First gen Tundra rust question

Hey guys,

wanted to get everyones opinion on a truck that I am looking at buying from my old boss. It is a 2004 DC 4x4 with 250k miles. He wants $1500 for it. It has a rusted hole in the gas tank and a brake line is rusted out, so I knew there would be rust on it.

On most of the frame it seems like the top layer of metal is rusty but there is still solid metal left underneath, and when I tap the frame with a hammer I get a solid ring out of it. My main concern is about this spot behind the rear drivers side wheel. Completely rusted through at one of the welds.

How concerning is the rust at this spot? Would it be cost effective to get this repaired? I have a trusted mechanic that said he would take a look at it for me, get it up in the lift, so we can check all the hard to see spots for rust, but I wanted to know if you guys even thought it was worth the time/money to get it towed into town for him to take a look at.

https://m.imgur.com/a/uOMYZlI

 

I mean for $1500 you could part it out and end up with more than you paid.

I've seen worse rust but there's a lot of nasty scale there too.

If this is a project sure go for it, if you're planning on a daily driver anytime soon I'd pass.

 

$1500 and drive her into the ground in 2-3 years. Do not do anything to her until she gives up the ghost. At that point, part it out and recoup monies.

 

Thanks for the replies. This is kind of the two mindsets I'm stuck in between. I am moving across the country in about 6 months, and I'm really looking for something to daily drive so I can get rid of my current car. But if I were staying here it would be a no-brainer to buy it and use it as my work truck for a couple of years before it bit the dust.

 

Wow, that's actually worse than mine was when I bought mine a year ago. I wonder (out of curiosity) if the frame recall was ever accomplished on this truck. With that much scale/surface rust showing, it looks like it never had the rust prevention sprayed at the dealer during the campaign.
Might be worth investigating to see if it can have a new frame put under it via the recall...?

 

Nope. Walk away....

 

That is a rust bucket sir. Meaning, every time you drive it, another bucket full of rust falls off. If the brake line and gas tank have rusted out, it's time for the hard talk, or the long walk, or whatever euphemism you want to use for puttin' her down.

 

Yeah. I’d stay away unless the Recall can happen, but then the Stealer would want another $4-5k for peripherals even with a ‘free’ frame.

I’d suggest removing that Spare Tire in case the cross member drops. Keep the tire from becoming a hazard.

 

04 never had a recall only the service campaign that expired in 2018 at the latest.

 

Thanks all for the replies. I have decided to pass on the truck and look for something in better shape. I did talk with him about the frame replacement and he said he did try and get it replaced some years ago, but they told him the truck was ineligible for a frame replacement, so presumably the first owner got the rust preventative spray put on it.

 

That or depending on the location the truck was first registered. The frame campaign was only good for 'cold weather' states mostly from the Great Lakes region up through New England.