How quickly should I be noticing surface rust on frame?

[4runnerlaw]

I've owned my 16' TEP for about 1 month and picked it up the day it arrived on the lot from port. I live in NC where the truck doesn't see much salt/sand and have made a single trip up to NY where it saw two days of mixed precipitation and light salt on the roads. It's been washed about 8 times since new.

Today I was underneath and noticed rust on the LCAs, Tow Hooks, and other spots around the frame, mainly on welds. Obviously it's just surface rust but I'm concerned that this could be a problem if I'm seeing this show up after 1 month.

I have owned brand new VWs and Mitsubishis in the past and none of them showed any signs of rust for the first few years.

If this is normal for Toyota I'll move on with it - obviously these trucks last forever when taken care of but this seems premature. I'll grab some pics tomorrow if you guys think this is out of the norm.


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[T4R2014]

Hit it with some rustoleum on those spots. This is what happens on body-on-frame trucks. Frankly, if you didn't pay attention and just washed the underside often it would still be good for a LONG time.

 

[e60ral]

Use POR-15, I used it on the trailer hitch but don't have that anywhere else

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[JpAdct]

You've owned it a month, I'd go back to the dealer before I did any painting myself. With all of the Tundra and Tacoma frame replacements they've done, I bet this could be turned into a frame coating at their expense.

Side note: wonder if this has anything to do with the hold they now supposedly have on 4Runners being sold??? There's another thread somewhere on that.


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[T4R2014]

LMAO. Like this is the only 4Runner with surface rust on the welds. Are you planning on trading it in after 5 years? Who cares then. You live in NC, it's not going to rust much.

The 5th gen forum is hilarious. Guys complaining about surface rust on some welds that usually trade these things in after a few years anyway. Maybe not you, but just something I noticed and laugh at.

 

[JpAdct]

We spend too much on these 5th Gens and want to make them last. Rust is cancer, it usually grows and spreads A trip to the service department and a free documented inspection will only help if there is a problem.

I agree with OP, I'd be concerned too. My money doesn't come easy to me and I take care of my stuff the best I know how. Enjoy the hilarity, I'll be reporting any premature surface rust if/when I see any too.

 

[TBBrewer]

BC Winters

We're lucky to live in an area of BC that rarely sees a great deal of snow, and even fewer salty roads. But this winter was bad, with lots of snow and road salt, so I made sure we took the rig through a touchless car wash several times, one that does a real good job on the underside. I'll also check it thoroughly when it's on the hoist for its spring oil change. - Ted

 

[aa.allen]

Seems bit soon to me I would take it to the dealer and see if they will do anything. If not I would put Por 15 on it, that is a great product. The company I work for sells it,I have used it with great results on several vehicles and have seen customers use it with good results.

I would keep an eye on it as well
My cousin has '14 Tacoma she bought new, she called me a couple of months ago saying her bed floor and wheel wells already had bubbling rust in them. She is in the Coast Guard so the truck has been by the ocean its entire life in Rhode Island or Connecticut where I'm sure they use some road salt but even given that it seems premature for that kind of rust. I don't say that to scare the OP but to give you an example so you keep an eye on it.

And yes cars and trucks these days are expensive and that money is hard for me to come by. No trust funds with my name on them so I can see why these guys are trying to protect a big money purchase.

 

[1engineer]

It's normal. This has been well documented in dozens of threads. No worries and the dealer will laugh at you when you

 

[JpAdct]

It's normal. This has been well documented in dozens of threads. No worries and the dealer will laugh at you when you

Good to know. As far as dealer laughing, who cares. We laugh at them plenty as well. Find another dealer.


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[bamma]

Seems bit soon to me I would take it to the dealer and see if they will do anything. If not I would put Por 15 on it, that is a great product. The company I work for sells it,I have used it with great results on several vehicles and have seen customers use it with good results.

I would keep an eye on it as well
My cousin has '14 Tacoma she bought new, she called me a couple of months ago saying her bed floor and wheel wells already had bubbling rust in them. She is in the Coast Guard so the truck has been by the ocean its entire life in Rhode Island or Connecticut where I'm sure they use some road salt but even given that it seems premature for that kind of rust. I don't say that to scare the OP but to give you an example so you keep an eye on it.

And yes cars and trucks these days are expensive and that money is hard for me to come by. No trust funds with my name on them so I can see why these guys are trying to protect a big money purchase.

Wow, didn't realize the Tacoma's composite plastic could rust.

 

[wfo9]

If you are worried about it... (and you really should not be) buy a product called chassis saver by Magnet paint... You can paint it right on to surface rust with no prep. It bonds like nothing I have ever seen. 1000x better than por 15 and it will never rust there again.

 

[LandCruiser]

The first time you get bukkake'd by the mag chloride truck.

 

[aa.allen]

Wow, didn't realize the Tacoma's composite plastic could rust.

Is it something else she is seeing? I have not seen the truck and did not know those had a plastic bed until you called me out and I did some reading. I honestly don't know a thing about Tacoma's. If so why is the plastic bubbling?