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Seems like you probably don't need to undercoat, but a good round of non-toxic fluid film wouldn't hurt.

My buddy near me does a really thorough job, better than the mechanics that offer it. I live in central Vermont (not near Rutland), and can send his info if you'd like. Challenge is he can only do it when the temperature is above freezing cause he doesn't have a heated shop. But getting it under coated anywhere will be fine.

If its environmentally then please do and I will save the info. I will not be moving to NY until the spring so it will be plenty warm by then and all of the snow will be melted..so any info I can get ahead of time is great...thank you!

I use Fluid Film. I'm in Saranac now.

Always buy my trucks and work vans south of Mason-Dixon line. Mostly Ford 7.3L diesels. Always 20+ years old. That's what I can afford, and all I need.

Get a couple cans parts cleaner or simple green. Go to a carwash. Bring some ramps if need be. Get underneath the truck, spray the cleaner liberally. Then spray the underside best you can. Some car washes have an engine cleaner or wheel/tire setting. Then rinse it good.

Bring it home, let it sit in the sun a day or two to make sure it's nice and dry. Then hit the underside (minus exhaust pipe and cat) with the Fluid Film. Use the ramps for easy access. A 6/can case of Fluid Film is about $60.

Even if you don't salt, if you drive to the convenience store the salt spray will get up in the underside there. Even on a dry day. Not to mention the humidity in the northeast.

Good Luck

Is this product environmentally friendly? And t y for the recommendation...I was lucky to find this gem of a truck in CO where they don't use salt..love the northeast but would never buy a used car there since cars really take a beating from the salt usage!

Driving a 1990 pre-emissions truck is not environmentally friendly. Letting it rust to pieces and buying another one in shorter time then if you undercoated it isn’t either. Gotta pick your poison.

Fair enough...it wouldn't be driven as a daily use vehicle...just used to plow a driveway and haul some fire wood..It won't get driven more than 30 miles in a year which is why I wondered if I could get away without the undercoating

Sounds like a sweet rig. Undercoat every season.

Yes, environmentally friendly, it's a non-petrolatum lanolin based. No solvents whatsoever. Think of it as Bag Balm for your car/truck.

Sure thing, I'll dm it to you. Usually undercoating goes on in the late summer/fall, so you're way ahead of the game.

Fluid film is is a natural product made from lanolin. Any undercoating place worth their salt uses fluid film. The sketchy places literally spray your undercarriage with used motor oil.

The bigger thing is, if possible, to park it somewhere on pavement or cement. Gravel driveways and parking on grass are like rust magnets.

If you have an immaculate 22 year old truck absolutely don’t put a plow on it. My 3 year old f350 just got 5500 in front end work and I only plow my own driveway and my job sites.

It will destroy it.

Just out of curiosity how does the plow destroy it?

Waxoyl hardwax holds up better to spray and rocks. Both are good, but the Waxoyl system is significantly more durable than fluidfilm.

It just rattles and beats the hell out of it. Depending on the plow it’s 900lbs hung 4-5’ in-front of the front axle. And when you’re plowing and the edge catches something the plow will trip, but it still shakes the hell out of the whole truck. I’d guess I put more wear and tear on my truck in the 20-30 hours of plowing I do a winter than the 40k miles I drive. Plow trucks just take an absolute beating.

Extreme example, but this gives you an idea…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FKGFL_Xwt5Q

Off topic a bit, but for someone who is currently beginning their search for an older Ford, any tips? How and where do you search?

Municipalities buy heavier duty Fords. They are generally reasonably well maintained.

https://www.rbauction.com/

Govdeals.com

Check your local State/City/Town/Village surplus equipment auction.

You need to be selective. Lots of stuff is beat up pretty bad.

Every now and again you can find a decent, low miles, slightly dinged up, not quite retail ready truck that needs a little work. If you're patient you can find something.

Thanks so much!

Get underbody protection like fluid film or the wax one. Just would not recommend the rubberized ones, they chip, and then moisture finds it's way under the layer and rusts worse