precioustime
Miami
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In what condition is the underneath part of the average Class B chasis that travels in the northern parts where there is snow, ice and salt? I bought a NEW 2011 Thor Chateau Citation Class B plus and it is not only rusty underneath but many of the metal frame is CORRODED! Is this normal? It has never been used but I believe it traveled from rv show to rv show up north during the snowy season. I bought it in Florida. Some of the bolts are corroded! Even hinges of the exterior compartments are rusty. Can anything be applied to this metal on the chasis to keep it from further damage? What about applying a product called Ospho then another material on top of that? Should I have to accept this if the rv was new?
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pulsar
Lewisville, NC
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Moved from Technology Corner.
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Ka Ron
Kelowna
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Sounds more like salt from sea air, not highways.
Sea air will do more damage than road salt.
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Ivylog
Blairsville, Ga. USA
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Good luck getting it stopped. I've had good luck with Ospho/phosphoric acid. I'd start by pressure washing and then the Ospho and then some type of heavy coating. I use Zophar but it's hard on your skin and lungs. I've heard of using hot bees wax mixed with old diesel oil as you want a heavy coating that stays soft. Guess you could try using LPS2-3 but you would need to spray it every year.
Dang, my brother from NH just bought a used Florida car because they do not have any rust, unlike northern cars from the road salt.
This post is my opinion (free advice). It is not intended to influence anyone's judgment nor do I advocate anyone do what I propose.
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booster
Minnesota
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Joined: 10/14/2007
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There are lots of things under our Roadtrek that I wouldn't want to see salt. Wiring connections , pump, and such. We intend to keep it out of any salt. We live in Minnesota, so we need to schedule well if we want to go anywhere south in the winter.
Rustproofing certainly would help. There are thinner, flexible, coatings for most things, but they need to be applied fairly often. The Canadian folks may know more, as I think they use that style. The heavier coatings would certainly gum up some things and make it hard to work on.
I think most RVs would have trouble with a regular diet of salty roads, protected, or not.
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MAU MAU
New Hampshire
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Joined: 01/15/2012
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Is there any possibility that your RV was previously submerged, even partially?
My home is on the ocean, and while you will see some corrosion, it usually takes a while. As it is a 2011, I would take it back to the dealer and have them rectify the problem at their expense. If they refuse, get the state general attorneys office and the BBB involved.
Best of luck..........................Rob
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OldRadios
Upstate New York
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Mines a 1985. Been owned in the Northeast all it's life but never driven in winter. Had undercoating when it was new. There is little to no rust on the chassis or under carriage. Thats after 27 years.
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diyvanner
Rhode Island
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Joined: 07/04/2007
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We use our B (2000 GMC)all year and have had extensive rust on the underneath due to the agressive chemicals (salt alternatives) they use to melt snow these days. My brake lines and transmission lines rusted through and I have a lot of rust on the frame and now the bumpers; hardly any on the underside of the floor. I think it's mostly due to the inferior plating or conversion coatings that were used and cheap recycled metal. I wash the underside often if it's a snowy winter (amazingly not once this year). With the extent of rust you describe after only one year, it sounds like it was a environmental test vehicle! I'd see if you could return it and start over. I'd be concerned about the hidden corrosion that may start fronm the inside.
If it's basically surface corrosion due to inferior metal coatings and you want to keep it, try to get some of our Northern RV'ers (Canada) to post about their annual or bi-annual rustproofing procedures at some of their local service stations.
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cm
Dillon, CO USA
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Did you buy it in Florida? Where was it built? What month was it built? If built in Indiana and driven to the dealer in Florida it may have been driven on roads treated with salt and that is where the rust is developing.
Have you taken delivery? If not you could try to cancel the deal on the basis that the RV was not in the condition you expected.
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1775
NY
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I have been told and have read on this list and others that road salt is very bad for the bottom of a Class B chassis. It was recommended to me not to drive my Class B on roads that are salted and to avoid those roads after until rain, etc has pretty much washed the salt away. Also if you do need to ride on salted roads, as soon as practical wash down the bottom of the chassis with fresh water. Someone, I believe it was on this list, had suggested putting a garden hose with a sprinkler under the chassis - of course, when it is warm enough outside, and letting that wash as much as it can reach and then moving it to get places that were missed.
If your Class B was driven in winter to RV shows in the Northeast by the dealer, it certainly was exposed to road salt.
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