I always brushed off using seam sealer, but a rusty floor pan changed my mind
I thought seam sealer was just for looks and skipped it on repairs to save time. Then I fixed an old car's floor and moisture got in, causing rust to come back fast. Now I seal every seam properly, and it actually keeps water out, lmao. That one job taught me to not cut corners.
Ever see how people avoid the right fix because it seems messy or slow? Like putting a bandaid on a blister instead of changing shoes, just makes it worse later. Or using duct tape on a leaky pipe instead of replacing the washer. Skipping the proper step feels faster, but it always circles back as a bigger problem. That rusty floor is just one version of that.
My 1987 Toyota pickup taught me the same lesson. I left a seam open on the bed repair and within a year it was rusted through. Proper seam sealer does not trap moisture if you apply it to clean, dry metal. It creates a barrier that keeps water out in the first place. Skipping it is like leaving a door open for rust to walk right in. Now I spend the extra ten minutes to do it right every time.