First gen in rust belt a lost cause?

I’m considering buying a first gen tundra, but I live in New York, where rust is a huge issue. My plan is to find one with minimal rust and then apply fluid film each year before the winter. Does this seem like a reasonable plan, or is the frame likely to be toast after a few years.

 

It's going to be a case by case basis. It's possible you could find a unicorn that wasn't driven much in winter but you'll have to thoroughly inspect any First gen you look at. Even then, if you're planning to drive it in the winter a lot, I don't imagine it's going to hold up well to salt. These frames really suck ass. You would need to drench it in Fluid Film.

 

We have a stickied mega thread about what to look for on these trucks. Also, if you just search “rust” and limit search to this forum, you’ll quickly become an expert in what to look for. Guys post photos “is this rust hole too big?” and “if more than ten layers flake off is that bad?” and dudes here give it their best guess as to dicey-ness or what.

 

It’s a reasonable idea however, your most difficult aspect is keeping rust out of the inside boxed channel of the frame. However, if you get a rust free frame it should be good for many years before you need to worry about it rusting through from the inside out.

Currently going on my 23rd year with my 2002 Tundra I bought new and use as a daily driver.

 

I’m driving a 2001 Sequoia and it’s lived in Wisconsin its entire life. I spray all our vehicles every October with Surface shield. Fluid film is ok, but surface shield is far better and clings WAY better.

 

Have the truck looked at by a reputable shop or someone that knows what they are looking for. If it was well cared for then you could find a good bargain. Do your homework it will pay off for you. Welcome to the forum.

 

Here are the big issues I see with your plan:

• Dealers and sketchy sellers are well aware of the frame rust issues and will go out of their way to conceal problems; we deal with a dozen or two each year who got suckered.
• Even if you get the rare owner (or rare transplant) who took meticulous care of the frame, you'll likely be fighting other rusty hardware along the way.
• If you don't know, intimately, what to look out for, your risk of getting screwed is pretty damn high, and your recourse for getting swindled extremely low.

Your best course of action is to either (A) take a one-way vacation to the SW USA or TX to hunt out your truck and drive it home or (B) Look in those areas and try to find local members who may be more knowledgable to scope out potential finds.

If you have family outside the rust belt, this may be something you can leverage.

You CAN gamble on this one, trying to find a local truck ... it's your money. But you'll be paying a premium $$ amount that's equal to or higher than traveling to rust-free areas to buy. Just know: I know this may be shocking to some out there, but trucks are capable of intrastate travel. We've seen trucks purchased in TX, for example, that clearly lived in a rustier place for a few years at some point. Always do a VIN lookup to see which states the truck was registered, and know that even then, there's a chance someone was, for example, living in California, but traveled the salty roads of Utah in the winter.

Read THIS to know what you're looking out for, if you haven't already. It's everyting this community has to share (for the most part).

 

I appreciate the thorough reply! I should’ve been more explicit in my posting. My intention is to find one somewhere in the United States and fly there and either drive it back or have it shipped. Just wanted to make sure that IF I find one with a frame that’s in good shape, if it’ll quickly deteriorate in NYS despite efforts to undercoat with fluid film, Krown, etc.

 

I mean, you'll need to have things treated/re-treated. It may be worthwhile to plug some of the frame holes also. The latter isn't my expertise. Hell, the former isn't either. I can just warn you about what to look out for, based on other people's mistakes.

 

I live in Western NY. Fluid film and surface shield do work, but as previous poster stated, you need to diliently reapply it every year. Really - every year if you want to keep the frame in good condition. It's a never-ending battle living around here not just from the winter road conditions, but from the constant rain that keeps everything wet. Remember these prodcuts destroy rubber (it swells and warps rubber), and it will burn off hot parts (exhaust, brakes, engine, etc.), so there's a lot you cannot spray, meaning a lot of parts, and nuts and bolts, that will get rusty no matter what.