Outer Limits 4x4 Board

hey guys, I've just bought a GU ute and need to get some rust protection happening as i plan on doing some beach work. I'm after your opinions of what brands, types etc. I've looked on the net a bit but every brand claims theirs is the best and it gets a bit confusing.
thanks for your input
Lloyd

Ive got ERPS, I have no idea if it is good or not but I don't have any rust. Neither should I though as my car is only 12 months old.

I got the erps because it has 6 contact pads instead of the 2 pads some others use. I figured (uneducated) that it should be better.

have a CAT one on our old navara, I don't believe they work that well, (ask mud4b how my truck looks now) better off saving the $$ and get a spray on and keep her oiled, wash her well after every trip and keep spraying the rust proofing on every year or two. I did alot o kays up the beach here and that seems to be the best way to go.

ERPS definately have a good rap from quite a few pro fishermen...

ERPS have 4, 6 and 10 coupler kits and spare parts are available.

Cheers

I had ERPS on a pathfinder and had nothing but problems with it. The first unit failed (light went out) took it back and they gave me another unit that i connected to the existing pads. The second unit after about 5 months melted all the wires and it stopped working light out again with melted wiring. Rang them up but it was all too hard.

Traded the pathfinder in then and yes it had signs of rust starting...

I would strongly recommend against them and go the spray on rust proofing.

I have a couplertec system on mine and i reckon it works pretty well.
Had a couple bits of surface rust on the roof where the paint went bad and around the clutch reservoir where it had leaked fluid and found that since the couplertec had been connected it went a black colour (kinda like using that rust converter stuff) and not progressed further. I've now painted it as well and i've had no other signs of rust.
I do however wash out any mud and when there has been beach runs always give it a thorough rinse as well. Just because there is a system installed it wont stop rust completely if you dont bother to clean out any mud or salt that gets in those hidden places.

I'm not entirely convinced with the electronic rust proofing systems. I've heard good things about the protective coatings you can have applied underneath though. Protecting inside the chassis rails and places you cannot see is different again and an ERPS might help there.

I think about it this way. A lot of people who buy ERPS's look after thier vehicles anyway so will probably not see signs of corrosion in the time they own that vehicle.

We have a 3 year old hilux that has had ERPS unit on it from day 1, it is the only one of our 5 utes that has not started rusting.
I beleive it works

we got a 10 year full replacement warranty on our jimny when we had one fitted last year.
The jimny is only 8 months old so no rust yet,but they will replace the car if it gets any structual rust and fix any other rust for 10 years so they must work if thier that confident.

thanks for your input so far guys. I am planning on doing the underbody spray as well. I've had an old hilux that i washed well after every beach trip but it still broke out in rust. not what I want on this ute.

omlet wrote:thanks for your input so far guys. I am planning on doing the underbody spray as well. I've had an old hilux that i washed well after every beach trip but it still broke out in rust. not what I want on this ute.

Why not do a trial and post the results.
Get 2 identical bolts, grind any coating off the heads (if any) and attach one to the body (remove an existing bolt and replace it) then attach the other one through the mudflap so that it is insulated from the body. Have them close together so that they get the same water spray etc. Compare the results and let us know.

good idea. I'm thinking of going couplertec. found a heavy duty unit they use on surf life saving gear. a mate has a couplertec sys but he hasn't got his hooked up proper and his is starting to rust.

ive had a HD couplertec one for about 4 years and have done a fair amount of beach. It struggles a bit keeping the rust off the totally scratched steel tray, but thats asking a lot of it. Where its obvious is the body work, heavily scratched back to metal doesnt get more than surface rust, and comparing screws side by side, the electrically isolated ones get heavy rusting very quickly, but the others not at all.

Its just one of those things that helps, but you cant expect it to be a total solution.

Glad i did it though.