Thinking about rust prevention

[Signal73]

So I look inside the wheel wells and notice holes, assumingely vent holes or rinse out holes take your pick. Reach around in them and there is foam between the 2 panels. I feel leaving these holes open will allow road debris, salt, sand, water, etc. to collect in there and in the usual time frame rot out the bedsides like previous generations.
So the question is, leave them open as to be able to rinse them out. Spray fluid film or whatever in there regularly to keep moisture at bay. Or spray with fluid film, cavity wax etc then tape over them, and do that as a yearly maintenance item. Taping over them would not let them dry out as much. But at the same time blocking the water from getting in there in the first place.
What’s the thoughts you guys have in this subject?

 

[PBJ2500CTD]

I would seriously consider getting the wheel well liners.

 

[jgillott]

I can't believe that they are still building these things like this. About the only thing you could do would be lots and lots of fluid film, wheel well liners maybe, and be prepared to be tacking a new bedside or two on in 7-10 years.

 

[Wayne M.]

Fluid film AR in gallons and this gun.
https://www.eastwood.com/undercoating-gun-with-2-hoses-and-bottle.html
I don’t know why I’ve stalled, but this seems like THE killer combo.
Wheel well liners didn’t help my 04.

 

[jgillott]

Just for reference, here is a picture of a comparable aluminum Ford. You will see that there is foam sticking out of one of the holes. Apparently, this is the way they all build them.

 

[Timd32]

Someone posted about packing with grease or a similar solution. Or I'm way off on that. I thought it was a pretty good idea what ever it was at the time. Was a recent post last 2 months or so.

Yeah how we allow "engineer" to fail is awesome, they will have some sort of lame excuse. I hear it weekly from our engineers how and why they could not do the simple approach or an actually less expensive solution, lots of pride gets in the way and of course if it does not fall apart who would buy new.

 

[Signal73]

The foam is just idiocy! holes, ok. Rinse out ports I’d consider them. But foam to trap moisture, come on already.....

 

[nukegm]

unless its " closed cell " foam, it will hold water. most foam in a can is " open cell " - just f y i . cheers!

 

[Timd32]

Ok was updated a few months ago, but was the opposite side of the fender for adding flares, I wondered if this stuff leaked out in the heat?

Maybe @Ozymandias will get this one and chime in with a pic of how that is working out.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/bushwacker-vs-oem-powerwagon-flares.265274/#post-2564729