Is this a normal amount of rust?

Really doesn't look all that terrible to me. 99% of that can be cured with a wire cup, black Rustoleum and Fluid Film. Even the diff is mostly just surface rust. Definitely give it the hammer test and bring a borescope to get a good look inside the rockers and frame rails, but if you're prepared to do spend a couple of hundred dollars, I'd say that's an 18-24 beer, two weekend job to get that looking really spiffy.

 

So what are the miles and asking price?

 

Mine looks like this one. (above) The only (minimal) rust I have is on the various frame welds and the cheap sheet-metal brackets throughout the truck. The driveshaft side of my diff has some surface rust, but nothing like the OP's. I wire-brushed it, coated it with Rustoleum primer and satin-black paint, and applied fluid-film last fall. It looks fine a year later.

NOTE: The rusty frame welds on my truck aren't logical to me: frame paint fine, yet almost every weld has surface rust. I have had vehicles and trucks with welded frames, (some boxed >and< laminated sections) that showed NO rust on the welds, and they lived a tough life in New England. It's almost like Toyota coated the frame pieces -before- they assembled it and then welded the pieces together.

The entire rear-end from the shocks to the springs on this truck looks alarming as do the misc. de-laminations. It looks like it could be a shallow salt-water flood victim. IMO: It is not a normal amount of rust for this area. I have NO rust on the drive-shafts and u-joints for example. My exhaust system (original) has light surface on the surface: no crustiness.

Keep looking: There's better examples out there: I have one: purchased from a local dealer last summer (2021). It's warranty-frame inspected and covered under the Toyota frame warranty until 2026.

I personally would not purchase one without proof that it passed the required mandatory frame inspection before the required time frame deadline had expired.

 

My truck was an east coast truck since it's purchase in 2015 (moved to CO this year) Not a single spec of rust.

I'd say, the amount underneath is something that could be remedied. And if purchasing, use it to your advantage to get a much better deal. That frame is only warrantied if it gets the recall protection put on by the dealer.

 

And with the way it looks, could come out with a great deal. Some elbow grease could go along way with this truck.

 

Whatever you are doing.... KEEP IT UP. that's lest rust showing than my EASY southern california living - immaculately cared for 2015 TRD OR.

 

No

 

Put your glasses on homie. That's a lot of rust. look at the driveshaft flange bolts and other rusted hardware. That thing would be a nightmare to work on.

 

Wow. The rust on the frame in the first pic was enough for me to say no way. That is only one or two clicks away from not being able to pass inspection in my state, and I live in the rusty part of the rust belt.

Then I saw the rest and the pics, and yeah, that really does look like a salt water dunk.

Amazing how unethical some vehicle dealers can be. I'm guessing that is on a used car lot on the side of a highway just outside the main part of town, am I right?

-Jim

 

https://www.pridemotorgroup.com/inv...a-tacoma-4wd-4d-access-cab-5tfuu4en5fx123035/

 

For that price it should be perfect!!

I might pay a 1/3 of the asking price.

I can not talk my Tacoma was $500.00

 

The welding changes the structure of the steel and the weld coating [even if using inert gas] both cause faster rusting and less paint adhesion. That is why a weld always rusts faster. It's not a Toyota frame thing, it's every carbon steel weld. It's why we are very careful coating and wrapping welded fittings on UG gas piping. The weld material is also slightly different then the frame material most likely.

 

Thank you! Having the explanation and knowing the science behind it puts the question to rest for me. It also sets the expectation for me to expect to see the welds requiring some additional attention (paint touch ups) down the road/in the future. Hopefully the Fluid Film application will push frequency time/line out.

 

The frame looks ok for salt belt. It has the spray done so it has the warranty extension in case of perforation.

The rear axle is rustier than I see over here in the prairies, but overall not a huge concern. You just have to expect things to fail like seals, brake parts, shocks... sooner.

 

I'm confused. People keep saying the dealer applied treatment was performed on this truck, but I see no evidence of that, either in the pics or in the OP's comments. Did I miss something?

Also, is the link posted above by Poncho65 the same truck in the OP's pics?

If it is, then 30 large??? I know that used vehicle prices are insane these days, but that would be criminally insane.

-JIm

 

Runnnnnn I paid 31,000 for my 15 double cab brand new . I’ll live in the salt belt I fluid film mine so it still looks close to new but that’s way bad. Looks like it was in the sea to me.

 

Not adding a bit to the overall conversation, but I'm just amazed it hasn't been given the rattle-can makeover to hide the rust. I always thought that was the first step for most dealerships. I think I'd pass on it; especially for what they are asking, holy chit.

 

Yes that is the same truck and to be honest for the market in this area that is a pretty fair price if it wasn't so crusty. I work at a dealership that's about 50 miles away from the OPs and we sold a 2015 trd sport with 32k on it for 32.5k in march. It was super clean though. Market is really inflated still in this area. for comparison I paid 27k for my 15 trd sport with 25k on it at the end of 2017.

 

Flooded? Maybe saltwater? Definitely check the interior too!