Northeastern winterizing.

[snydercj7]

So any words to the wise for some one that is new here? 

What we have here is a 2004 TJ from Southern California complete with all the armor to be a host for rust!


My thought was to do a self under coating job possibly even put under coating on the body under the armor, which is powder coated.  What about coating the frame rails or inside the frame rails?

I would like to keep the Jeep from disintegrating before my eyes from the extra moisture and salt it has never seen.

Assuming I can also help the vehicle by regularly cleaning the salt off it during the winter and keeping a good coat of wax in place.

[rejeep]

i charge $400 for winter storage in a heated secure building...
thats the only thing to do to keep rust away...
sorry, but your about to kill your Jeep....


its not worth.. take the $1000 you would spend in time, effort, and products and buy a beater..
undercoat is a hoax, only works on factory prepped metal
waxoil if done right is a fortune
Jeeps have too many nooks and crannys to prevent upstate salt slurry from getting into every torx head recess and body joint..

[Wingman]

its not worth.. take the $1000 you would spend in time, effort, and products and buy a beater..

+ a billion!

[MrMindless]

agreed.

otherwise just wash it frequently in the winter and pretend you don't see it creeping

[s0l0ithz]

I'm pretending I don't see mine rotting away.

[snydercj7]

damn...  Guess I should have gave it away before coming out here.  I built it with the intent of keeping it a long time, sounding like I will have an expensive pile in the near future.  Or maybe a spiffy new aluminum body will be in order?

[rejeep]

the body is the least of your problems...
its everything else...

[MrMindless]

It's not quite as bad as we're making it out to be. It won't rust out in a day... Just quicker than anyone with a passion for cars would prefer.

[carchameleon]

agreed, only way is to hide from the salt..
winter beaters are the way to go

[snydercj7]

For the time the Jeep will be my daily driver.  As much as it pains me I plan on de-armoring the body and going back to a flare in the rear.  Guess i will start with anti-seize through out, touch up any bare metal, and get a really good coat of wax in place before winter.  Thanks for the input guys, I now understand the purpose of a beater.

[FallibleXJ]

I know this is older but i figured I might ease your worries a whee bit. I brought my 97' XJ out from SoCal four year ago. Granted, it only saw 2 winters out here, but there was no noticeable rust on the underside. It was still nice a blue with some factory undercoating. Winter beater is still probably the way to go, but from one Californian to another its not THAT bad

[snydercj7]

Thanks for the input.  I am told washing the vehicle weekly does wonders, guess bolts are the real factor.