How to prevent spare from rusting?

[Maverick123]

The underbody spare on my other truck is all rusty from road salt and it's filled with dirt. I know it doesn't matter but it looks like crap and that bothers me.

Any ideas on how to keep underbody spares clean & rust-free? I was thinking of a vinyl storage bag but those probably hold moisture and make it rust even worse

Now I'm thinking of spraying it with Fluid Film ... that'll make it greasy and attract even more dirt but at least it won't rust

Does anyone have a better idea?

Also, do you spray anything on the cable to prevent it from rusting? TIA!

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[Tbone289]

Spray it with high pressure soap and water once in a while. Washing the underside on occasion goes a long way toward reducing under-body rust, especially after exposure to salt or mud.

 

[LilMags500]

Fluid film .

I spray all my outdoor equipment , undercarriages , cars , trucks , trailers with
it ... No Rust , comes in black too .

I lowered my spare down , sprayed the whole mechanism , cable , inside and outside of wheel .

It also keeps stuff that moves , moving .

 

[710-oil-614]

Fluid film .

I spray all my outdoor equipment , undercarriages , cars , trucks , trailers with
it ... No Rust , comes in black too .

I lowered my spare down , sprayed the whole mechanism , cable , inside and outside of wheel .

It also keeps stuff that moves , moving .

This is the only answer. Just know Fluid Film doesn't wash off and your spare will now have......a film all over it.

EDIT: I removed my spare tire when I applied Fluid Film to the underbody.

 

[Bobby Chapman]

Pull out, check air pressure, wax rim, Mequires Endurance the tire, put back , every six months. Loved this ?

 

[LilMags500]

EDIT: I removed my spare tire when I applied Fluid Film to the underbody.

Same here , I buy the stuff by the 5 gallon bucket and have 4 spray guns , and 10
different wands ... I like to have all the bases covered .

 

[Maverick123]

Same here , I buy the stuff by the 5 gallon bucket and have 4 spray guns , and 10
different wands ... I like to have all the bases covered .

OK perfect! I'm coming over to have my truck sprayed

 

[Maverick123]

Pull out, check air pressure, wax rim, Mequires Endurance the tire, put back , every six months. Loved this ?

This makes sense also, the bonus being the pressure check. It'll be either this or the Fluid Film

 

[Maverick123]

This is the only answer. Just know Fluid Film doesn't wash off and your spare will now have......a film all over it.

That's something I've been curious about. If I want to work on my suspension or whatever, there's no easy way to wash off the Fluid Film? I would've thought a degreaser spray would do it? Then just re-spray when I'm done working on it ...

 

[Scott Asheville]

Chevrolet coats full size truck frames with paraffin at the factory. Lifetime protection from corrosion. Not saying it's the answer for your spare, but that's what they do.

That said, my 100,000+ miles and 10+ years each Rangers made it through New England winters with the spares still fine - I did nothing. I washed them once a year because I just felt guilty.

 

[inline_five]

I used CRC corrosion inhibitor on the spare and mechanism. I also sprayed it all under the vehicle and on any component I could.

 

[710-oil-614]

That's something I've been curious about. If I want to work on my suspension or whatever, there's no easy way to wash off the Fluid Film? I would've thought a degreaser spray would do it? Then just re-spray when I'm done working on it ...

Or just deal with a little road grime and reapply.

 

[Sticks]

If I need the spare, the last thing I'm worried about is cosmetic rust.

But I still make sure to spray the undercarriage during my regular car washes.
It's surprisingly clean after a couple salty winters.

 

[Escapologist]

For a different car, I picked up some winters that had oxidised paint and a few spots breaking through... just wirebrushed them off and applied cheap walmart rattle can black rust paint. They get the salt and shit for 5 or 6 winters before I next decide to hose them off... still pretty decent, no breakouts, maybe one scratch where it's just starting. So yeah, my ride would probably get "cheap rattle can rust paint" again on a steelie.

 

[Meeka]

The underbody spare on my other truck is all rusty from road salt and it's filled with dirt. I know it doesn't matter but it looks like crap and that bothers me.

Any ideas on how to keep underbody spares clean & rust-free? I was thinking of a vinyl storage bag but those probably hold moisture and make it rust even worse

Now I'm thinking of spraying it with Fluid Film ... that'll make it greasy and attract even more dirt but at least it won't rust

Does anyone have a better idea?

Also, do you spray anything on the cable to prevent it from rusting? TIA!

My idea (and some here will think I’m for doing it, don’t care) is keeping it out of the elements, in the truck box.

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