Hydraulic cylinder rod rust prevention

Oily rag draped over the exposed rods and covered with some sort of plastic or tarp if they are exposed to precipitation.

I have a similar situation I am not dealing with right now. I have an old forklift mast that was converted to mount on a tractor 3 pt hitch before I got it. It had been sitting out in the weather for 10 years or so but when I put some hoses on it and extended the single acting cylinder it came out looking pretty good and piston seal doesn't seem to leak. Only problem is i haven't gotten it to go back down yet so it is sitting exposed to the weather with the black steel rod out in the open. I have been painting it with oil every now and then but exposed like that it quickly disappears.

Disconnect the rods and suck them in? Nothing stops rust on the Oregon coast. Chrome tools in your barn will rust. Move to the desert. LOL

i use wheel bearing grease for its anti oxidation properties. apply with a cheap paint brush.

00 grease that is in your track roller pump is what we always painted plow moldboards with.