Rust concerns

[Tubaguy]

We live in WI and spend about 3 months in the south during the cold months. Many times the trip down and back can be through snow or ice conditions which are usually treated with salt or liquid de-icers. This, needless to say, causes a lot of corrosion and rust. How do any of you deal with this situation? Jerry

[ga traveler]

We never had a problem in Ga. Whenever we went to a area where salt was a concern, after returning home, I always placed a sprinkler under the motorhome and moved it around until I had covered the whole motorhome.

[historyljc]

I think ga traveler has it covered. Wash well under the coach as soon as you can after traveling through that mess.

[Sportech]

We had a Discovery MH that we took back to Michigan in the winter time and had to drive thru snow and salt covered roads. The next summer we had a knocking noise when you used the brakes a little harder than a normal stop. Ended up costing $600 to get the problem diagnosed and then have all the front brake components wire brushed to remove the rust that had formed. You would think that they would have some corrosion protection from Freightliner. Of course this happened after the warranty was up (13 months and 12K miles).

[ghoststories]

Here in NW OH the undercarriage of our vehicles pay a heavy price from the de-icer used on the roads, I have had to replace gas line on my car, mechanic said he has been kept busy replacing them on many vehicles the past few years due to the de-icer, spraying underneath a vehicle is important to save some costly repairs.

[fun time]

These coaches are not made to drive in salt. It is has been my experience that no matter what you do i.e. sprinkler under the coach when returning, pressure washing the underside and any other method you are going to develop rust problems after driving in salt. I have often wondered why the manufacturers don't understand this or maybe they do but the additional cost to provide rust protection would add to the purchase price.
What we do is take the coach south in November before the snow and salt then come back in March watching the weather very closely up north so as not to get into any salt residue. I have even left the coach in Georgia one year on the trip back north for 4 weeks because of salty roads up north and drove the toad home then came back when the weather turned better to pick the coach back up.
I can look at a coaches underside and tell immediately if it has been in salt and most educated buyers do just that. Hope that helps.