Not the worst way to spend 1 min & 43 seconds

[2ndhandyotaman]

Great point, I don't know how the TJ's slipped my mind. I was even considering buying one for a while, but yeah, most of them are effected by some sort of frame issues. TJ's were made from '97-'06, so they overlap 3rd and 4th gen production. Also, you're buying possible a 20-ish year old Jeep, so get ready for a lot of little things to nickel and dime you to death.

This is why I'm looking for a 4Runner as opposed to a WJ, which IMO realistically is probably a better platform for a trail build (V8, solid axles). I just don't want to deal with all the little Jeep stuff. I owned a 97 Grand Cherokee for 12 years, it NEVER left me stranded, but there's was always some sort of little thing that needed attention.

I had a WJ for 4 years, I absolutely loved it for interior size and comfort. Power/fuel economy was on par with a 3rd gen 'runner.( Mine was the 4.slow) What did me in (literally) was when I was at a stand still in traffic and a Honda Accord plowed into the back of it at about 35 MPH- that unibody design just folded like a cheap cardboard box. The roof and floor were buckled. None of the doors would open but ironically, the rear hatch did. I swore that the next SUV would be BOF construction.

 

[ElectroBoy]

Looks like Cali has something going for it after all! I agree the salt is a contributing factor but at least some of us take the steps to try and preserve our trucks. If Toyota did what end users do, the problem would never be a problem to begin with. Coat the frame properly, inside and out, problem solved and that is 100% on Toyota. Will mine rot out and be part of the pending 5th gen frame recall despite my best efforts? Maybe, but at least I can say I tried.

You’re both correct. I’m in San Jose and California’s weather is pretty benign for rust damage. But I do keep my underside sprayed clean especially after trips to Tahoe or the salty coast. Never had a problem with frame rust on any of my 4Runners.

However, my 2018 TORP is less than 1 year old, has seen no snow or salted roads, but I do occasionally see little rust spots that I touch up with paint as soon as I notice them. When I inspect the frame I do not see any special Toyota frame treatment other than glossy enamel paint. You’d think that after all this time that frame rot has been a problem Toyota would have devised a superior frame coating process.