Truck beds are prone to rusting earlier than other parts of your truck due to various environmental factors. If you want to ensure your truck bed serves your needs for an extended time, you need to fix the problem expeditiously.
Rust is entirely treatable. What’s more? You can choose to avoid the problem simply by understanding what causes rust and how to take care of the issue once it occurs.
In this detailed brief, we’ll explain how to fix rust and offer a few tips on preventing this issue from happening to your Truck Bed. Without further delay, let’s dive in.
Table of Contents
How To Fix a Rusty Truck Bed
Before fixing a rusty truck bed, you need to analyze the extent of the damage. That way, you’ll find a practical solution that will work out!
Here’s what you’ll need for the process:
Sandpaper: 150 & 80 grit-type
- Wire Brush
- Rust Remover/Restorer
- Breathing Mask
- Paint
- Paint Primer
- Rust-resistant primer
Step 1: Cover the Unaffected Areas
Since you will be scraping off the rusted areas using sandpaper and a wire brush, begin by covering the unaffected areas with masking tape or a specific type of paper. This precautionary measure ensures these areas aren’t negatively impacted during the cleaning process.
You can add a few layers of masking tape to ensure the areas are completely secure from unexpected damages. Once you have covered the areas that aren’t affected by rust, you can begin working on the rusted areas.
Step 2: Scrape off the rust using a wire brush
After securely covering the unaffected areas, scrape off the rust on the impacted areas using a wire brush. A wire brush allows you to remove rust that has formed on large areas.
It’s best to be keen while using a wire brush to avoid scratching unimpacted areas. Also, this task requires strength and willpower since the ultimate goal is to get rid of huge chunks of rust.
If the hole gets wider as you are removing the rust—don’t fret. Instead, continue scraping until the rust is gone.
Step 3: Utilize Sandpaper to get rid of remaining rust
Since a wire brush removes rust in bulky areas at once, you might end up missing some spots. Therefore, you need to use sandpaper to omit the remaining rust.
Proceed to sand down any areas that have rust using 80-grit sandpaper. Also, since rust can form in painted areas, you can use sandpaper to get rid of the remaining rust under the paint.
Lastly, smoothen the areas using 150-grit sandpaper.
Step 4: Clean the Dust and Sediment
Once the rust on your truck bed is removed, you need to clean the dust and sediment that formed while sanding the rusted areas. Keenly inspect to ensure there is no corrosion left on your truck bed.
Step 5: If the Rust Damage is Extreme, Use a rust restorer or remover
At times, you’ll have to utilize a rust restorer or remover if the damage is severe. This step will give you the confirmation you need. What’s more? Since you might miss some spots while using a wire brush and sandpaper, a rust remover will take care of those areas.
To prevent further damage, read the instructions on the package.
Step 6: Use a body filler to cover patches
To get rid of the holes caused by rust, you can use body fillers. Before investing in a body filler, ensure it will meet your needs by conducting thorough research. Also, follow the instructions to avoid unintended problems.
It’s important to note that body fillers tend to dry quickly. Therefore, work as soon as possible once you combine the mixture.
Since you might be worried whether the job looks good or not, don’t worry since it doesn’t matter. For now, all you have to do is to fill the hole.
Step 7: Smoothen the patches using a sandpaper
Allow the body patches to dry for about two hours. Next, you can proceed to smoothen out the surfaces with 150 grit sandpaper.
Step 8: Apply coats of primer
Once there is no rust on the truck bed, you can apply a few coats of primer as a preventative measure. Once the primer dries out completely, you can use 150 grit sandpaper to remove any remaining rust.
Step 9: Paint The Area
Allow the truck to dry for about 10 hours. Later on, you can paint three coats of body paint. It’s best to sand down the area after each coat to get good results.
Step 10: Apply a Clear coat for Aesthetic purposes
Lastly, apply a clear coat of body paint to give your car an irresistible look.
Step 11: Clean The Surface
Once you are done with the cleaning process, remove the masking tape around the areas that aren’t affected and clean the truck bed with a soft towel and water.
Note: Don’t forget to wear protective gear such as safety glasses and a breathing mask while using a Sandpaper and Wire brush.
How To Prevent Rusting
Since truck beds are vulnerable to rust, it’s best to maintain your truck to avoid facing this problem once again. Here are a few tips to prevent rusting:
- Wash your Truck Bed routinely: One of the best ways to prevent rust is cleaning your Truck. Some elements that attack your truck bed, making it prone to rust, aren’t visible. Therefore, it’s best to keep it clean to remove these elements.
- Utilize an anti-rusting coat: You can purchase a high-quality anti-rusting coat off the shelf. If you live in a harsh environment, it’s best to apply an anti-rust coat to your Truck.
- Assess your Truck: While washing or using your Truck in any way, inspect it regularly to ensure rust is not forming. Once you notice rust has begun to spread on the truck bed, it’s best to deal with it as early as possible.
Final Words
Without a doubt, truck beds are susceptible to rusting quicker than other parts of the truck since they are used to carry bulky items while moving, camping, making picnics, and so on.
Also, truck beds are affected mainly by a harsh environment. Therefore, you need to set in place effective preventive measures.
On the other hand, if rust begins to form on your truck bed, you can use our tips to get rid of the problem.
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