Frame Rust

I own a '07 JKU and was recently offered a trade for it. It's an '06 tacoma with fewer miles a nicer interior and has the offroad package. Appears to be well taken care of. However, there seems to be significant rust on the frame. I think it's out of the warranty for the frame replacement program so I'm wondering what my options are? Is it possible to get it sand blasted and repainted or should I walk away? Also would a Tacoma be able to tow a trailer with a trail rig on it or do I need a bigger truck? Here are some pictures. I have more pictures of the frame if there are specific areas that are more telling.

 

I wouldn’t touch it.

 

I would look for something else.

 

There's a good reason why he wants to dump a Tacoma for a jeep. That frame is nasty

 

That's what I was afraid of, seemed to be too good of a deal on my end My jeep is pretty sound I just decided I'd rather have a truck for my daily and be able to tow a rig instead of driving my rig.

 

Hell no. Pitting rust at that.

 

Yea it also looks like its flaking around some of the welds and joints, just noticed that. I'm going to run away from this one

 

that’s not rusted... compared to mine. Context is everything.

 

Well if anyone is interested in a JKU with 130k on it PM me lol

 

The trucks chassis was not probably maintained, the seller knows that and is trying to pass his problem on to someone else. Don’t be that person.

 

None of those pictures show anything serious.
But, they don't show the important spot on the inside of the rails towards the front cab mount (i.e., rotate about 125 degrees right from the last picture).
Looking at the holes (cutouts) in the different frame pictures, I would actually be very surprised if this frame was at all compromised.

In other words, this frame is made new by the following maintenance;
1) hit all the accessible rust with a needle gun.
2) paint it all over with rust encapsulator and inside with internal frame coating.
3) top coat with something glossy

 

Although 1st impression is to run, my thoughts are to not be so hasty. It is rusty, but close examination of the pics show that it’s not totally horrible. Although it’s too old for a free frame replacement, it may not need it. Check the production date. If it was built after 12/05, it may still be worth a consideration. Before that date, definitely run.

 

I agree, nothing serious I see BUT what the inside is like is what's important.
Also not so much what your Jeep is like today but what about 5 yrs. from now.
Are you looking 5 yrs. down the road or just for next year?

If you're thinking about something new next year or 2, get the truck. Clean and coat the frame and get a better trade-in.

edit: Why don't people put their location ESPECIALLY when asking about rust. It means a lot.

 

That's why I mentioned that he didn't take the right picture.

 

As far as towing a trail rig on a trailer? No idea. You didn't say what it weighs and and where you're towing.

Down I-95 in FL. or through the Rockies?

 

Having seen some *seriously* rusted Tacoma frames in my hometown in Southeastern Ohio, I'd have frankly said that frame wasn't too bad. The e-coat is intact in most places and the rust looks like surface rust only and very manageable. With the majority of a Gen 2 frame being C-channel, it's easy to look at both sides.

I'll defer to the greater TW knowledge base. Perhaps I'm missing something, as my Gen 2 truck was from Southern California and likely never saw rain and I've owned Gen 1 trucks for longer.

Here's what *really bad* rust looks like on a Gen 1 truck. Note the cracks, which are even worse that the perforations. This condition was bad enough that the dealer took it from the customer on inspection and put them into a loaner until their frame was replaced.

 

Doesn’t look that bad at all personally.

 

People, the other thing to consider is does this truck fall under the frame coating protocol, and if it does and the owner never fricken bothered to take it in, if it turns out it’s perfed the new owner is SOL. Just another way to look at it.

 

I live in Denver so rust like this is rare here. That being said the truck is located in Iowa, owner is coming out to CO I about a month with the truck. I have more pictures of the frame I'll attach below.

 

Its through the Rockies and I'd be buying an XJ that I'd guess weighs about 5000 pounds.