Opinion on rust levels on this 3rd gen?

[Runner-Wannabe]

Ah, I actually did see that ad before. The rust holes frighten me though.
Seems there is quite a bit of V8s available in this area. Might take a look at those. Do you know if those engines are as reliable at the V6?

This one does look nice on the topside though.

I’ve read here that the v8’s are the legendary Lexus motor, but they need timing belts replaced semi regularly. Can’t recall exactly, like every 120k-is-ish (kms) it’s a big flat cogged belt like an early supercharger belt.

If I go 4th gen, I’ll probably go v8

 

[MaineRunna]

There is still a lot of paint on the frame. It may look uglier that it really is. They always rust around the welds first. Make sure its solid, check around the rear lower control arm mounts inside and out really well, check the rear upper shock mount area, where all the crossmembers are welded on, the rear near the back bumper and the front right behind the front tires inside and out. Make sure its not rusted out from end to end with a bunch of small holes. A small area of frame can be repaired, a frame that's rusted thin from end to end cannot.

 

[Jubsz]

Looks like way too much rust to me. I'm not from the land of maple syrup but that looks pretty flaky and has some holes visible in the rear control arm area. I would not feel safe driving that. I had a section of my frame cut out and patched for wayyyy less. I do not think fame failure is something to take lightly. At highway speeds or in the event of an accident, it could have serious consequences.

 

[2001 Limited 285K]

NSTD: Not Safe To Drive. Just got my 2001 fixed with a SafeTCap for the rear passenger side. The rust that caused me to need to do the SafeTCap was 1/1000 of what I'm seeing in your photos. So the only money that should be changing hands is them paying you to take that road safety hazard off the lot and to the junkyard. You'd have to be legit crazy to pay anything for that hunk of junk. Seriously.

 

[Ron Burgandy]

I bought one like that. i only paid $500 though. this was the frame after i tapped around with a hammer...

couple nights in the shop and it’s as good as new....

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Devbot]

The hole that has formed on the skid is very worrying, especially with how rough everything else looks. A thing to remember too is many times we get fixated on the major things like the frame, subframe, body, etc., but don't forget that when the frame is in that rough of shape you're in for a HELL of a ride doing any wrenching - probably gonna be snapped bolts and rounded nuts left and right. Just a thing to consider as it's often overlooked until people are trying to squeeze on a lift or similar.
I'd try to look for better, personally - but it's also how willing you wanna put in work. If it passes the hammer test, usually it can be fixed to some degree. I hardly had any rust but still completely redid my rear just for the protection and cause it was easy. Looks nice too.

 

[Boognish_Forever]

Has anyone seen, have pictures or experience a frame break on a 3rd gen 4runner like a 1st gen Tacoma rust out? I’m assuming it would be hard for it to come down to that being the body would keep it in place, but seriously. This doesn’t included rear control arms or shock houses rusting out.

 

[FD7683]

Has anyone seen, have pictures or experience a frame break on a 3rd gen 4runner like a 1st gen Tacoma rust out? I’m assuming it would be hard for it to come down to that being the body would keep it in place, but seriously. This doesn’t included rear control arms or shock houses rusting out.

If you lookup "3rd gen 4runner frame rot," you do see a lot of torn up frames. It's sad that Toyota didn't cover the 4Runners but did cover the Sequoia's, Tacoma's, and Tundra's.........

 

[Boognish_Forever]

If you lookup "3rd gen 4runner frame rot," you do see a lot of torn up frames. It's sad that Toyota didn't cover the 4Runners but did cover the Sequoia's, Tacoma's, and Tundra's.........

I wanna see if a 4runner frame can do this.

 

[Runner-Wannabe]

I wanna see if a 4runner frame can do this.

That’s the articulating model they had. Was great at going over very sharp crests.

 

[Dexter Morgan]

That frame is pretty chewed up man.

 

[Boognish_Forever]

That’s the articulating model they had. Was great at going over very sharp crests.

I could see that being in some off-road cartoon.

 

[sledride]

How about this one?

I looked at this one the other day. 02 with 155K, other than this rust pretty nice. Wanted 4K, said the rust was superficial. I passed, right call?

 

[Jubsz]

^ That looks far more than superficial IMO. Good pass. Way too much flaking on there, everywhere. It doesn't look likely to break tomorrow but it is weakened everywhere. Diff appears to be leaking, probably due to it rusting through.

 

[armabill]

You can fix/repair rust spots but the rust never stops- it keeps on going.

On my 2005 Sport Edition, I got 2 fist size holes on my main frame just past the front wheel well rearward- about 8 inches apart from one another on the passenger side. It wouldn't pass state inspection until it was repaired (plate either welded or bolted).

The thing was, it was ok last year at inspection time. It only took one year for this to develop. I was amazed and shocked.

I also had clear coat coming off and needed new brakes. Taking all of this into consideration, I bought a 2020 4Runner TRD OR Premium.

 

[sledride]

From what I've read it rusts from the inside out so it probably did not develop as quickly as you think, it just couldn't be seen. I figure in the pics above if the outside looks like that then the inside must be worse. Congrats on the 2020.

 

[armabill]

Thanks for the congrats. Yeah, that's what I was thinking- from the inside out. I was worried that there was a lot more rust than what was showing.

And being that it involved the main frame, I just couldn't trust it.

 

[audiness]

I have a rust-free Texas 1999 frame for sale in the classifieds if anyone needs one