2005 Tundra Rust Question

Hi All,

I just moved to the rust belt from Washington State. My wife and I are looking for a Winter Tundra as to not destroy our 2014 TRD Pro. I saw this one with 130k miles and these pictures of the frame. The car is immaculate inside and out but unsure how far along the rust is and seems to be on the welds. Any info appreciated!

 

Definitely surface rust. Will need to be wire brushed and treated BEFORE it becomes an actual problem. I recommend POR-15 for a rust encapsulator. Moving forward you can just treat the rest with fluid film yearly.

 

I’d get it on a lift and have someone thoroughly inspect the whole frame for integrity. I’ve been through it 3 times on first gens. What looks ok in pics and crawling around under it in the dark can turn into a nightmare once you get a closer look. I personally wouldn’t buy another first gen unless the frame was replaced already.

 

My 06 original frame looks factory fresh

 

Funny you say that because pretty much all 2nd gens don’t have much rust

 

I could prove you wrong on that assumption. I was just looking under one being sold at a gas station 2 days ago.

 

If well taken care of in the right part of the country they can last, but OP said he just moved to the rust belt so I’m assuming he is looking at a rust belt tundra. If not undercoated every year they don’t stand a chance with those rust prone frames in my area.

2nd gens don’t usually have the same rusty frame (to the point of failure) issue unless it’s one of the first few years 07-10 maybe? Those first few years they might as well be a 1st gen, I don’t remember which years the recall affected.

 

I have a 04’ with close to 300,000 miles. That frame looks brand new compared to my truck. It is a Midwest truck rust belt truck I’ve owned since new. I didn’t do any rust treatments at all. My truck was around the frame recall…I saw them do the test. They took a air chisel and poked in a few spots on the frame. It needed to poke through…for me to get a new frame. I was hoping but no luck. I wouldn’t worry about the surface rust on that at all. My truck will be lucky to get through the set of tires I put on this year. Which will be around 21’ years and 350,000 miles. That’s her and my goal anyway…but the rust is coming hard everywhere now.

 

This is the right answer. ^^

I have so many generally rust-free-frame trucks around me in Atlanta going for $8k-11k right now, I wouldn't pay more than $7-8k for what I'm seeing in that pic, if it's more than $10k, I think you'd be nuts to buy it.

Is it horrible? No, it's not the worst we've seen. Does it need work? Absolutely, if you want it to last more than 3-5 years being rust-belt driven in winter, you'll want to treat the rust, then get yearly Fluid Film or similar treatments.

 

I'm currently considering an '05 Tundra too so figured this would be a good thread to jump into. These pics are from a RCLB 4x4 that's been owned in Nevada and California. Least rust I've found on one in two months of searching but still far from the pristine images I've seen of shifty's '06. It's on the other side of the country from me, so my next step would be to get a pre-purchase inspection done by a local mechanic. See any reason to hold off here?

 

The fact that the underside of the bed has no rust tells me any you encounter is surface rust at worst.

 

It looks to me like it got used as a truck!

Appears the majority of the worst is actually on the aftermarket trailer hitch, which is not unusual at all. You may want to toss that, and toss that jankety-ass trailer wiring, those goddamn splices are utter garbage.

I would feel confident buying it. The bit of rust on that bed support and on the bed bolts ... It'll brush off. I'd pull the bed bolts, one side at a time, wire brush them and toss in Evap-o-Rust overnight, rinse per the directions, then soak in penetrant overnight and reinstall with anti-seize for 2-3 days. Then reinstall and pull the other side.

A little wire brush on the rusty spots of the frame, then hit with satin-black Rustoleum, let bake on for a few days. Wipe down the frame with a greasy towel.

 

That's gotta be a west coast truck. Been driving up and down the central valley hauling tomato's all its life. Listen to us guys from the northeast, you have no concerns about the surface rust on those welds. Looks like a good find, lucky you.