Undercoating

[WDW]

Have any of you nice folks under coated your MH? I'm speaking of an oil based product like Zbart or something similar as a long term preventive step? I don't foresee any winter driving but underside rust and the design of MHs seem to lend themselves to stationary rusting.

[PDR John]

I do a lot of winter driving and have to do lots of associated clean up.

I'm experimenting with this stuff: Boeshield T-9 Gallon

I did learn I need to reapply each year.

[Dutch Star Don]

I remember back in the 70's it was a big thing to have your cars undercoated. Then cars began to come undercoated. Our first DP, a Monaco Diplomat, came with so much undercoating you had to carve it away in some spots. Now, my Freightliner has it in some spots, but not others.

I just removed my propane tank and converted the open bay to a closed bay. I lined all the exterior walls with sheet aluminum. When I was done, I used rubberized undercoating and sprayed all the new work. As I looked at the rest of the frame, it looks like some spots could use some touch up.

[CampDaven]

If you have any rust now you must remove it first. It will continue to oxidize inside of the undercoat if it gets any air.
Lots of cars made in winter and shipped to the dealer and on the lot for a while before sale and undercoat application turned into rust buckets.
Especially if driven in salt after treatment

[Bruce C]

Check out Fluid Film, I use it here in the N.E. and it does work. The state highway dept. uses it as well on all there trucks. It comes in gal. cans as well as small spray paint type cans. You must recoat every year though. If you google it you'll see it's many uses. Hope this helps.

[G Shaw]

I did my truck conversion last year and used ProForm undercoating.. Applied it with an air powered Shotts gun. Took 6 gallons of the stuff to apply a good coat everywhere. Not a job I would like to do again but would in a pinch. BTW Wear disposable clothes and buy a good respirator.

[FIRE UP]

Wow,
Does this thread bring back some memories. In 1970, I worked for a Chevrolet dealer in San Diego. I was the "Underseal and tire tech" back then. It was my job to procure a new car from the storage lot and, put it on the rack and, then apply a total "undercoat" to the entire under-carriage of the car. Start to finish, with a very complete job, all cracks and crevasses, every inch of what needed to be coated, would take me right at about 6 minutes.

It was gun that I used, hooked to a 25 gallon barrel of this "tar" that was under about 150 lbs. of pressure. That stuff was NASTY when it was wet. But, when cured, which took maybe a couple of hours, was like almost comparing it to what's used on truck bed lining.

I've not seen any undercarriages of coaches done with this type of coating. I suspect it's most likely cost that prohibits it from being done, just like anything else that would make our rigs better. I don't even know if any products like I used, WAY BACK THEN, are still for sale. Knowing the EPA crap, I suspect not. But, I do think it would be a great preventative for rust and corrosion.
Scott

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by FIRE UP

I've not seen any undercarriages of coaches done with this type of coating. I suspect it's most likely cost that prohibits it from being done, just like anything else that would make our rigs better. I don't even know if any products like I used, WAY BACK THEN, are still for sale. Knowing the EPA crap, I suspect not. But, I do think it would be a great preventative for rust and corrosion.
Scott

Check under a CC sometime. Ours is coated but I need to touch it up in spots.

[FIRE UP]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Check under a CC sometime. Ours is coated but I need to touch it up in spots.

Well that's cool. Glad to see that at least one manufacturer takes the time and effort to protect its undercarriage. I don't know what's on the frame of our present toad, an '11 GMC Sierra 1500 Extended Cab 4x4 but, what ever it is, SUCKS! Whenever I'm working under there, (which isn't very often) I bump up against it and, it's like a grease only a tad bit stiffer and dryer but, it still gets under my nails if I brush up against it with them.

Whatever it is, it's preserving that frame, that's for sure.
Scott

[Redapple]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Check under a CC sometime. Ours is coated but I need to touch it up in spots.

Mine is costed as well, but, a very poor job. Many missed spots and uncoated areas. I was thinking of using Lizard Skin, which is also a heat insulator and sound barrier.