Is this too much rust to buy this TRD?

Hey guys this is a 2003 extended cab v6 TRD with 143k. It spent its whole life in Maryland and has good maintenance records. It does have some rust. What do you think, is it worth buying? Can I put some rust coating on it and be ok or should I keep looking? It’s 13500 bucks, clean body, automatic.
Any input would be appreciated

 

I’m looking to use it as a daily. I had a new one in 98 and I always regretted selling it. I just don’t want it to dissolve in a few years

 

Looks like mostly surface/scale to me, but I wouldn't judge based on the picture the seller posted. He could be hiding real rust problems. You'd need to crawl under it to see everything

 

Thanks, I’m doing a video call today and I’ll ask for more pics. I’m going to have to fly over there to get it if I decide to buy it and drive it back. Never done that, they seem pretty honest but you never know. 143k miles isn’t bad either

 

Some things i see that i dont like, the frame approaching the fwd leaf spring perch (not in view) looks really bad, wont pass ping test, may even fail poke & plum test with long screwdriver. The left upper balljoint looks replaced (new nut & cotter pin) yet not the others? why do just one? huuuummmm. Is it me or are the plastic wheel well liners missing? it doesn’t look right, i realize the rubber dust curtains are all balled up but something is not right. The engine compartment represents total neglect, not hiding anything there, on a positive note, whoever did the timing belt reinstalled the proper constant pressure clamp....yay! The frame is on borrowed time stage IV, wouldn’t fly or drive to look at it, not for $13,500.
R/
Andy

 

Yea that price tag is ridiculous. If you're gonna fly somewhere for one of these, look in the Southwest. I'd rather have oxidized paint, than a rusted-through frame. Hard pass.

 

Okay okay I see. Thanks for the info, I’m going to pass and keep looking. Thanks, yea only replacing one ball joint also seems weird.

thanks guys

 

Anything from 01-04 you have to crawl under it and with a hammer and screw driver and test the frame front to back and inner and out sides of the frame rails.

 

Okay most of these I’m seeing online seem to have a lot of rust. Should I forget the gen 1 and look for a gen 2?
I can’t believe they are all rusted out

 

13,500 for a rusted truck?

Holy shit why?

How do people even consider these trucks with that rust and will consider paying the +$10k being asked?

Beyond nuts.

 

You're looking at ~20-y-o trucks with known rust problems, rust will be the norm. Gen-2 has rust issues too. Look for ones with the frame already replaced, or a southern truck.
Familiarize your self with know frame problem spots - cab mounts, near the cats, etc. There are a lot of threads with diagrams you can find on this.

 

Hold out for a solid one ...be patient

 

Pass

 

Rust will only be the norm if you purchase in the wrong state.

Many rust-free examples exist, and command the same price as rusted variants in other states.

It's ignorant to think that a vehicle in AZ or CA will cost much more when often times I've compared (and many others) rusted models from the midwest with those in the named states and they're asking the same price.

Take that into consideration, and the rust-free vehicle's valuable has only increased tenfold making a road trip (or flight) seem like a super cheap risk.

 

There is better deals out there.....

 

Triple your budget and buy my rust free 2015 supercharged with only 91k miles.

 

The dealer put my '01 on the lot 6yrs ago with 10k price tag. Guessing they didn't get 10.
It had the new frame kit w/ springs and new fuel/brake lines but was rusting bad at the bottom of the doors.
That truck looks cleaner than my '01.
13k is too steep. Especially if the frame is rusted.

 

From my experience, anytime you find yourself wondering "is this ___ too rusty?", deep down you already know the answer.

 

It's pretty alarming for a 1st gen TBH, it don't take much to develop terminal rot on these things.

 

Truck is in Maryland, which is one of the wrong states.