Rust Evaluation - NBD or Swipe Left?

That's brand new. LOL. I don't need 500 pics of the paint. I need 500 pics of the frame.....SMH.

 

@moon22 Frame doesn't give much immediate concern if you continue actual maintenance (Woolwax, Fluid Film, NHO, etc.), though without actual inspection it's almost impossible for us to fully tell (or with more pics at the mounts as requested and listen to TnShooter he's a sage here). For me, it's the price, plus mileage, plus the surface rust that makes me a little sad about the state of the market. Any one of those on your example honestly isn't a non-starter, it's mostly having 2 of the 3 (mostly price). Is it the EXACT spec you want? Or are you settling in some areas?

I'm saying this just as a "been there, done that" anecdote a year ago. But I searched for 7 months straight (and 1 year casually before that), and I ended up buying from Arizona and having it open trailered. Why? Found a rare diamond in the rough that was cheaper than anything up by me EVEN factoring trailering. FWIW, cost of the truck and trailer was less than what your guy is asking for, and mine was sitting at 192K miles (no it wasn't $10K lol, it was around $16.8K with Trailer). I was looking for a 15 like you, but ended up making the concession of a '12 and I still love her. Use Car Sale aggregators (CarGurus is one) that'll include FB and CL, plus Dealers.

 

This one in particular was “everything I wanted” so I was/am fighting that a bit (color, options, one owner who is the seller, can be acquired in a day). Time is becoming a factor as well, as in this hunt has sucked up way too much of it.

I don’t have FB but I borrow my wife’s 1-2 times a day to search. Drives me insane the way they give results (or maybe more appropriately, non-results), but that’s our regressing technology for you these days. These are where the deals are it seems but timing has to be spot on along with a trusting seller (can’t blame them these days).

 

I ended up buying a 2006 OR with 230k miles for $10k that had received extensive frame repairs before I got it but seems to be pretty solid now.
I plan to coat the frame in Eastwood Rust Encapsulator pretty soon. They are out there, and rust can be repaired, it just comes down to whether you want to pay now or later.
I've had this one a couple of weeks now and so far I'm very happy to have it.

 

Curious why you consider the ‘12 as slightly less than the ‘15? As far as I am aware, they’re basically the same other than the revised SAIS pump in ‘13, and dash clock deletion in ‘15..

 

Pretty much what you mentioned, so it wasn't a real sticking point. That plus upgraded steering controls, slightly different Entune head unit and backup integrated into said HU. A few more years means more potential for wear. But all I really wanted was a Pyrite or Spruce 2.5 Gen DCLB 4x4 and this one was a TRD Sport Premium so it had a bunch to work with and I did the SAIS unifilter mod ( previous owner had the main service performed already) and I hooked the camera into the HU myself. I'd just take a 15 over a 12 if they were duplicates.

 

Ah, that makes sense. Great minds! My ideal is a ACLB Spruce OR MT (Pyrite was tied with Spruce but I don’t want the same color truck as my company’s CEO, hah). Probably a 2014 since I love the in dash clock, and if I am giving up my sunroof and power slider, I damn well better be able to know what time it is at the drop of a hat.

I am bending for AT this time around so my wife is appeased (and maybe my knees..ain’t getting old hell?), and probably sticking with DC since I love seeing my pup with her nose in the wind..but DCLB is just too long, kind of crazy what that extra wheelbase does (I know better than to try driving a standard cab!).

 

This indeed!