Is this amount of rust concerning? 2021 tacoma

Hi, my husband bought our family a 2021 Tacoma when our SUV was totaled.

I have many concerns about the truck, but the biggest concern that he says is no issue is the rust underneath it. The car came from Michigan, near the Great Lakes, I think.

We’ve had it for 3 months and he’s realizing it’s not going to be easy to fit a family of 4 (I’m expecting) and 2 dogs very well.

we paid 36k. How much shit are we in? Is this normal rust?

 

Normal rust, but 2 dogs and a family of four is going to be very tight in a Tacoma.

 

That isn't bad from what I see, common surface rust. What state are you in? If you aren't in an area where salt is used on the roads I wouldn't worry about it. If you are just coat the under side.

 

In the salt belt its a good idea to get woolwax sprayed on it every fall. We have a few members around here that do it but maybe there are some in your area.

Rust isnt concerning at all right now, but a few years of salt does hell to these frames

 

Need to get under the truck and look around to really tell, paying close attention to the area around the cats and the spring hangers.

 

Welcome!
I would be more worried about these parts.
The Tacoma is a nice truck, but family-cruiser it is not.
If you keep it, get the underside treated by a local shop yearly,,, but unfortunately with a family of 4 and 2 dogs, I don't think you will need to worry about reapplication.

 

For me the taco is a maximum 2 person adventure vehicle. Considering the type of adventure and gears involved sometimes it’s a one man vehicle.

 

Yes the rust is normal.

I have a 2017 Tacoma. If it was just my wife, daughter and I when I bought the Tacoma. It would perfectly fine. Now that we have 3 little ones. It isn't the greatest. Thank goodness for the sienna hybrid we have.

 

My wife, two kids (boys, age 7 and 9), and I fit in our double cab just fine. However, we do not have dogs.

 

Clean off loose rust, spray a little regular [tractor paint is better then just enamel, oil based works better, slower to dry] paint on it and then fluid film or LPS 3 it yearly before winter, after winter, stick an oscillating sprinkler under it for a few hours moving it around every 1/2 hour or so and rinse the inside of the frame rails out.

The underside of my 2015 taco is immaculate, you couldn't tell it from a brand new 24 right off the truck other then mine is probably nicer.

 

Came here to say just this. Family of four fits fine though none of us are that big. I’m 5’11” and by far the biggest (so far). But no dogs here. There’s no way you fit a medium sized dog in the cab with 4 people IMO. Better get a cap and restraints in the bed.

 

I agree on the cap, especially since it is a short bed truck. You will want that extra space if you ever go on vacation.

 

Not yet, but I would try to sandpaper it and then spray WD40 etc. Just don't let it go on if you are planning to keep Taco forever.

As far as how deep sht you guys are in, you aren't... Other than space , Tacos are very reliable. This rust is nothing, just spray some WD40, loosen it and then coat it.

 

Please don't waste your time with WD-40 as an undercarriage rust preventative.

 

Its not preventative, its what loosens and clears out any left over rust. WD40 is not something to joke about, way better than lots of stupid coatings out there that hide the rust and rot inside out. Last thing you want to do is coat over rust and leave it like that

 

I hope the dogs are small ones.