How much is too much rust on a 2006 4Runner?

[rwmille]

Looking at buying a 2006 Sport Edition 4WD with 208K miles; 6 years in MA and 7 in TN. $5,800; vehicle appears to have been well maintained and is in generally very good condition (it does apparently need new O2 sensors). Seller took photos of undercarriage for me (apologies for the lack of focus in some), but having never owned a 4Runner, I'm uncertain just how serious the rust is; hence this post asking for the collected wisdom of this forum! Vehicle will be driven mostly in the southeastern U.S.

What do you think - serious, potentially deal breaking issue or no real concern?

 

[hinmo24t]

that looks pretty good i would say. mine might be slightly cleaner or very similar. essentially my frame is solid but a lot of the fasteners and hangers are rusty. my Truck has lived in Maine, Rhodey, and MA and it took looking at 3 or 4 to find one so clean. with a little love i think that underside is reasonable

 

[adkfinn]

No one in New England would even give that a second look. I think it looks fine, just starting to rust at the welds (which always seems to be first). I would give it a quick wire brushing / hit it with rust converter / a tough epoxy paint over that / fluid film it every year (including inside the frame) and call it good.

 

[rwmille]

that looks pretty good i would say. mine might be slightly cleaner or very similar. essentially my frame is solid but a lot of the fasteners and hangers are rusty. my Truck has lived in Maine, Rhodey, and MA and it took looking at 3 or 4 to find one so clean. with a little love i think that underside is reasonable

Thanks!

 

[rwmille]

No one in New England would even give that a second look. I think it looks fine, just starting to rust at the welds (which always seems to be first). I would give it a quick wire brushing / hit it with rust converter / a tough epoxy paint over that / fluid film it every year (including inside the frame) and call it good.

Thanks; yes I certainly noticed the rust at the welds, and that was my biggest concern, as those are rather important to the structural integrity of the frame. I'll plan to take those steps to keep it from getting too much worse!

 

[S p a r k y]

i don't see any concerns. I wish a few pics were a little easier to see, ex, the rear axle. But looks to be surface. I think its a clean one and wouldn't worry about much there. Mine is a little better, but I have had it 10 years and wash under all the time. I'd say your golden!

 

[rwmille]

i don't see any concerns. I wish a few pics were a little easier to see, ex, the rear axle. But looks to be surface. I think its a clean one and wouldn't worry about much there. Mine is a little better, but I have had it 10 years and wash under all the time. I'd say your golden!

Thanks! Heading up to look at it tomorrow with check in hand!

 

[rwmille]

Just wanted to say thanks again to everyone who posted those helpful replies. I drove up to look at the vehicle yesterday. In addition to what was shown in the photos, there was some rust on the splash shield and the rear shock covers, but I decided the amount was acceptable.

Thanks to the expertise you all shared, I have now joined the 4-Runner owners club!

 

[radlynx]

I would suggest to get those wire brushed and remove the remaining rust from the welds and primer it and paint or whatever you want to use to protect the metal. you don't want to wait until the rust eats all the metal. by the way, your frame is in good shape. seems like surface rust only.

Just wanted to say thanks again to everyone who posted those helpful replies. I drove up to look at the vehicle yesterday. In addition to what was shown in the photos, there was some rust on the splash shield and the rear shock covers, but I decided the amount was acceptable.

Thanks to the expertise you all shared, I have now joined the 4-Runner owners club!

 

[Somnospeed]

I would love to have that amount of rust on my SR5. In fact I would pay to. lol

 

[derbytown]

First I'd get rid of that guard on the front, cause the first small thing you hit will damage your whole front end, also, use some woolwax, and spray your undercarriage

 

[adkfinn]

Just wanted to say thanks again to everyone who posted those helpful replies. I drove up to look at the vehicle yesterday. In addition to what was shown in the photos, there was some rust on the splash shield and the rear shock covers, but I decided the amount was acceptable.

Thanks to the expertise you all shared, I have now joined the 4-Runner owners club!

Welcome to the club! I have come to appreciate and love my truck much more than when I first bought it, they are great machines.

Also - Nice cow catcher!