Too much rust or is it merely on the surface?

Hello Tacoma world!

I’m hoping to probe the depths of your knowledge as I navigate purchasing another Tacoma. I had a 2006 that unfortunately rusted out and just barely missed the warranty frame replacement… Plus was a PITA to work on given the nonstop rust battle from the truck’s early life in Maine with the previous owner. I hoped that truck was going to be a 300,000 miler or more… but it wasn’t.

After a couple of years without a Tacoma in my life, I’m hoping to return to the fold and do not want to have the battle the losing battle of rust again. I went to check out at 2012 Taco today and it checked all my boxes, except the rust… which is why I’m asking for your input on whether this is too much or worth it To dive in some restorative work. Pictures attached.

 

Also worth noting it’s lived 100% of its life in NW Montana - no salt but mag chloride…

 

X2. Definitely need to do the ball peen hammer test!

 

These rust threads are my new favs... They are the new will this rub and what's the best tire thread.

 

Super Swampers?

 

Ahh, you have cracked my code sir. Always the answer...

 

I pay attention

 

Keep looking.

 

That's a lot of rust, espically the rear end. Check the frame near the cats, that's where a lot of the problems lie. If you did decide to buy this truck, you'd have to remove all of that rusk, repaint, and the rust proof if you wanted to maximize the life of the frame. The frame isn't in the "buy the truck and drive" catagory, but rather "buy the truck and put a lot of time into trying to make sure the frame lasts" catagory. I also see the rust as the previous owner(s) didn't put a lot of time/effort/cost into maintenance, which goes well beyond the rust we see in the pictures.

 

It's an older fella who did keep diligent notes/receipts for all repairs done on the truck (great) but didn't do anything to avoid or fight the rust (blew it)... and although it drives real smooth I'm generally in agreement that it's more of a project than I think I'm looking to dive into. Great clarifier @JAGCanada with the "buy the truck and put a lot of time into trying to make sure the frame lasts" description... schucks!

I love that in only an hour I can get such quick quality feedback! Thank you TW!

 

Holy rust

Why not just fly out to a rust-free state, buy one, and drive it back

 

We can still derail this thread if you'd like

 

Can't stop - won't stop! Derail away!

 

Well, in that case.... Super Swampers are always the answer. @Squirt knows what I'm talking about.

 

Hell yeah! 35" Super Swampers FTW!

 

Swap it with a rental

 

Man, from a NJ guys perspective, that doesnt look bad at all. Looks like all surface rust.
Around here, truck usually look like that after 5 years.
If you can clean off as much as you can, paint it, then keep up with a oil undercoating on a yearly basis, that would be ideal. But you could also just fluid film it as is and im sure it would be fine for many years

 

If i had nothing better to do, access to a lift and an alternate means of transport I would take on the project. Assuming the lines aren't all fugged with corrosion. The frame doesnt look too too bad.