Do all Jeeps rust like the TJ?

TJ Rubicus

TJ Rubicus

TJ Enthusiast
Joined
Sep 12, 2019
Messages
170
Location
Wiarton, Ontario
Hello All,
I just had the occasion to crawl under my 05 TJ and was surprised to see how fast the rust begins when the undercoating (fluid film) wears off. I spray the undercarriage and inside the body panels every year with Fluid Film rustproofing. I buy it in the 5 gallon pails and spray it very generously. Being an old auto body guy, I try to stay on top of it. My question is: Is it just the Tj's that are so prone to rusting. I have owned a CJ, 2TJ's, a JK and a JL, and the only ones that seem to have serious rust issues are the TJ's. I had a 97 TJ that you could pretty near watch the rust fall on the floor in the garage. (seriously). So is it just a bad frame design or inferior metal used in the TJ's. Thoughts?
 
Chris said:
Yes, they do. All vehicles rust just as bad in the wrong conditions. If it came from the Earth it’s natural state is to want to return to the Earth.
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TJ Rubicus said:
Hello All,
I just had the occasion to crawl under my 05 TJ and was surprised to see how fast the rust begins when the undercoating (fluid film) wears off. I spray the undercarriage and inside the body panels every year with Fluid Film rustproofing. I buy it in the 5 gallon pails and spray it very generously. Being an old auto body guy, I try to stay on top of it. My question is: Is it just the Tj's that are so prone to rusting. I have owned a CJ, 2TJ's, a JK and a JL, and the only ones that seem to have serious rust issues are the TJ's. I had a 97 TJ that you could pretty near watch the rust fall on the floor in the garage. (seriously). So is it just a bad frame design or inferior metal used in the TJ's. Thoughts?
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I'm surprised you have issues even with Fluid Filming it every year. My son's Jeep doesn't seem to have any issues and he drives it daily during the winter. We've been spraying Fluid Film every year since he's owned it beginning in 2014. I won't say its pristine but I've been amazed at how well it has held up to winters. Granted, we don't have it as severe as you guys up in Ontario but we do get our share of salt during the winter.
 
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TJ Rubicus said:
Hello All,
I just had the occasion to crawl under my 05 TJ and was surprised to see how fast the rust begins when the undercoating (fluid film) wears off. I spray the undercarriage and inside the body panels every year with Fluid Film rustproofing. I buy it in the 5 gallon pails and spray it very generously. Being an old auto body guy, I try to stay on top of it. My question is: Is it just the Tj's that are so prone to rusting. I have owned a CJ, 2TJ's, a JK and a JL, and the only ones that seem to have serious rust issues are the TJ's. I had a 97 TJ that you could pretty near watch the rust fall on the floor in the garage. (seriously). So is it just a bad frame design or inferior metal used in the TJ's. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

What's this "rust" you speak of?

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TJ Rubicus said:
Hello All,
I just had the occasion to crawl under my 05 TJ and was surprised to see how fast the rust begins when the undercoating (fluid film) wears off. I spray the undercarriage and inside the body panels every year with Fluid Film rustproofing. I buy it in the 5 gallon pails and spray it very generously. Being an old auto body guy, I try to stay on top of it. My question is: Is it just the Tj's that are so prone to rusting. I have owned a CJ, 2TJ's, a JK and a JL, and the only ones that seem to have serious rust issues are the TJ's. I had a 97 TJ that you could pretty near watch the rust fall on the floor in the garage. (seriously). So is it just a bad frame design or inferior metal used in the TJ's. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

I have a 1997 TJ Sport, and all my components underneath are black rubber coated. I touched the frame rails with my finger nails and it's evident that it's a rubber coat. I asked in a thread if there was a undercoat factory option. Because, I did custom order my Jeep. And, if it was listed as an option, I definitely would have got it. Everything under my Jeep is black rubber coated, except the exhaust system, and inside of those horizontal shocks(I forget what they're called). So, it had to have been done during assembly. My mechanic told me that I should get it steam cleaned underneath and I see why. There is a lot of black grease and dirt over the undercoat, and it would look real nice if I had it steam cleaned. The only factory option that I regret not getting is a winch, although I would probably never use it. I just like getting all the fun and useful options, when first buying a new vehicle, so that everything is original. I would have got a Sahara, but I absolutely deplored those green seats. I didn't want to sit in or on anything that looks the color of barf. But, I love spending it.
 
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Chris said:
Yes, they do. All vehicles rust just as bad in the wrong conditions. If it came from the Earth it’s natural state is to want to return to the Earth.
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I agree, but explain this. Plastic comes from the earth, yet it is arguably the most formidable material known to earth. It's half-life has got to be greater than radioactive matter.
 
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ChasUGC said:
I agree, but explain this. Plastic comes from the earth, yet it is arguably the most formidable material known to earth. It's half-life has got to be greater than radioactive matter.
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True, but it still returns to the Earth. Just takes a LONG time.
 
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While we're on the topic, I know that the CJ's had their roller installed PRIOR to paint, so you ended up with bare metal under the rollbar mounts. Does anyone know if TJ's were built similarly? Obviously I could just remove the rollbar and look, but taking strangers word for it over the internet is so much easier.
 
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