New owner with minimal rust, what should I do?

Just got this beautiful 06 Pre Runner that thankfully lived the first 10-12 years of its life in Southern California. I feel the rust is fantastically minimal and am wondering what you folks recommend I do to keep it in good condition now that it is living in Saint Louis MO.

Thank you for your time.

 

Woolwax

 

If you can, remove rust via a wire wheel / brush. Paint with something like POR15. Then some protective coating like woolwax, fluid film, Krown spray etc. Do the protective coating annually.

 

Thank you for the suggestions.

So I should remove as much as possible by hand. No need to use a wheel or powered device for that job?

 

Search YouTube for videos on how to apply Fluid Film, including the surface prep.

 

Jumping in as I'm also interested in this perhaps for my truck.

Based on the OP's pictures, would anyone recommend he at least consider removing the bed to make it easier to do this job?

I was trying to decide on this myself.....even though my (2012) looks a little better than the OP's. Likely will look the same or worse than the OP's when it reaches the same age unless I step in now.

 

No need to remove bed.

 

Fluid Film or something similar, call it a good for a year. I usually remove my spare and get that area.

 

Just a note since doing FF on my 2013 is still fresh in my mind... the factory 'rust proofing' they applied only went for maybe 30" into the front of the frame, starting around where the plastic covers go into the box section of the frame. Forward of that point, they didn't put anything in.

There are plastic caps on the front part of the box frame near the front bumper mounts that you can pry off and spray FF or woolwax into the rest (assuming you have the sprayer with hose kit) - I highly recommend doing that, and getting the entire frame inside and out annually if you live near the salt belt.

 

You can take it and have it Krowned. Very popular up here in rust country.

https://www.krown.com/en/locations/united-states/missouri/st-louis/st.louis

Nice truck by the way.
Cheers

 

yep...like everyone has said...Krown, Fluid Film, or Woolwax!

 

Hand held wire brush would be sufficient if you plan on painting it before rust proofing. Just want to knock off the loose rust and rough up the surface before paint.

Like was mentioned above, remove the spare before being sprayed. I'd also recommend removing the skid plate too, to allow access up there too. While the spare tire cable is out, lube that with some fuild film.

Approach I have taken for the past 13 years on my Canadian based 2010.

 

Pics of the frame look like you should do some light rust removal and paint first.. it’s a lot of work but worth it in the long run. My vote is clean Up the frame, prime paint, then fluid film