[special-K]

I'd drive a not so special 67-72 all winter if I had a heated wash bay. I only drove these trucks for 25-30 years before taking them off the road for winter. And I would hit the car wash a couple times a week...mostly concerned with washing out up and under throughout the body. Ice coating the car wash floor and a shell of ice would form all over it.

But there is nothing to do to prevent the rust. I would never run one that had not rusted out before, obviously. I have run them after repairs and they rot out exactly where it was fixed ASAP. I opened up and made drain holes, too. But winter is a moist environment (when not freezing) and everything can't wash out. It's the fine stuff that packs into corners/nooks that eats it up. You get that stuff even when driving on dry salted roads.

Years ago I went with one for winter and one for summer. I'd get the one back in shape while the other was in use. But eventually the winter truck got to far gone to restore.

I don't drive my truck splashing along the beach and I don't drive on salty roads.