Looking for Opinions

I am on the hunt for a 1st Gen extended cab. I found a 2003 with 100K miles. Exterior is in great shape, no rust anywhere on bumpers, etc.

I wanted to get everyone's thoughts on the level of rust here. The truck is in the Northeast and clearly has signs of a decent amount of rust yet the frame is in good shape. I've been told the frame was not replaced, just sprayed.

I plan on doing some small suspension upgrade (OME lift, etc), nothing crazy. Curious to hear everyone's thoughts on the condition based on everyone here with their experiences.

 

Here are some more pics

 

Something weird going on around front leaf hangers. Looks like a fiberglass bondo repair or something.

The fresh undercoating makes me think its worse than it looks to.

 

any idea on what the heck is up with the zip tie? (second to last pic)

 

Probably just holding a wire at some point.

More i look it the more i see that they only sprayed the outside visable parts of the frame. Most likely in the hopes that thats all the buyer will look at.

 

I'd get the VIN can call Toyota to see if the truck qualifies for a free frame. At least that way if the rust is worse than you thought you can get it replaced. That's what I did when I bought my 04 and it saved me because the truck had a hole in the frame I didn't see when I purchased it.

 

@devinzz1 agreed def look like they filled a hole or something

 

I would probably walk. Like devinzz1 mentioned, it looks like it was just coated on the outside visible parts of the frame. Even the frame cross members were left untreated. If it was sprayed/coated by Toyota this would not be the case. If Toyota doesn't have record of it then it would not be eligible for a frame replacement either. The frame wasn't even prepped correctly before the spray, just sprayed over the rust. This is also apparent on the front suspension. Nothing masked off just spray everything black and call it good.

 

Good catch there....this was my assumption...something not adding up with pics.

 

Zip tie for a spare key Betcha!

My .02 cents, keep lookin.

 

yea its got some weird stuff going on.

 

pass

 

Pass!

 

Let's just say that they do not mask "everything" off when spraying, you will get overspray in areas depending on the dealer that performs it. That being said, as others mentioned, they would have sprayed the inside if the boxed frame (visible inside, not the inside inside) and should have sprayed the trans x-member. However that does look like the goop Toyota sprayed on mine, and it did "run" in some areas like the goop pool shown in your pic. Mine was sprayed in January and didn't harden until August, it was still mushy the rest of the time. Hopefully some moron didn't power wash the underside and wash the spray off right after it was treated.

 

Carefully inspect where the rear spring hangers are thats usually where the most rot is and starts

 

Thanks everyone for all of your input. Very helpful. Always good to hear other's opinions/insights. Funny thing would have it. Yesterday, I asked dealer for Carfax report after he has been very attentive in responding to my email requests for pictures, told me sorry the car was sold today. Just as I ask for the Carfax, all of a sudden truck is sold. Moving on with my hunt.

 

I have to agree the danger Will Robinson alarms are going off.

You might be in time but offer scrap price or a little more .

There are still people out there that have no clue about the frame issues

Only you know if you want to get involved in this sort of project

 

My buddy bought a Chevy that was just like that and after a couple of months the coating was flaking off and revealing some scary stuff. Also next time theres that much rust look around the engine bay and see if you can spot the frame. The dealer usually wont spray from that direction.

 

Pass but keep looking.

Have you tried the Classified section here in TacomaWorld? I'd start there.