4th gen pre-purchase question - rust

[DK327]

I'm moving up from a 3rd gen to a 4th gen and am considering purchasing this 06 but it's too far from me to see in person so I only have pics to assess the condition of the frame, the rest checks out. Here are the pics, what do you all think? Most look like surface rust but in some pics it looks a bit too deep for my liking. Thanks in advance!

 

[Cezar]

It isn't at all terminal but it hasn't been kept up with, so as such I'd expect a reasonably significant discount. Trucks need yearly frame rust maintenance just like oil changes or anything else.

Ask to see the front radiator support / crossbeam area from underneath I can just about assure you it's nearly completely rotted out. Not structural but will give you a better idea of how bad it is.

Plan on spending a few days cleaning it up. I'd also remove the rear bumper and spare tire to work on those areas in detail.

 

[armabill]

Ask for pics of the underneath of the frame at the wheel wells.

 

[Parks Junkie]

Not an expert, I just bought one yesterday and had some concerns giving it's Carfax history, but it turned out ok.

But the one you have pictured appears to have frame perforation in the last pic. Yeah, in Calif I have a different perspective, but the one I bought wasn't from Calif. Looks sketchy to me.

 

[rdruss]

Not an expert, I just bought one yesterday and had some concerns giving it's Carfax history, but it turned out ok.

But the one you have pictured appears to have frame perforation in the last pic. Yeah, in Calif I have a different perspective, but the one I bought wasn't from Calif. Looks sketchy to me.

Yeah, definitely, the last picture on bottom of frame, there's probably a 6" long hole on the bottom if you rap it with a ball peen hammer. Thanks to the AC condensate drain on passenger side that drips right on top of the frame in engine compartment.

 

[DK327]

Thanks for everyone's response. Yes, that last picture is what concerned me the most, it looks a bit too deep to just be surface rust. Most of the ones I come across are rust belt vehicles and not being able to see in person is tough. I think I'll narrow my search to local vehicles only for now and go from there.