Here I am

Anyone have rust forming on a 3rd gen yet?

Attention: TDR Forum Junkies
To the point: Click this link and check out the Front Page News story(ies) where we are tracking the introduction of the 2025 Ram HD trucks.

Thanks, TDR Staff

Intermittent Stuck Drivers Side Rear Caliper

Looking to buy a 3rd gen. Anything I should look out for ?

Status
Not open for further replies.
My 03 purchased new, 136,000 miles both rear fender wells starting to show rust right at the top of the curve and small spot on the rear bumper. Lots of salt used in North East PA during the winters.
 
3rd gens are prone to rust above the rear wheels as mentioned. Even with the rust proofing I have used I've had to deal with it. The frames on my trucks are still good, but I've seen several of them now with frame rust just behind the cab.
 
Only way to prevent rust is to do hot oil undercoating. My truck has been done every other year since new. 245K miles and no rust on body.
 
I was very disappointed to see rust on my LR wheel well. My truck has always been kept clean and has only 135k kms ( less than 85k miles ) on it. It doesn't have the chrome moldings on the wheel wells like some Dealers put on so I thought it would be good. When I had my 03 the front fenders rusted because of those chrome molding. I replaced them both. That truck had a deck on it so I replaced it with a box from an 09 so no rust issues there. My neighbor has an 08 as well with the chrome molding so he has rust on all 4 corners.

In my opinion the box was poorly designed.

David
 
I remember this thread when it started. I was in the same boat on the first page with the rear bumpers. The original is still on there, and I thought by now, it would be chrome foil. Instead it's got 2 good whacks in it by kissing low pole guards you can't see.
I poured oil down the tailgate a few times, and that seems to be working, but I lost my right wheel well, and I got a blister on the left.
G-d willing I'll be doing the bed- off minor resto as planned in the next year or so.
Every early 3 gen around here suffers from the wheel lip rot.
 
I'm going to purchase a new bedside this week and will probably have my '07 in the body shop by the end of the month.
 
Is this one of your trucks you zeibart?

Yes. Disappointed that it only made it 11 years.

20180402_193810.jpg


20180402_193810.jpg
 
Looks like it came in from the back side? When I bought my 14 I had around the fender Wells including the edge, as well as the rockers line x'ed to try to keep the stone chips to a minimum since I'm on gravel roads alot. But often it starts from the inside out... disappointing is right.
 
I fully expect to find significant rust on the inside when the skin gets pulled off. I'm not even going to pretend to try and patch and fill that spot. Skinning it will be so much easier.

The only solace that I have is that it lasted MUCH longer than all of the other 3rd gens around here before this started. I'll have Ziebart respray the inside of that panel once it is on and hopefully keep it going for a while longer.

I guarantee you that the next truck in this driveway will be Aluminum. I don't care if it's made by Ford, Ram, GM, or whoever. I'm done with this insane rust battle that we have to deal with. What's the worst that could happen, it turns out to be worse than the steel?
 
I was very disappointed to see rust on my LR wheel well. My truck has always been kept clean and has only 135k kms ( less than 85k miles ) on it. It doesn't have the chrome moldings on the wheel wells like some Dealers put on so I thought it would be good. When I had my 03 the front fenders rusted because of those chrome molding. I replaced them both. That truck had a deck on it so I replaced it with a box from an 09 so no rust issues there. My neighbor has an 08 as well with the chrome molding so he has rust on all 4 corners.

In my opinion the box was poorly designed.

David

I'm sure you can find one of these guys in your area.

https://www.krown.com/en/

Visit them once a year. Spend an hour in their waiting room. Watch TV, read a magazine, have a coffee and be done with your rust issues.
 
I started Fluid-Film about 4 years ago which I think is the same as the other product mentioned on this thread. It has completely stopped progress of rust which is minimal to date. All the fenders are rust free which I think is greatly also the result of the wheelhouse liners and the mud flaps which I installed when I purchased truck new ( not included on the base package that I bought ). The bumbers are completely rusted on the inside, but still structurally strong and chromed, but I'm sure it is just a matter of time before they go. I highly recommend these film treatments particularly in areas that use salt, magnesium chloride or brines that seem common here in the Northeast.
 
I have a the passenger side rocker panel going on my truck. Can see the hole unless you open the door. As the previous poster I have starting the fluid film treatments. As a matter of fact Napa has the gallon can of fluid film on sale this month for $35.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top