Rust question

Looking at a potential new truck and the alloy wheels have some corrosion on them from salt. Is that a good indicator that the frame may be in bad shape too? I can see some rust on the frame but not sure if it's just superficial or if it's a bad sign!

 

What year truck? I would crawl underneath and take a real good look. If you can take some pics, people here can tell you to buy, or run away. Good luck.

 

Year and location needed. Pictures help too. Though corroded alloys probably means a good amount of rust underneath.

Besides the frame rails you should look at rust on the suspension, brakes, brake lines, frame crossmembers, bed floor around the wheel wells, bed crossmembers, trailer hitch, bumper and bumper mounting brackets. Rust isnt immediately a bad thing depending on the location. For example, a rust hole in the bed is not a safety or structural issue compared to a hole in the frame.

Also the type of rust is important. Rust scale is not bad and can be oiled. Rust bubbles are when things get bad.

 

Agree with all the above and remember, it's not the rust that you can see that will get you, it's the rust you can't see that will.

 

if you don't want to get dirty, pay a mechanic to check it out