How much rust is too much?

how much rust is too much rust? this is on a 2003 AC with 200k for $5k.

a little context if it matters -
my car is on its last leg and i’ve become a bit obsessed with first gen tundras so i’ve been looking non stop. i live in utah a majority are rusted out or over priced. i’ve been trying to justify spending more and more to get one. this is something i could buy cash and just drive until its unsafe from rust or dies but i’m wondering how long that will be. in my head this would be a placeholder until i could save up a bit more and find exactly what im looking for.

 

A lot of that looks like surface rust, at least on my phone.

 

I agree those pics don't look that bad at all. That being said, you need to climb under there to make sure it all looks that good. Good luck.

 

Look with a hammer. And check the crossmember above the spare.

or find a southern truck.

 

I did just see one spot on the frame you might want to check closer if you go to look at it.

 

At first I thought it was a typo and you meant 2023, "A face only a mother could love".

 

The mind sees what it wants

 

Uh, I could be wrong but some of that actually looks like dirt to me. My frame looks like that now after driving in Arizona. I've been slowly wiping it off as I'm under the truck.

I agree with the others you need to poke around more. Check the spare tire crossmember. Nothing in these pictures would scare me off initially.

Good luck!

 

Doesn't look too bad. Could just be dirt build up like @FirstGenVol said. AZ is just south of you. Have you looked around there? We got a few members from there I'm sure wouldn't mind looking at a truck you find for a 6 pack or a free lunch.

 

It looks like what we'd typically see out of a Colorado truck on here.

But honestly, you didn't take pics of any of the normal problem spots. So it's tough to say.

 

the X-shaped crossmember above the spare tire intersects the long framerails. Check the shock and leaf spring mounts. Check inside each framerail,towards the rear of the cab,where Toyota riveted in extraframe stiffeners

this is what i should look at? any other problem spots to check?

 

thank you guys for the input

 

You read that thread, good on ya.

Those spots are the really big ones. If you have access to the truck and you've got a ballpeen hammer, bring it. Tap around on the frame with the rounded side, make sure you're getting a good ping. Check the diagonal boxes where the body and bed mount to the frame, especially where they meet the frame. Shine a light through factory-drilled holes in the frame.

If the truck has ever come in contact with salted roads, you should expect to find rust at every/any weld bead. That can and should be wire-brushed off and topped with satin-finish black Rustoleum outdoor paint. Whatever you see on the outside is likely on the inside of any boxed section of frame too.

The big thing I look out for is under the hood. Look at the metal clamps under the hood on misc hoses and cables - are they rusty, solid orange, or just minor flecks of orange? What about the bolt heads, like those holding the radiator support on - are they rusty? Southern trucks like mine usually have zero rust, not even little flecks. Why is it important? You're ultimately going to need to remove those bolts for something-or-other. Every rusty bolt is a fight (or snapped fastener) waiting to happen.

PS - if you can get a CarFax on that truck, you should be able to see what states it was registered in. Anything in the midwest or rust belt should leave you with concerns. We've seen some pretty gnarly Utah frames on here though...

 

What rust? As far as toyotas go, that frame looks pretty good, especially after 20 years.

Mine looks like a sunken barge underneath but I'm still able to replace ball joints and steering components with.. some coercion.

 

Looks okay from the photos