Over/up here in New England, I wonder about a fully boxed frame rotting out from the inside out. Has GM figured out a way to prevent this?

The front frame section has been boxed for years, so, No, I ain't worried.

Over/up here in New England, I wonder about a fully boxed frame rotting out from the inside out. Has GM figured out a way to prevent this?
yeah right they can't even figure out how to fix leaky tranny line I bet they didn't undercut the inside that box frame either ........I won't by a box frame truck.........C channel is tried and true........just wait and see how many people complain about frame rusting through in odd ball places

The front frame section has been boxed for years, so, No, I ain't worried.

Ain't worried.....not yet

Where u been hiding At ....haven't seen you in here for a while

Dodge's frames and been boxed for years, since 2002 I believe, when their "hydroformed" frames were introduced. And Ford's front frame sections have been boxed for quite some time. I don't see it being a problem.

Drain holes are designed into every vehicle for this purpose.

These are originally put in place to help e-coat drain during the paint process (meaning that the interior of the frame is also coated).

There isn't a need to worry in 99%+ of customer experiences.

-bZj

I don't think I would be worried. My town is like the salt mines during the winter. My LBZ is 4 years old and looks mahhhvalous! Seriously I like the coating they put on the frame. It has a few spots here and there but looks way better then trucks I have owned in the past. And yes every truck has been boxed under the cab for how long now?

I don't think it would be a problem, don't understand why just don't rinse there trucks off when they have been through something that may cause rust.

I don't think it would be a problem, don't understand why just don't rinse there trucks off when they have been through something that may cause rust.
Cause I'd get dirty, AND, water freezes at 32F, in case you were sleeping in science class.

I don't think it would be a problem, don't understand why just don't rinse there trucks off when they have been through something that may cause rust.

You obviously haven't ever been through a real winter in a place that gets lots of snow and ice. The highway DOT puts gallons and gallons of salt solution on the roads every time they think there might be some freezing precipitation. THEN when the snow/ice actually comes, they put gallons of salt down again and TONS of sand/salt mixture EVERYWHERE. (all of this causes rust) This proccess is repeated multiple times throughout the winter. You would literally have to wash your truck everytime you drive it. IF you have a heated garage/shop to rinse your vehicle off (I'm fortunate enough to have one) and you cannot wait 2 days for everything to dry out, your doors, windows and locks will freeze solid.

yeah right they can't even figure out how to fix leaky tranny line I bet they didn't undercut the inside that box frame either ........I won't by a box frame truck.........C channel is tried and true........just wait and see how many people complain about frame rusting through in odd ball places

:rolleyes:Plenty of trucks have boxed frames and don't rust through...go back to school kiddo...

-Rob

Cause I'd get dirty, AND, water freezes at 32F, in case you were sleeping in science class.
No just didn't think of it since I don't deal with that kind of weather, but if you are afraid of getting dirty stick to cars.

Boxed frames do not have a good track record in New England. Wet, snowy, salty, winters, humid summers, big temperature swings, condensation, we have all the ingredients for rust. Box framed Toyotas and Jeeps rot in half here. If the frames don't have a valley where all the moisture and contaminants can collect they should be okay.

Its simple to keep it rust free, Oil spray the crap out of it twice a year and keep it washed and clean when the winter weather allows.

I think the boxed frames are a bad idea long term as well. The older GM trucks like mine rot at the front frame horns and on plow trucks they will rip the bottom sections rite off.

I also think boxed frames anywhere that sees alot of snow ice salt sand are abad idea. If you keep it clean shouldn't be a problem people that don't should be interesting in 3-5 years.

The Savanna and Express full size vans have had boxed frames since 1996. Have not heard of any rust issues with them.

The Savanna and Express full size vans have had boxed frames since 1996. Have not heard of any rust issues with them.

since 96 is not what I consider long term. I was thinking over 20 years. Will we still have decent 30 year old trucks around like in the past? Maybe it won't matter as everything is designed to be replaced to keep the economy working

Boxed frames do not have a good track record in New England. Wet, snowy, salty, winters, humid summers, big temperature swings, condensation, we have all the ingredients for rust. Box framed Toyotas and Jeeps rot in half here. If the frames don't have a valley where all the moisture and contaminants can collect they should be okay.

I agree with everything here.

Granted, any toyota will rust out regardless....but.... :D

My gut would lean towards NO, I dont like the idea of a boxed frame as far as the risk of rusting out sooner. But on the other hand, with the metal/coating technology today in both rust prevention AND durability testing, I dont think it will be a problem.

Today we have the the technology to test/simulate some pretty nasty and harsh conditions. Im sure GM knows the 'risk' of having a boxed frame and Im confident they did plenty of acellerated corrosion durability testing with the new frame. For example they put it in some test cell that simulates 20 years of salt/abuse etc... to make sure it wont rust out.

ben