Rust question on 2005 Tundra 4x4

Looking at a 05 Tundra Double Cab 4x4 tomorrow. 176K miles. Truck looks clean, carfax is clean. There are a few sales through auction, but other than that 2 owners in the PA area. I am in SC. The guy sent me two pictures. Does it look like its been painted over, concerns? wants 11,500.

 

I would want a lot more than 2 pics, but it looks like that frame may have been replaced already. The welds look kinda funny, but it does not look bad in my opinion.

 

Unfortunately the only two I have until I go to see it tomorrow. I will try to get more. It was mainly in PA, so I figured it definitely experienced salt on the roads.

 

Keep us posted on what you find. Good luck!

 

Is it still in pa? If local I’ll go check it out for you

 

Get a look at the spare tire cross member. I'd also get a pic from underneath/inside behind the rear tires on those beams. They can look good on the outside but be all patched up on the back.

 

Yes, it looks like it was painted over with a matte black paint. Check it out thoroughly before you commit. Still looks good from what I see so far. I’d bring a ball peen hammer or metal punch to test the integrity of any questionable areas. Any rust I see just appears to be surface rust painted over.

 

Here are some pictures. Thoughts? These are from a Toyota inspection at a dealership.

 

Hard to tell what we're looking at in those pics. The rust hole is concerning though. If you're coming to PA for a Tundra, check out this one.

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/c8c5ad81-1f3a-48fd-a6cf-365c0c349dd9/

The service records at Toyota Owner confirms a new frame was installed at the dealership.

Good luck.

 

Thanks so much. Not coming to PA, this one was from PA sold at auction down here to SC.

 

It has a gaping hole in the frame in that last pic and some other areas that looked concerning. This one looks like a hard pass.

How much are they asking for it?

 

This. If there are holes in the parallel rails, there are holes elsewhere. Doesn't matter how much they're asking. Unless you have a compatible donor frame, it's on its last leg.

 

They want 12k.

 

You can get sub-150k mile trucks with perfect frames in Atlanta right now for less than their ask.

With the frame in that shape, it's unable to pass inspection in several states requiring inspection. In my opinion, that's a $2k-$3k max truck, but would only net you money if you parted it.

 

And just to back up my claim ... https://atlanta.craigslist.org/sear...=Tundra&min_auto_year=2000&max_auto_year=2006

 

I bought my Tundra for $3000 with no rust holes....or even any rust bad enough that it will become a hole in the next decade. 12K? Thats someones life savings around here....run away.

 

Too true!

The seller is smoking crack, or doesn't realize what a ticking timebomb they're selling.

 

Walk away; the metal layers have already begun to de-laminate. Probably from the crusty top coat which should have never been done with whatever is used there.

 

I asked a guy I know who regularly flips cars for two or three times what he paid for them (without doing any work on them) how he figures out what price to list them at, he told me that its not about picking the right price, its about finding the right buyer. It doesn't matter if a thousand people see the listing and ignore it because the price is way too high, it only matters if you can find the one person who is willing to pay it.

In other words, there is no penalty for asking an outrageous price if you can just find one sucker willing to pay it, and with the internet, you can show your car to tens of thousands of people for free so finding that one sucker isn't hard.

He also said the reverse is true, if you see a car with a ridiculously low price, don't just assume its a scam, for every sucker who will buy a car for way more than its worth, there is a sucker who will sell one for way less than its worth.

 

based off these pictures.


this trucks worth $1200 max.. its needs a $15K frame swap

 

I would be surprised if that could pass an inspection. That frame is toast.

 

Inspection places really don’t look underneath unless something gives them a reason to do so.

 

This varies wildly from state to state.

 

And some states have no inspections of any kind.

 

We have zero inspections.


The only one is emissions i. 2 counties. Literally if it moves under its own power, it’s roadworthy here

 

Similar in my state except no emissions at all. If it has a VIN, its good to go.

 

And yet in 15 years of working the highways, I've never once seen a wreck caused by someones car just falling apart on the road because it wasn't inspected. I do find the idea of inspections of something I supposedly own terrifying. I don't think I could ever live in a state like that.

 

No different than paying for registration or insurance in my mind. I've seen some ratchet ass shit in surrounding states so it's at least nice to know the car next to you has functioning brakes and decent tires at least once a year.

PA is pretty easy to pass, no structural rust holes, no rust holes into the cabin, non leaking exhaust, all lights and horn work, no windshield cracks in drivers sightline, tires and brakes above 2/32nds, steering and suspension not leaking or loose. Those are the big things, there's some smaller stuff but most places outside of dealerships will be lenient on that stuff.

 

No inspection in Tennessee and I'm fine with it. I would much rather they enforce the insurance requirement. Way too many uninsured drivers on the road.

 

This all seems common-sensical to me. Especially the brakes, tires, windshield parts. The logical side of my brain is, like, those three alone are make perfect sense for anything weighing over 1000lb and traveling above 20-30mph to save lives. But I'm sure people would raise absolute hell around here if it was mandatory.