Body Rust

I recently noticed a large patch of rust on my roof (see picture). Is this a major problem that I should fix? I've been told its not that big a deal and maybe that is true but it is an annoyance. If it does need to be repainted is it something that I should try myself and if so how do I go about it.

 

I am sorry here but just noticed?
yes it needs to be taken care of.
Not sure where you are located but here in the NE rust is bad and just gets worse.
Did you just purchase this truck?

 

I would prep and paint that, then wax it once a year so it doesn't happen again. On the positive side, it's the roof, so any color difference won't be very noticeable.

 

So you ahhhhhh are just noticing that now eh?

 

I've had it for 7 years. Yes I recently noticed it. Its a Pre-Runner and I'm not tall enough to see the roof. I'm in San Diego, CA. No other area has rust on the body. Why would it happen just on the roof? Where do I find instructions on buffing and painting? I know this won't completely stop rust from progressing but will it slow it down? How involved is it to do this myself? It will be exorbitantly expensive to have even just the roof done at a shop.

 

You could sand it down and just primer it, then put a 3M vinyl wrap on it (5yr warranty IIRC), black, or even chrome to reflect that SoCal sun and heat...

 

Sand, prime, color (color code inside your driver door sticker) , clear coat. You can order the paint online, I bet you can find a whole kit on Amazon.

There are plenty of videos on YouTube that show the process, but it's pretty straight forward.

 

No offense but how to you just notice that shit!? Did you not notice the clear coat failing, then years later the paint peeling off???

No fix. Youll likely need a new roof. And yes it needs to be fixed. I mean unless you want it to rain inside the cab here soon.

It is very important to wash, polish, and lay a sealer on the roof of the truck. Especially if it sits outside a lot. UV rays, tree sap, bird shit etc will eat through paint quickly.

Take it to a body shop. They might be able to sand all the rust off but there is no promise it won't come back. Rust is like cancer. Hard to ensure you got it all.

I had a spot rusting on the door of my previous truck. Paid to have it sanded and repainted. It came back. Got a new door off a salvage truck and had that painted. We get burned and we learn!

 

www.monstaliner.com

Just between the trim rails.

And yes you can see it when you stand on a stool or in the bed to wash it. Which you must not have done for 7 years.

It's sun damage that has killed and exposed the bare metal, which rusts with moisture.

Your hood will be next.

 

Thanks for the helpful response Cekeel and Doogz. The exterior on the rest of the truck looks fine. I usually just go to car washes. Is a black exterior more susceptible to this kind of thing?

 

This is great advice. had the same thing happen to mine after a few years in the tx sun. I also recommend waxing the hood as this happened on my hood as well.

For reference, my truck is timberland mica (dark green) so im not sure if the darker colors are more susceptible, but it did happen to my hood and roof.



This photo was taken 12-24-15 and my truck is an 09. Didnt take long for the clear to start peeling

 

It happened on your roof because it's a flat surface that takes a beating from the So Cal sun. This won't happen if you protect your paint.

 

I also think that the dew has something to do with this. If you dont wax, i noticed in the mornings that the hood and roof are covered in dew. The sun combined with this cant help the situation

 

Agreed. Unprotected paint and clear coats deteriorate in the sun. Moisture then causes rust

 

Damm!

 

This is fairly common in San Diego. We don't get undercarriage rust but you have to work to maintain paint

 

Why the spots?
Interior spot welds maybe?
Better/more pics would help.
Kinda looks like primer with those rust dots I'm no expert so I'm asking here!
Seems op's truck is not a total and needs to be fixed.
I think if it were me I'd sand that shit out and primer or what ever needs to be done for the vynal as mentioned already. Seems it's just a truck and you haven't seen your rooof for a few years so do Something to fight the sun in the future.

 

Never really thought about that being in VT I spend more time under it as i do on the outside of it.
The inside well that gets neglected unless it's painted!

 

Same here. I'm always under my vehicles with paint/oil/etc. I haven't seen much of OP's problem in New England.

 

Wax only lasts 4 maybe 6 weeks. I would go with a sealer that lasts 12 months.