Northerners & rust experts: How’s this rust to you?

Frame was undercoated by Toyota in 2015. Truck has spent its whole in the North. It’s a heck of a deal (in my opinion) for a double cab 4x4 w/ 120k miles in the color I want. They are asking $10k. Here are the pictures they sent me. They did do some rust repairs on the bed, probably why you see some newer blacked out areas. I’d have to get it shipped to me, but I’m willing to take the risk. Body is in great shape. Interior clean.

Any specific areas I should ask for pics of?

Thanks

 

Looks like you're in Texas? I would buy a truck from Texas, not from the north. $10K is not what I would call a smoking deal. I would not buy that truck based on pictures alone.

 

thats a good bit of rust....i dont have experience in frame rust, but others on here have and will chime in. From what i read on this forum (not my experience), once the frame is coated by toyota to prevent rust, when it does rust through under the coating like others on here have, they wont replace it.

Also i bought my 2004 Double Cab limited with 96K on it for $10K 5 years ago. No rust. Not sure about that asking price, but others may disagree with me.

 

the steel used to build frames is called cheap steel, quality steel will not rust , check frames on cars built in the 70's and 80's

 

I agree with FirstGenVol, especially when you factor in shipping costs.

You live in a no salt area.

I would buy local and inspect in person before you buy.

Best of luck with your decision.

 

Ditto^^^^^

 

I wouldn’t buy it without checking it out in person first. Or at least have a mechanic you trust look at it. Rust could look ok but when you tap on it you find it could be deeper in the metal.

 

Wheres the truck? Maybe someone on here could check it for a small fee.

 

Spending $10k on a northern truck plus shipping....... $11,500. I would rather pay $14,000 for a Texas or florida truck, in the end it will be cheaper

 

I see your in Texas. I live in WI currently, that undercoat won't do much, once the rust gets underneath it, it will continue under the coating and the coating flakes off. That means you will have to go in prep and recoat any rust on the frame yourself. That's if you believe the dealer didn't just coat over the previous rust. Do you plan on doing your own maintenance? If you do you will hate life when you start having to replace anything underneath the truck. Every fastener you take off will have to be replace. Think PB blaster is enough? Think again, get use to torching every bolt and nut even then it'll still break. You'll be a pro at using taps and dies if you aren't already. Or learn how to use SS fasteners when you can. If not doing your own work on the truck your auto mechanic will love you for the extra work. Btw I own a gen 1 in CA and WI. Both over 200K. Night and day difference.

 

I agree, if you live in the south buy a southern vehicle! If you were in the north, and it’s just scale on the surface, and it was cheap enough, I would oil the shit out of it and go. But with the selection you would have in TX, don’t bother.

 

I live in Maine. Ive purchased every vehicle from the south and drive a ‘sacrificial’ winter vehicle up here. My .02 but dont ever buy a truck from up this way unless you intend spending two days under it blasting, brushing, and painting to try to fix it. Once the rust starts its hard to stop.
This was my Taco after 5 years and never driving it in the snow. I live 10 miles from the ocean so the damned salt gets everything here eventually.


This is my Tundra from KY that I just got.

 

It doesn't look terrible but doesn't look great either.

If you're ok with scraping/repainting everything and fighting with nearly every fastener removal I'd offer $8500.

But I'd also want to see it in person. Check the rocker panels, up inside the wheel wells, bottom seam of the doors/tailgate, underside of the bed supports, and bumper brackets.

 

Personally I don't think that's bad at all, but I agree with everyone's sentiments to buy a southern truck. I bought my 2006 in Arizona and had it shipped up here and it was completely worth it.

 

Agree, agree, agree. Listen to the other posters and pass on this one. Given the Covid economy, if you're lucky to have full time work and money in hand, future deals will be far better than this one. Remember the notorious rust location is the front third where the frame is boxed. Road salts and dreaded magnesium chloride gets splashed inside the frame and just eats it away like ants on jello. The pics he sent are most favorable viewpoint to the seller. That long section of the frame under the bed never rusts as bad as the front.

 

From NY here. Have had several trucks rust away....I still miss that reg cab chevy. But that actually doesnt look too bad. But I wouldnt buy it if I lived in the south. I would keep shopping around

 

And you're in Texas
#1 in truck sales, something like 1/2 million a year

 

Yup that's a Northern truck alright.. Looks like the PO didn't put any effort into keeping it clean an preventative measures for salt like undercoating.. It's inevitable up here. I've seen alot worst. I think some folks really shy away becuase, well, they never had to deal with rust like we do up here . I agree bolts an stuff seize up in a hurry an once it's started there really is no stopping more just slowing.. but with some elbow grease I'm sure it could still last a long time with the right amount time an effort. I wouldn't not buy it. But I wouldn't seek out a rusty truck in an area filled with non rusty ones either..

 

I think you are right that it is a GOOD deal, but maybe not a SMOKIN' one.

I looked for months across country for a DC Tundra, hard to find and cost a lot.

For the price, I ended up settling on something local. Much cheaper.

 

tell that to all the 70s and 80s cars still running around chicago.



to the op. try to locate a texas truck, that one posted isnt horrible, but its had the god awful Toyota "frame treatment" done by the looks of it.. that stuff rotted more frames out than it saved.

 

Only thing that looks real bad from these limited Camera Angles is the gas tank straps. There was a recall on those back in the day. Price is high on the truck, but they have really creeped up this past year.
I noticed what was going for $7-8k is now around $10-11k on average.

New truck prices are through the roof and the 1st Gens in good shape are a better truck overall if well maintained.

 

I'm sorry, but 10k for a 1st gen with 120k miles? I must have done REALLY good finding mine because that is absurd. What year is that truck? No offense either but holy crap i never realized how much these are going for now

 

1st post is a smokin deal, almost too good... and the 2nd guys is high on crack. His description is "perfect paint and body, like new". The tailgate is chipped to hell, and the right side was obviously in a car accident. Rofl

 

It's very hit or miss and there are a lot of junk ads but buried in there are some great trucks. Our 1st gen trucks have risen in value slowly over the last few years. I paid $8k for this truck and have invested over $4k in maintenance and a few tweaks. That's still cheaper than buying a newer truck and reliability is unquestionably excellent

 

@Hooptytrix dude.. check out this one. I wouldnt be opposed to checking it out and possibly selling mine to get this one.

 

That was looking good up until it did Illinois. Try searching the southern states, if you find something I south florida I live 5 minutes from Ft Lauderdale airport and I have spare room that opens up to the pool. You are welcome here my friend

 

Sweet thanks. Im in illinois so thats why i searched there. I told him to send pics of the underbody. Though idk why I'm even asking, i just put a new t belt and tires and some other stuff into my 01.

 

Not a good enough reason to pass on a deal imo. That's how I found myself giving up my 01 and jumping into the 05. It just made sense even though I had invested in that 01