Is this normal? Have I been infected?

[jacksheadache]

So I've had my 4Runner for a month or so now and have been nothing but happy with it. My girlfriend was also searching for a a new vehicle, and was looking at RAV4's for the longest time, then by mistake drove a 4Runner a local dealer had available. She ended up losing interest entirely in the RAV after driving the 4Runner and was sold (the black one is hers). It's a 2004 SR5 with 90K miles 9/10 on the quality meter drives like new. The previous owner took care of it from day 1 and we intend to continue to the trend.

It's interesting to see them side by side and all of the mid generation refreshing.

I do admit it feels a little funny owning the same vehicle and looks a little odd out front.

 

[TeamLord]

Sounds like your girl friend is a keeper.
Nice trucks.

 

[geurillawarfare]

So I've had my 4Runner for a month or so now and have been nothing but happy with it. My girlfriend was also searching for a a new vehicle, and was looking at RAV4's for the longest time, then by mistake drove a 4Runner a local dealer had available. She ended up losing interest entirely in the RAV after driving the 4Runner and was sold (the black one is hers). It's a 2004 SR5 with 90K miles 9/10 on the quality meter drives like new. The previous owner took care of it from day 1 and we intend to continue to the trend.

It's interesting to see them side by side and all of the mid generation refreshing.

I do admit it feels a little funny owning the same vehicle and looks a little odd out front.

Nice trucks.

What do the frames look like on yours? Have they both been in Iowa their entire life? I'm looking for a replacement frame for my 05 (rotted out at 104k miles) and trying to figure out how close to home I can get and still find good frames at junkyards.

 

[jacksheadache]

Nice trucks.

What do the frames look like on yours? Have they both been in Iowa their entire life? I'm looking for a replacement frame for my 05 (rotted out at 104k miles) and trying to figure out how close to home I can get and still find good frames at junkyards.

They both looked to be in good shape when I got under them at the dealerships. I need to thoroughly, now after the fact, get under them and inspect them further. Is that abnormal to have frame rot at 104k?

I assume they're both Iowa lifers. My experience with vehicles here and rust due to salt hasn't been an issue so far. I've learned to not drive directly behind the trucks as they salt, wash the underside when above freezing, and wire brush/spray surface rust. Wish the entire state would switch to sand or another viable option.

 

[asdfman7]

Welcome to the club. My wife, after driving the 05 for 5 years, wanted a new truck and couldn't find anything else she liked. I kept the 05 and she now drives an 08.

 

[jacksheadache]

Welcome to the club. My wife, after driving the 05 for 5 years, wanted a new truck and couldn't find anything else she liked. I kept the 05 and she now drives an 08.

I was curious if this was an issue others had.

 

[97BlackAckCL]

Sounds like your girl friend is a keeper.
Nice trucks.

Agreed, definitely a keeper

 

[dta1984]

Agreed, definitely a keeper

^^ This!!

Nice trucks.

What do the frames look like on yours? Have they both been in Iowa their entire life? I'm looking for a replacement frame for my 05 (rotted out at 104k miles) and trying to figure out how close to home I can get and still find good frames at junkyards.

I head somewhere that out west, and central areas use salt / sand combo and that is a little gentler on frames (a little...). Great lakes, rustbelt, and snow belt areas use a lot of the liquid mixed in (I think its calcium chloride) and it is terrible for frames. Just my 0.02.

 

[geurillawarfare]

They both looked to be in good shape when I got under them at the dealerships. I need to thoroughly, now after the fact, get under them and inspect them further. Is that abnormal to have frame rot at 104k?

I assume they're both Iowa lifers. My experience with vehicles here and rust due to salt hasn't been an issue so far. I've learned to not drive directly behind the trucks as they salt, wash the underside when above freezing, and wire brush/spray surface rust. Wish the entire state would switch to sand or another viable option.

There are several in the family and this 05 at 104k has much, much worse rust than either of the other two with higher mileage. It looks like the initial rusting caused the drain holes in the frame rail to be plugged on this 05, which resulted in corrosive pooling and rotting out of the bottom of the frame rails. The more it rusted, the more crap their was in the bottom of the frame rails, and it must have become self feeding. It rotted from the inside out. I am assuming it's luck of the draw - the frame in this rusty one had drain holes that were not as far open as the ones on the other 05 we have, so maybe bigger drain holes = less chance of internal rotting (or slower rotting)?

 

[jacksheadache]

There are several in the family and this 05 at 104k has much, much worse rust than either of the other two with higher mileage. It looks like the initial rusting caused the drain holes in the frame rail to be plugged on this 05, which resulted in corrosive pooling and rotting out of the bottom of the frame rails. The more it rusted, the more crap their was in the bottom of the frame rails, and it must have become self feeding. It rotted from the inside out. I am assuming it's luck of the draw - the frame in this rusty one had drain holes that were not as far open as the ones on the other 05 we have, so maybe bigger drain holes = less chance of internal rotting (or slower rotting)?

Sorry to hear about the rust issues. That is my worst nightmare.

 

[geurillawarfare]

Sorry to hear about the rust issues. That is my worst nightmare.

At this point, I have at least $3k more into the vehicle than it's worth(including the price I paid 2 weeks ago). I have the engine/trans/exhaust out of it as well as all the underbody heat shields. Contemplating whether to pull the gas tank and treat above/behind that too. I could cut my losses, or just keep attacking this rust until its gone. At this point I think I'm just going to patch the frame, treat all of the rust I can get to and spray the rest with oil. The next time I'm in phoenix, I'm going to go frame hunting and bring one back with me. With any luck I can get all the control arm hardware with it, then I'll buy all new aftermarket control/trailing arms/body mounts/etc and then it will be back to where I don't feel like it's going to just fall apart on a big bump. I hate putting this much money into a vehicle but I really like 4runners and I'm so far in to this one, I feel like I might as well do it right.

 

[MFreund]

They both looked to be in good shape when I got under them at the dealerships. I need to thoroughly, now after the fact, get under them and inspect them further. Is that abnormal to have frame rot at 104k?

I assume they're both Iowa lifers. My experience with vehicles here and rust due to salt hasn't been an issue so far. I've learned to not drive directly behind the trucks as they salt, wash the underside when above freezing, and wire brush/spray surface rust. Wish the entire state would switch to sand or another viable option.

There is not another product that works as well for the same or less money. Tax payers demand to be able to go where they want even if it is snowing inches per hour.

All sand does is blow off the roads and clog storm drains.

 

[Utopia]

Oh thank god. More Iowa people. There are so few of us.

 

[MFreund]

Oh thank god. More Iowa people. There are so few of us.

Eastern Iowa. I returned to the Toyota family last year with my purchase of my 2007 4runner Sport. Nice 4runners, I know how hard they are to find here!

I had a 1984 truck, a 1994 truck, the wife had a 1988 truck when we met. I see only Toyota's in our futures!

 

[Slowgoat]

Sounds like your girl friend is a keeper.
Nice trucks.

Yes, she is.

My wife loves mine so much, and she always wants to drive it.

She wants one too, so my driveway will look just like yours one day.

 

[Utopia]

All Toyota here too. We just bought a new Avalon limited in magnetic gray.

 

[RonJR]

It's an incurable disease - but a good one. Between my kids and me, we own 7 vehicles, 5 of which are 4runners. ('94, 2x'97, '04, '06)

 

[bd-wheels]

Nice Runners!

 

[Dpassmore]

We have his/hers too. His and hers 4Runners, KTMs, mtn bikes and road bikes.

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