.

HamRad

[grampachet]

Non on ours, I had it undercoated.

[Trailer Trash 2]

None on my 04 Monty yet.

[Mudchief]

None on our unit.

[Tom S.]

I'm pretty rusty but the Monty's not too bad!

[bncinwv]

I'm rusty as well and so is the exposed areas of the undersides of the Monty. Have towed on salt-laden roads which I am sure contributes to the rusting. Surface rust will not affect the structural integrity of the frame and suspension systems. That Restore stuff sounds promising, I may have to look into that.
Bingo

[PSFORD99]

quote:Originally posted by KTManiac


I think that a lot of it may have to do with when the trailer was delivered, the weather, what route was taken, and whether or not the undercarriage was washed after the delivery. Indiana and a lot of States surrounding it, use salt during the winter.

In August of '08, when I was looking to buy mine, the local dealer had an '08 3605RL sitting on the lot that had been delivered in January. The frame, axles, lug nuts, and gas line to the kitchen were rusty as all get out. When I voiced my concerns over the issue, I was assured that it would all be taken care of in the Pre-Delivery process. I am quite certain that their idea of "fixing" the problem was a $3.95 can of black spray paint and swapping lug nuts with another trailer in their inventory. Why they didn't take care of the problem before hand, I don't understand, and it was a warning sign about a sketchy dealership for me. ....I didn't buy from them, and it turned out to be a good decision on my part. They went T/U last summer. The trailer was still on their lot when they went out of business, 20 months after it was delivered to them.

Instead, I bought an factory ordered '09 with the options I wanted, for way less money, from Walnut Ridge RV in Indiana. Picked it up just before Thanksgiving 2008, and beat feet out of town just before the snows hit and salt got laid down. I got a free fresh water undercarriage wash, courtesy of Oregon's famous liquid sunshine, and all is well with my frame and suspension.

It sounds as though you have your work cut out for you. I see some sandpaper, a good rust converting primer, and finish coat of black paint in your future.

Can't beat Walnut Ridge and Shane, I picked mine up after ordering in Nov. 2007, missed all the wet roads coming home to Utah. The leaf springs and shackles are a bit rusty everything else looks okay, but it has not seen many wet roads yet.

[richfaa]

Remember these frames are "powder coated" during manufacturer. Goggle power coating before you decide what to do about surface rust.

Thanks Tom.S

[gitrdun]

I get under mine and wash frame, axles and springs then spray a protectant on them oncwe a year.
,

[8e3k0]

The frame is powder coated, yet a lot of areas and crevices are missed. All other suspension parts are painted. I have added a product called Rocker-Guard (a rubberized paintable product to resist rock chips and rust) to all suspension parts to reduce any chance of external rust. Also applied this product only to areas that powder coating was missed.

[Art-n-Marge]

Just like Tom, his dog is pretty rusty, too, from the sig picture.

As for me, living in So. Calif, very little snow, rain, and very little rust on my '06 3500RL.

[azleflyer]

Very little rust on our unit.

[PapaBeav]

A little rust, but nothing that I am going to worry about.