When you plan to go outside on your vacations, you drive in your truck and go to places. While you are having fun, it is important that you should take care of your truck bed like the same way you do with your body after a tiring day. It is important to protect your truck bed from dust and rust. This is a major problem, which starts when your truck starts aging or overexposed to water and oxygen. It may cause rust holes in your truck. As it is a popular saying that Prevention is better than cure. Many truck owners uses truck bed liners to prevent the rust the bed. Sometimes if you see a small hole on your truck bed, it is the time to repair it, before it is too late. Often, people think that it is difficult to fix holes at home and they run to garages – pay them money for small works. The better option is to do some research and fix the truck. In this article, you will find a systematic process of fixing a rusted truck bed.
How To Fix A Rust Holes In A Truck Bed?
Here is the step by step procedure about fixing the rust holes in a truck bed. Everything explained in a detail like the required material to fix the rust, procedure, precautions etc.
STEP 1: MATERIAL YOU NEED
Get your toolbox, search for items like Electric drill with a sanding disc attachment, a hammer, paint and paint primer or a rust-resistant primer – I, metal grinder(120 grit sandpaper), dual-action sandpaper(80-150 grit), sandpaper 400 grit, rust removing acid-I, for safety purpose use breathing mask or respirator and protective goggles.
STEP 2: FIND RUSTED HOLES
Now, follow the steps given below:
1. PREP YOUR TRUCK BED
Before you start repairing the rust, you should prep the area. You can use masking tape or newspaper. Cover the surrounding area of the truck to prevent the nearby damage to its parts.
2. SAND OFF/ REMOVE THE PAINT
It is not just removing the paint but also removing the rust. The best way is to use sandpaper of 80 – 150 grit to remove the paint.
3. GRIND OUT THE RUST
Grind away the rust completely, until you reach the bare metal. You do not need to worry, if you break through the metal because you will be filling it with a patching kit. Use protective glasses and gloves while doing it. You can use a rust remover.
4. APPLY THE RUST PRIMER
Take paint as per the color of your truck and paint the surrounding of the rust hole with primer. The rust primer helps to create a protective coating, which seals the metal from moisture exposure and it prevents damage.
5. USE THE BODY PRIMER
Prepare the body filler paste by mixing the paste as per instructions given on the product. Always keep in mind that if you add too much hardener, your paste will harden too quickly. Place the zinc metal mesh, which came with the kit on the rust hole and apply the body filler you prepare.
6. SANDING OFF THE DRIED FILLER
Now, it is time for smoothening out the dried filler by using the sandpaper. Take a 150 grit paper and fine the surface properly. Apply the primer to prevent rust from coming back and brush of the surface using sandpaper. You can apply layers of sandpaper to protect your hole.
7. PAINT YOUR TRUCK BED
After you have cleaned the surface, start painting the bed. Do the paint in few coatings. Each time apply a thin coat and let it dry. Do this for a second coat and let it dry. Repeat the steps for three coats of paint. Sand the surface with 400-grit sandpaper and use water.
8. MAKE IT CLEAR
Now, apply a clear coat to prevent other layers from damage. This will give your truck bed a glossy look.
9. CLEAN UP THE SURFACE
Take off the marking tapes, clean it using a clean cloth and wax the area.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) :
Conclusion
Your truck bed is your partner of fun and keeping it rust-free will let you enjoy more with it. It is common that trucks can easily get rust. However, it is easy to fix rusted holes in the truck bed. In the market, there are many ways to prevent rusting. You can use spray-in bed liners. This will create an airtight seal between the bed and the liner. It is big expensive but prevents your truck from rusting.
