Rust Proofing / Under Coating... do? dont? [83 c10]

[THE-JOSHTER]

Hey All!
Got some great help from the forum on starting my truck last time which i really appreciate.

Need some help/advice this go round on protecting the truck..

So when I got my truck the front wheel wells had massive holes and was flaking from the rust i could put new holes in em. So i got some brand new ones. Immediately my thought was to get some 'gravel guard' and line it so they would last a whole lot longer hopefully... and then i thought well why not seal up the whole truck similarly.

So now im looking at covering the frame, underside, inner wells(front-back) and rocker panels (once i get the welding done).

I am going to start with the frame this week if the weather warms a little. Gonna pressure wash it and then do some wire wheeling or sanding for surface rust. After that i am gonna blast it with some Rust Reformer ( https://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/stops-rust/rust-reformer ) and then apply some kind of undercoating. However ive heard undercoatings can be bad (trap moisture and look good while rusting) but also dont know what under coatings to use if.

So heres where i need some help. The undercoatings ive seen are:
Black Asphalt Undercoating - https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/asphalt-undercoating-0477999p.html#srp
Rubberized Black Asphalt Underocating - https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/rubberized-asphalt-undercoating-0477904p.html#srp
Rubberized Rocker Guard - https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/rubberized-rockerguard-undercoating-550-g-0477935p.html
Rocker Guard/Gravel Guard - https://www.dominionsureseal.com/product/gravel-guard-rocker-coating/

I ma very unsure of which ones to use. There are rustoleum brand ones and rust check brand as well.
correct me if i am wrong but i think the rubberized ones would be best suited for high abrasion areas, but also they would be useful anywhere for sound proofing? I dont exactly know. Initally before looking at options i  would have gone with straight rocker guard cause it hardens and is chip resistant but now i dont really understand the options and what would be best.

This truck is going to be driven in the winter and will see salt (Manitoba roads.... dont get started)

any advice or insight on what yall have done/used would be helpful. pretty sure i could find it here between canadian tire, or auto parts.

Thanks in advance!

[VileZambonie]

I HATE undercoating. You have several options but truck bedliner lays on thick and stays better without being a tar that you can scrape off with your fingernail. Just buy the gun, mix with reducer and spray. Get a needle scaler to clean everything off fast.

[THE-JOSHTER]

I HATE undercoating. You have several options but truck bedliner lays on thick and stays better without being a tar that you can scrape off with your fingernail. Just buy the gun, mix with reducer and spray. Get a needle scaler to clean everything off fast.

Thanks for the tip! Seemed like a good idea so i went ahead with using bedliner. Got everything done yesterday. used about 4 cans of rust reformer for the frame after i wire cupped it and then about 5 cans of bed liner (https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/ez-liner-aerosol-coating-467-g-0475608p.html ). got the whole from from behind the front shock all the way to the back, inside outside and under.

However.. I was looking some more this morning (no reason why) and i came across POR15  - https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/por-15-gloss-946-ml-0475874p.html - and apparently this stuff is like way good. probably shouldnt attempt to overdo things as i usually do but theres no point in putting this over the bed liner(?).. the urge to just be more than 100% sure this thing is sealed is kinda making me stupid i think. thoughts>?

also gonna try and upload some pictures cause im kinda stoked at how it came out.

[MY1978]

When I bought my truck 43 years ago, I immediately had it undercoated.  It has done a good job of deterring the rust.  It has been on so long now that it is actually flaking off.  My wheel wells have zero in them right now.

So, you feel bedliner is better than Eastwood rubberized encapsulating undercoating which is what I was considering?  I do not understand all the bad press about undercoating.  It has sure saved my truck over 43 years.

[VileZambonie]

Undercoating never fully dries and is always like tar except for where it flakes off. The bed coating materials are more expensive but are way more durable and they harden up nicely. Back in the day (43 years ago) undercoating was the only option. I just filled my garbage can with all of the undercoating and crud I took off of the Blazer. It served its purpose but I resprayed everything with bed coating for a rust proofing and it came out so nice. Here's a pic of the gas tank. It will not scrape off under your fingernail and will last for years.

[VileZambonie]

However.. I was looking some more this morning (no reason why) and i came across POR15  - https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/por-15-gloss-946-ml-0475874p.html - and apparently this stuff is like way good.

POR15 is supposed to be the paint over rust miracle but it is not. It tends to stick better to human skin more than anything else. It is a good temporary band aid to put on rusty metal but it will not last. Chassis saver is a better product and costs less.

[MY1978]

Undercoating never fully dries and is always like tar except for where it flakes off. The bed coating materials are more expensive but are way more durable and they harden up nicely. Back in the day (43 years ago) undercoating was the only option. I just filled my garbage can with all of the undercoating and crud I took off of the Blazer. It served its purpose but I resprayed everything with bed coating for a rust proofing and it came out so nice. Here's a pic of the gas tank. It will not scrape off under your fingernail and will last for years.

Okay, thanks for the explanation.  So I do not have the luxury of a sprayer.  If I used rattle can undercoating, what would you suggest?  Rubberized or non-rubberized?  I have use a lot of Eastwood products and they have undercoating in a spray can.  What about POR15?

Thanks

[Mr Diesel]

I do not recommend POR15. It only sticks good to rough rusty surfaces. It will peel off any smooth or painted surface.

I also would not use any rattle can undercoating. I have experimented with numerous brands and been very unimpressed with all of them. I have had pretty good results with the Duplicolor rattle can bedliner. It dries pretty tough and holds up well to weather.

[MY1978]

Thanks for the info.