UNDERSEALING is it worth it in the UK.

[OldAgeTravellers]

My Hymer B614SL has spent most of its life in the sun in the South of France and beyond, so has zero chassis rust. We have now moved back to the UK midlands, should I consider getting it undersealed, WaxOiled or whatever. If so any suggestions and potential costs?
Steve

 

[Figaro]

Interesting question, does it have an Alko chassis ?

 

[PP Bear]

Even with an Alko chassis, I completely undersealed mine (less the Alko, except where it’s bolted to the front cab), removed the inner wing wheel covers and undersealed as well. It’s got to be worth it in my opinion as they still salt the roads, which then sits in the local swimming pools know as pot holes and ready to soak the chassis and all other components.

Did the same to the car, very satisfying indeedy

l used this, easy to apply

Amazon product ASIN B002HMW1ME

 

[OldAgeTravellers]

Even with an Alko chassis, I completely undersealed mine (less the Alko, except where it’s bolted to the front cab), removed the inner wing wheel covers and undersealed as well. It’s got to be worth it in my opinion as they still salt the roads, which then sits in the local swimming pools know as pot holes and ready to soak the chassis and all other components.

Did the same to the car, very satisfying indeedy

l used this, easy to apply

Amazon product ASIN B002HMW1ME

What the whole Motorhome?

 

[OldAgeTravellers]

Interesting question, does it have an Alko chassis ?

Yes it an Alko chassis. I will always remember the horror in a French mechanics voice when he looked under my English Motorhome with an Alko chassis. He said he had never seen so much rust. When I looked with him there was just the normal rust as found on all UK vehicles.

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[PP Bear]

What the whole Motorhome?

Undersealed the entire front end, all the subframes, inner wings, behind the headlights, wherever I could get the spray too, it got undersealed. Removed inner wing plastic shield and did all the inner side, and behind headlights.

Careful not to cover the handbrake cables and assemblies, but near everything else is undersealed. You kind of get carried away with the cans, but it’s really satisfying when it’s done

 

[Just smiffy]

My 12yr old new to me van has had it done in the past and I can’t believe the condition underneath, it’s like new..

 

[Tombola]

Undersealed the entire front end, all the subframes, inner wings, behind the headlights, wherever I could get the spray too, it got undersealed. Removed inner wing plastic shield and did all the inner side, and behind headlights.

Careful not to cover the handbrake cables and assemblies, but near everything else is undersealed. You kind of get carried away with the cans, but it’s really satisfying when it’s done

How many cans PP Bear ?

 

[PP Bear]

I think I ended up using around 6-8 cans in total, but honestly can give an accurate figure, as I did the van and then the car. Got mine with the trade card at Halfrauds

 

[PP Bear]

Didn’t take any pictures of doing the van, less behind the headlights, but did with the car.

Any rusty areas like behind my headlights, were rubbed down, rust treated before spraying with the underseal.

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[3alpacas]

have always undersealed my bottoms with waxoil .

Having seen the varying degrees of rust on the undersides of Sevel (Ducato, Relay, Boxer) of similar ages (as well as starting with my minis in the 1980's!) I subscribe to the 'no oxygen/no rust' mantra.

I see that you mention living in the Midlands - I was taught never to buy a vehicle from the coast (salty air and roads), and to be aware of whether the vehicle is likely to have been in such areas (as well as driven over gritty roads)....which could of course mean in-country roads.

For a small amount of money and time, if I'm keeping the vehicle for a long time and taking it through salty environments, then it's probably worth prevention rather than cure (I managed to pull the entire body off the sub-frames of a mini by hand once because of the rust!).

 

[Figaro]

Yes it an Alko chassis. I will always remember the horror in a French mechanics voice when he looked under my English Motorhome with an Alko chassis. He said he had never seen so much rust. When I looked with him there was just the normal rust as found on all UK vehicles.

The Alko chassis is galvanized so shouldn't need any treatment as far as I'm aware.
So there's only the cab bit at the front that might need attention.
My 2003 hymer cab area was treated at new I think, but I don't know what with, it's kept it pretty well rust free. The only rust really is to the front sub frame and my mot man tells me it's just unavoidable surface rust and not to worry about it.
I do have waxoil cans and squirt some in whenever I'm under there.

 

[gus-lopez]

I have a 2007 spanish transit pvc which comes with complete underbody coating of some sort . It is like new underneath. I bought a gallon of waxoil when in the Uk & recovered everything i could get at underneath & all around the engine area that has far less chassis protection. Even the exhaust is the original. My last 1989 ducato it was a pleasure to lie underneath & admire a completely rust free highly polished chassis.

 

[Spriddler]

I CBA'd to faff around with that. Besides, I stop using mine long before the roads need salting and don't start again until after any salting has long washed away.

 

[bigwood]

Since I lost the use of a workshop with unlimited air supply to underseal vehicles I now use Bilt and Hamber. The large spray cans come with long pipes to enable you to get into cavities.

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[Guigsy]

I had a 2007 x250 van. It started life as a work van, so was used in all weathers. It was then converted and used by a guy that loved kite surfing. The van was full of sand when we got it. When I sold it a couple of years ago, there was very little rust. Some of the brackets in the engine bay like the washer bottle holder were pretty orange. And the after market tow bar was crusty. I did have some rust bubbles on the cill under the driver's door sorted, but that's not something these products will help with. My opinion is the Ducato has pretty good rust protection from the factory.

 

[TheBig1]

Speaking as somebody that has spent too many hours under vans dealing with hidden problems, underseal is great if done from brand new, using the clear waxoyl. The black stuff, especially the bitumen based ones are an absolute curse, as they hide the rust that starts inside the panels and rails until it is really bad. Many times I have looked under an undersealed vehicle that looks in good condition, only to hear loose rust on taping an area or worse still pushed a finger straight through

Then when rust is at an advanced stage it is a nightmare to clean the crap off to safely weld it. Underseal can actually shorten the life of a vehicle rather than extend it

 

[OldAgeTravellers]

Underseal can actually shorten the life of a vehicle rather than extend it

So is WaxOil ok?

 

[TheBig1]

So is WaxOil ok?

If done before any rust starts and you use the clear version, it is the least bad option

 

[68c]

Trying to weld something covered in an inflamable substance, like the tarry black underseal or greasy waxoil can soon result in a fire. Even worse if inside chassis rails as you cannot clean it off first. Great on a newish vehicle before rust has got a hold and will hold it at bay for a time. But too late if already rusty as weld repairs are inevitable.

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[Northernraider]

Like everything preparation is key . If you don't clean it properly and treat any rust spots then it's pointless. Also be aware if the underseal gets chipped and water gets under it then the metal can rust beneath the underseal and is unseen until its done the damage. Personally I prefer to clean the underside and paint it with a couple of good coats of hammerite or similar. Flexible underseal has been the death of many cars in history.

 

[OldAgeTravellers]

OK thanks all, looks like it is better to just keep an eye on it and treat any dodgy looking bits. Will have to ask the MOT guy to let me have a look each year when it is up on the ramps.

 

[Wissel]

I've started using Lanoguard on customer vehicles and my own. Seems a very good product and has a great FB group for questions:

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Also, it isn't flammable, so no issues with welding.

 

[3crispies]

completely removed all old underseal as it was flakey and used raptor on old camper, will be using same on new pvc. Best product out there but like everything prep is everything. Why dont new ducatos have plastic front arch liners !!!

 

[TheBig1]

OK thanks all, looks like it is better to just keep an eye on it and treat any dodgy looking bits. Will have to ask the MOT guy to let me have a look each year when it is up on the ramps.

I would not let a customer into a pit or under a ramp. Far too much risk and could finish a business off these days. I ask for a video report and that is much easier for them to arrange

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[JockandRita]

I've started using Lanoguard on customer vehicles and my own. Seems a very good product and has a great FB group for questions:

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Also, it isn't flammable, so no issues with welding.

I did the complete underside of our 8.5m Iveco chassis with Lanoguard last year. The driveway stunk of a farmyard for days afterwards.

My mechanic pal was so impressed with the results, that he now uses it on customers vehicles.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[OldAgeTravellers]

I would not let a customer into a pit or under a ramp. Far too much risk and could finish a business off these days. I ask for a video report and that is much easier for them to arrange

Oh dear,Elf-n-Safety in the UK is bonkers!

 

[JockandRita]

I would not let a customer into a pit or under a ramp. Far too much risk and could finish a business off these days. I ask for a video report and that is much easier for them to arrange

I was escorted down the pit of an official DVSA HGV MOT Station, before driving the MH on to the brake test rollers. I assessed the risk to my safety, which was minimal.
I was pleased of the opportunity to do so, where the tester highlighted minor cracking of the rear airbags, as the only item to keep an eye on.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[CazPaul]

I just used spray grease

 

[JockandRita]

I just used spray grease

I wouldn't want to be the mechanic that has to work on your MH chassis Paul.

Cheers,

Jock.