Rust under 2024 Gladiator with 90 miles it, on dealer lot. Pics below.

[BearFootSam]

After reading some details on Fluid Film I may hold off on using that since they say it would require repeated applications. At least annually if not more often.

We rarely have brine (or salt) on our roads in central NC. And I won’t have the JT on our beaches three hours away. The residue under my vehicle had to have happened during transport to the dealer when new a year ago so I’m going to treat this as a one time event (hopefully). I’ll flush the underside with Salt Away, then hit the worst visible spots with a wire brush.

Afterwards I’m thinking rattle can Rustoleum in satin black to the affected areas. This is not a final plan so suggestions still welcome, although I did just order the Salt Away hose end applicator kit and concentrate.

Perspective: I’m on gravel and dirt roads almost every day, while your mileage may vary, the result is scratches/dings/scrapes are bound to happen. You can fight it with paint, or adopt the wash and wax twice a year approach. Wash more often than that, I mean a good deep clean.

It’s in a manner similar to “fill for life” fluids. In theory paint is for life but in reality it’s sacrificial like fluids. The other thing is painting inside the frame rails and hard to reach spots is not happening. You need to wax those, but wax and paint do not mix well and wax one place tends to migrate so wax may end up places you intend to paint and fight you. Or just lean into that quality of lanolin and apply liberally.

my experience is that once you have a good wool wax base, it’s mostly touch up. The harder to reach and apply areas have the symmetry of being less exposed. So you mostly need to address vulnerable areas and cavities like the hitch and around bracket that can collect water.

Generally the decision tree should start with intended use. (A) Any case where a part/coating/wear point is subject to harder use you should aim for serviceability and frequency of maintenance. Think grease-able joints. (B) Where light duty is expected and maintenance compliance is the greater concern then aim for long life low service parts (replace vs rebuild).

Consensus is that corrosion mitigation is important the debate seems to be which method. I think that is use dependent and that lanolin coating is superior for heavy duty use.

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[gonemad]

Perspective: I’m on gravel and dirt roads almost every day, while your mileage may vary, the result is scratches/dings/scrapes are bound to happen. You can fight it with paint, or adopt the wash and wax twice a year approach. Wash more often than that, I mean a good deep clean.

It’s in a manner similar to “fill for life” fluids. In theory paint is for life but in reality it’s sacrificial like fluids. The other thing is painting inside the frame rails and hard to reach spots is not happening. You need to wax those, but wax and paint do not mix well and wax one place tends to migrate so wax may end up places you intend to paint and fight you. Or just lean into that quality of lanolin and apply liberally.

my experience is that once you have a good wool wax base, it’s mostly touch up. The harder to reach and apply areas have the symmetry of being less exposed. So you mostly need to address vulnerable areas and cavities like the hitch and around bracket that can collect water.

Generally the decision tree should start with intended use. (A) Any case where a part/coating/wear point is subject to harder use you should aim for serviceability and frequency of maintenance. Think grease-able joints. (B) Where light duty is expected and maintenance compliance is the greater concern then aim for long life low service parts (replace vs rebuild).

Consensus is that corrosion mitigation is important the debate seems to be which method. I think that is use dependent and that lanolin coating is superior for heavy duty use.

Agreed. As for intended purpose, the reality is, I wanted a small 4x4 truck with a naturally aspirated V-6 versus all the new “competitors" that only offer 4 bangers with turbos in 2024, in which I can haul a little firewood...and beer. It will see little to no real off-road duty other than short dirt/gravel roads onto shooting ranges. I used to do that twice weekly but got sorta burned out after shooting 12,000-15,000 rounds a year practicing and participating in IDPA pistol matches for 8-9 years.

I put more miles on touring motorcycles than I do this Gladiator.

So, I am thinking flush, wash, mitigate the coating of salt/brine that appears to remain, then make a choice as to how to coat the damage already done once it’s cleaned up more than it is.

 

[Stuntman Mike]

That is quite crazy.

I bought my Gladiator with 85 km on the clock and brought it as soon as possible to a shop for anti corrosion treatment.

At that time it had no rust and I really cannot imagine why your truck is so rotten.

Just some pictures

 

[gonemad]

So does it make any sense to at least go on record with my dealer’s service department when I go in for my first service to point out this rust so they can see it first hand?

Before doing any of what has been discussed up thread.

 

[Viper501]

Can’t hurt. Just not something I would have great expectations about. I’d also prefer to do it myself so I know it doesn’t get shorted.

 

[gonemad]

Can’t hurt. Just not something I would have great expectations about. I’d also prefer to do it myself so I know it doesn’t get shorted.

My expectations will be low. I’m just thinking that I want them to see the rust before I hide it.

The more I look at it, the worst pictured is on the bolt-on skid plate that could be replaced worst case, and some scuffs on the frame that are fairly superficial. And the steel spare tire rim. Again, easily replaced if not just corrected.

 

[Stan H]

a

...which I didn’t see till I had owned it a week or so while installing rock sliders under it.

I bought it new in July, 2024 from a local dealer here in central NC. It had been on their lot since delivery in January 2024, to that dealership per the window sticker. Part of those 90 miles was driving it over and back to their other store 15-20 miles away where it sat for a while. The remaining mileage on it was not enough to drive the truck to our coastal beaches (much less back). We had no snow or ice events that involved brine on the roads here that I recall in this part of the state this past winter.

After seeing the rust, I went to the dealership on a Sunday morning while they were closed and crawled under nearly every Gladiator on the lot with a bright flashlight, and they all looked nice and new, whereas the underside of mine looked older than the 2017 F150 with 110,000 miles I traded to them.

I took these pics as soon as I saw the rust, and figured I’d show them to the dealership when I go in for the first service, which hasn’t occurred yet. I did send the pics to the salesman, but his comment was “surface rust, blah, blah.” I otherwise love the JT and don't have intention of trying to give it back. I tried that once thirty years ago, and went to the mat with a dealer over another issue. They prevailed upon me to let them try to take care of it (not rust), and it turned out to be one of my favorite vehicles of all time 135,000 miles later, so I’m not giving up on this JT.

The only plausible theory I can come up with is it rode on an auto transport from Toledo when brand new in a 2024 winter snow event that coated the bottom side of the Jeep with salt or brine. Otherwise, I got nothing.

Thoughts?
Thanks in advance.

I would just put a wire wheel ,rust inhibiting primer and some rust oleum or CRC on it . Never hurt a thing. Mine has much more under it that that anx it is getting the treatment this next week while I am off best of luck to ya

 

[ZeeJay]

...which I didn’t see till I had owned it a week or so while installing rock sliders under it.

I bought it new in July, 2024 from a local dealer here in central NC. It had been on their lot since delivery in January 2024, to that dealership per the window sticker. Part of those 90 miles was driving it over and back to their other store 15-20 miles away where it sat for a while. The remaining mileage on it was not enough to drive the truck to our coastal beaches (much less back). We had no snow or ice events that involved brine on the roads here that I recall in this part of the state this past winter.

After seeing the rust, I went to the dealership on a Sunday morning while they were closed and crawled under nearly every Gladiator on the lot with a bright flashlight, and they all looked nice and new, whereas the underside of mine looked older than the 2017 F150 with 110,000 miles I traded to them.

I took these pics as soon as I saw the rust, and figured I’d show them to the dealership when I go in for the first service, which hasn’t occurred yet. I did send the pics to the salesman, but his comment was “surface rust, blah, blah.” I otherwise love the JT and don't have intention of trying to give it back. I tried that once thirty years ago, and went to the mat with a dealer over another issue. They prevailed upon me to let them try to take care of it (not rust), and it turned out to be one of my favorite vehicles of all time 135,000 miles later, so I’m not giving up on this JT.

The only plausible theory I can come up with is it rode on an auto transport from Toledo when brand new in a 2024 winter snow event that coated the bottom side of the Jeep with salt or brine. Otherwise, I got nothing.

Thoughts?
Thanks in advance.

Just localized to those areas pictured?

 

[gonemad]

Just localized to those areas pictured?

Yes. Plus both sides of the spare tire rim.

The more I think about it, it won’t be that hard to correct what is visible. It just really spooked me to see the rust at all on a “new” vehicle. Especially when everything else on the lot looked great underneath.

 

[ZeeJay]

Yes. Plus both sides of the spare tire rim.

The more I think about it, it won’t be that hard to correct what is visible. It just really spooked me to see the rust at all on a “new” vehicle. Especially when everything else on the lot looked great underneath.

Well that’s odd, I wouldn’t have been long it have rusted anyway. I’d definitely take it in and open a complaint they have to address one way or the other. They may very well do nothing and likely will do nothing but at least it’s a paper trail on it.

 

[amiyank]

My 2020 spent a winter in upper state NY and it shows, the welds in particular. It then spent 3 years in Florida.

I used the needle scaler, painted with OSPHO and then the Fusion Matte Black. I am back up in Vermont for the winter and expect I will have to the same again. This time I will take the angle grinder with a sanding pad to get a little more of the rust.

I may try the NH rust protection treatment I just heard (youtube) about. The attraction is that is does not smell like Fluid Film. This last point was raised in one of the videos discussing the NH treatment.

 

[keithcroshaw]

I was going to say “c’mon…” but that is a crummy amount from the dealer.
maybe they can pay for a sand and fluid-film.
I haven’t done it yet on my 22, but I’m irresponsible and already car poor…

 

[Reddog]

...which I didn’t see till I had owned it a week or so while installing rock sliders under it.

I bought it new in July, 2024 from a local dealer here in central NC. It had been on their lot since delivery in January 2024, to that dealership per the window sticker. Part of those 90 miles was driving it over and back to their other store 15-20 miles away where it sat for a while. The remaining mileage on it was not enough to drive the truck to our coastal beaches (much less back). We had no snow or ice events that involved brine on the roads here that I recall in this part of the state this past winter.

After seeing the rust, I went to the dealership on a Sunday morning while they were closed and crawled under nearly every Gladiator on the lot with a bright flashlight, and they all looked nice and new, whereas the underside of mine looked older than the 2017 F150 with 110,000 miles I traded to them.

I took these pics as soon as I saw the rust, and figured I’d show them to the dealership when I go in for the first service, which hasn’t occurred yet. I did send the pics to the salesman, but his comment was “surface rust, blah, blah.” I otherwise love the JT and don't have intention of trying to give it back. I tried that once thirty years ago, and went to the mat with a dealer over another issue. They prevailed upon me to let them try to take care of it (not rust), and it turned out to be one of my favorite vehicles of all time 135,000 miles later, so I’m not giving up on this JT.

The only plausible theory I can come up with is it rode on an auto transport from Toledo when brand new in a 2024 winter snow event that coated the bottom side of the Jeep with salt or brine. Otherwise, I got nothing.

Thoughts?
Thanks in advance.

Looks to be surface rust. Could have been caused during shipment or at dealer by splashing thru a puddle or two that contained salt brine or some caustic cleaner. Wire brush it off and spray undercoating on the areas and it will be fine.

 

[GoHack]

I'd say to use a drill w/a wire brush to remove all the rust and then paint it w/some Black Rust-Oleum.
Once dry, get a can of undercoating and spray it down, especially at the seams and welds.

 

[foolthrottle]

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