got to lift my truck up and look underneath

Okay, just bought the thing, have read so much here you all had me panicking. I could see very little rust from laying under it, even the frame holes that i could see in still had paint. Shop next to my office let me put it on a lift. I will be pulling the bed and wire brushing and por15ing the frame.

the good

very little rust, except tank shield
u joints all tight
ball joints good
no ripped boots, cv or steering

The bad
carrier bearing loose, can move it over a 1/2 inch, but no vibration at highway speeds
one rear shock is leaking

not bad for $3k, and the truck came from PA.

pics

 

Did you take a ball-peen hammer to the frame?

I'd especially check out the areas in the first 2 pictures.

 

Yup, hit it with a hammer and stabbed it with a knife. It lived.