Seeking advice on purchase

Hey everyone, I just picked up a 2003 SR5 TRD a few days ago for $8k. After taking a closer look, I’m starting to feel some buyers remorse due to the amount of rust I’ve found. I was hoping to get some input from the community - how serious does this rust look? Is the car even safe to drive?? Any help would be very much appreciated! Picture here:

 

It's not the worst I've seen but it's definitely got some rust. To know the full extent, you're going to go down the frame with a hammer or screwdriver and check all the suspect areas. You might have some more maintenance and repairs as some of those rusty parts will expire before the parts normally would.

You can treat some of the areas with a wire wheel on grinder or brush and then paint or fluid film. Fluid film will help protect the frame to from further spread.

 

Hey @Kimosabe, thanks for the reply and your suggestions, very much appreciated! I did the hammer test and everything "sounded" solid. Do you think bringing it into a shop for a frame inspection would be useful?

 

Hard to say. Depending on where you are a shop might do the same thing or try to scare you into buying a bunch of frame patches. Up to you and what you're willing to do.
Are you considering selling it if a shop tells you it's not safe? What are you're concerns, and what are you looking to use it for? Very big difference and requirements depending on if it will be a trail rig, daily driver, weekend vacation home driver, etc.

 

@Kimosabe hhmm, yeah, good point. I was planning to install a camper and it for some light over-landing, mostly just gravel forest road.

 

Camper on a Sequoia?
I’d be weary about how much weight you’re adding because these trucks/SUVs are not built with a heavy payload. And again, that kind of use could mean more repairs and maintenance upfront or sooner than expected. I would just keep that in mind at least when prioritizing your purchases.

 

> Camper on a Sequoia?
My bad, should have been more clear: it's a 2003 SR5 TRD Tundra

> I would just keep that in mind at least when prioritizing your purchases.
Yeah, good point, appreciate the advice!

 

Okay that’s good to know. You posted in the 1st gen sequoia section. I should have known when I saw the leaf springs.
Ya I can say that truck campers unless they are an old light weight model or a new model, most are too heavy for our trucks payload. Especially when you add water, gas, propane, food, people, gear, etc.

Not to say you can’t get there but I’d really inspect the major points on your frame. The overlap areas where it curves up toward the bed, the shock perches, crossmembers, etc.

Ask one of the admin, maybe @T-Rex266 or @ColoradoTJ would be kind enough to have your post moved to the appropriate 1st gen section and I’m sure some people more knowledgeable than me can chime in.

 

> You posted in the 1st gen sequoia section.
Doh, complete brain fart on my end, sorry!

> Not to say you can’t get there but I’d really inspect the major points on your frame. The overlap areas where it curves up toward the bed, the shock perches, crossmembers, etc.
Ok, great, I'll do that now. Thanks again!

@T-Rex266 or @ColoradoTJ - would you be kind enough to move this post to the appropriate 1st gen Tundra section?

 

Where are the pics?

 

In the hyperlink linky-poo at the last word of the text of the original post?????

Put yer darn readers on shifty!!!

 

Doh! Called out. Indeed, I didn't have the "old people goggles" on.

@mike76983 have you seen our community new buyer/prospective buyer help thread? https://www.tundras.com/threads/so-you-wanna-buy-just-bought-a-1st-gen-tundra-eh.115928/

It covers the major frame areas to check - see 1st reply, 2nd bullet point, that has a link to most of the big stuff.

I agree with @Kimosabe, I wouldn't be happy finding that. on a scale of 1 to 10 where 1 is the worst and 10 is the best, that's like a 5.5 or maybe a 6. That looks like a lot of the better Utah trucks, but the worse Colorado trucks. A lot of our New Englander folks would probably be overjoyed with that.