Too much rust on 08 4x4?

Looking to purchase this used 2008 Tacoma 4x4. The truck being from colorado does have some rust on the undercarriage. Other than the rust the truck looks brand new, one owner, and very low miles. Is this too much rust and should I stay away? Thanks!

 

I have yet to see the truck, I had a buddy check it out yesterday and I am planning on making a 6 hour drive to see it in a few days. It does look like there is a coating on the frame, but wondering if it could be bad under that? The rear dif seems to have a bit.

 

To me it looks like a truck that has a new frame.

 

Visually that looks great. Poke on the frame adjacent to the upper catalytic converters. Also look at the exposed edge of the frame metal. Another place to look is the factory hitch, mine rotted just like the frame. If you find delamination stay away.

 

Looks fine to me, scrape to see if they covered up. Wire wheel or brush to the diff, then spray rust reformer and paint

 

Kind of looks like the frame has been coated with something. I'd be afraid of what's under the coating. Can you chip some off to see if it's rusty below?

 

Chip some off where it was sprayed. I think its probably in pretty darn good shape for an 11 year old vehicle.

 

I would!

 

Says the man from Massachusetts! LOL...

 

It's either a new frame or he took great care of that truck .

 

If it’s covered in Toyota’s CRC crap I’d pass. You can see surface rust underneath some of it. Imagine that is what it looks like everywhere else on the frame. If your comfortable with that I’d offer low on private sale value.

 

But, on the plus side, if it is coated with Toyota's CRC compound, then IIRC that extends the warranty out to 15 years from in service date. Don't quote me on that, but it's something for OP to look into. That was the case on my father's 04, had it replaced a few months ago. There is a chance that us 2nd Gens in the final "phase" of the recall didn't receive that guarantee of a warranty extension once Toyota applied the CRC.

 

totally. My hesitation though is the CRC seems to just cover up what’s going on underneath as it’s thick enough and is same color as the frame, and you end up with a hole outside of that window. The CRC is just low viscosity noxudol from what I can find, which I personally feel is junk.

I think anyone with this crap applied needs to remain extremely vigilant with monitoring their frame if it was applied over preexistant bad/extensive rust.

 

Looks just like mine did. Had the frame replaced but did what eherlihy did and wire brushed the surface rust on the rear axle and a few other places and coated with rust reformer.

 

Looks like a cover up job to me, can u check the VIN see if it falls under the frame recall. Good Luck.

 

Looks a lot better than my 08, but that’s not an endorsement. My worst spot is just in front of the sway bar mount, but it was inside. Not sure that’s inspectable though. Take a friend that’ll be objective.

 

That coating looks like the owner is trying to compensate for something...maybe rust, maybe his manhood, who knows

 

I'd be very wary of a cover up to sell it here. That first picture makes me suspicious.

 

Absolutely. I'd still be that guy underneath it poking scraping and prodding, as I did with both of our Taco's that got frames.

 

I say does not look bad for'08. If you do get it I recommend Ospho, primer, Eastwood black Chassis paint then Amsoil heavy duty metal protector. Eastwood also makes an internal frame protector. This regime I found works the best for me after 6 years of trail and error. My .02 good luck