Rust advice - trailer hitch
- Thread starter acruisinf
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nwfl4runner
GOLD Star
Rust on the welds - I have the same issue (and no rust anywhere else). Wire wheel and paint
That rust isn't anything to worry about. Rattle can it once a year and you are good to go.
If that’s the worst rust on the vehicle, you’ve found one pristine enough for the showroom floor.
Flip through my build thread for some rust remediation work.
Flip through my build thread for some rust remediation work.
Yup. That is one of the most common places to see flaking rust on a LC. I am surprised the inside is so clean. The tow hitch area will rust in the desert. But as said above that is nothing to be concerned about except for being an eye sore.
Although my LC200 was build Oct 2020, I have initial signs of rust on welds. I opted to spend some time underneath the vehicle following all frame welds and items welded to the frame using Rustoleum Rust Reformer. I think I have been able to cover at least 80%.
I did not apply any additional paint over the rust reformer. It does seem to hold up well, however time will tell.
In your case I would get a dremel and remove some of the rust, then apply something like Rust Reformer.
So beside rust reformer or similar, you may want to get under the car and look at the rest as well.
S
I did not apply any additional paint over the rust reformer. It does seem to hold up well, however time will tell.
In your case I would get a dremel and remove some of the rust, then apply something like Rust Reformer.
So beside rust reformer or similar, you may want to get under the car and look at the rest as well.
S
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In order to get under the car and have some space I bought 2 x sets of these providing about 6 to 7" additional clearance from the ground.
Driving onto them in 4 Low was real easy (throttle and movement more controlled), although for the initial time I had somebody to signal as you get to the flat part and the end. Since then I have done alone as well. You feel when you get to the flat part and let the tires role against the edge.
One word of caution using ramps (has not happened to me but know this can be a real issue); Do not drive over the end lip of the ramps or they could end up jamming you in place with worst case body damage.
And have one of these under car creepers.
Driving onto them in 4 Low was real easy (throttle and movement more controlled), although for the initial time I had somebody to signal as you get to the flat part and the end. Since then I have done alone as well. You feel when you get to the flat part and let the tires role against the edge.
One word of caution using ramps (has not happened to me but know this can be a real issue); Do not drive over the end lip of the ramps or they could end up jamming you in place with worst case body damage.
And have one of these under car creepers.
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I have nearly identical ramps by "Rhino Ramp" - sold at the local Canadian Tire. Also used them when doing rust remediation - very, very helpful to have.
I would drop the tire and inspect the hoist and chain once and a while. My mechanism was rusted to the point I had to cut the chain to drop the tire out. I was home and checked it on a whim, glad I wasn’t on the road with a flat.
Yours is probably good judging from the low level of rust in the pics above. I ended up replacing the hoist and the metal guide tube (very thin metal). Would be worth getting in there, hit the hoist with some fluid film or similar once and a while. I’m in a high salt area with 250k miles. This is the rustiest area on my truck.
- Thread starter
- #11
@2021 LC200 thanks for the Rust Reformer recommendation! Already have the ramps for oil changes, very handy.
@auggafj80 great call on the spare preventative care. Will hit that, thanks!
@auggafj80 great call on the spare preventative care. Will hit that, thanks!
I have a 2021 with scattered areas of frame weld rust. So frustrating to see this on a new vehicle never driven in salt! At any rate, I used rustoleum rust reformer also and after waiting 24hrs I sprayed the entire under carriage (after dropping the spare) with wool wax. The air compressor driven spray gun makes everything quite easy. I will need to go through another winter to see how well it works, but after several months so far, there is no hint of rust returning yet and I still have a thick layer of lanolin even after driving through many rainy days.
Great to hear!
I still plan to spray the frame and try to put as much inside as possible via the various frame holes and plastic plugs.
I opted to buy 12 cans Cosmoline RP-342 wax coating instead of fluid film, as it dries up harder and youtube reviews show even with a pressure washer it does not come off.
Application will have to wait until temperatures come down and I can get under the car in a full paper type coverall and wear face + breathing protection, since this stuff when being applied gets onto everything and is very hard to remove other than with petroleum products.
Amazon product ASIN B01NCF65X4
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Dunbar
SILVER Star
I would freak if that much rust was on my FJ62. It has been outside for the last 20 years and has no where near that kind of cancer. It even spent 10 or so months in Northern WI and the UP but I washed it weekly even if it was still snowing.
I did some rust remediation about 2 years ago (details in my build thread - link in signature). Surface rust is beginning to poke through here and there, but all in all the work was very much worth the effort. I'd say my LX looks no worse than any one year old Toyota that lives in my neck of the woods. I plan to continue annual (autumn) applications of Fluid Film.
This is what my trailer receiver looks like now, after 6 years in salty New England. Many coats of Amsoil HD Metal Protector, and I recoat every time I swap or rotate the tires. No rust... none.
Dunbar
SILVER Star
That looks great! I remember seeing pics of the underbelly of your FJ62. They are scarred into my memory. You used old gear oil to spray it but this Amsoil product looks much better. I'm a dealer so will get some of this to apply before going up North for Christmas this year. Do you use a pump sprayer? What all get treated? Is it harmful for the paint?
