Thoughts on this rust and whether to buy

[Reptile Christ]

Hi everyone! I am nearly ready to pull the trigger on a '99-'00 4Runner Limited and would like your thoughts and opinions.

The vehicle I found spent its first 150k miles in Washington state, and the remaining 43k miles in Illinois. I would like your opinion on the undercarriage rust (pics below). Is it not too bad? Is it too late to seal it up and protect it? I live in Minnesota, so I'd bring the vehicle here and would like to rust-proof it right away. How big of a challenge would that be given its current state?

Ideally I would find something in CA, AZ, or TX, etc... bring it to MN and rust-proof the untarnished frame... but this one in IL has e-locker and I love the color combo. Just wondering if you'd personally wait to find something with less rust from a southern state. I'm not in a time-crunch and have no issue flying south then driving home. Thoughts?

Here's the listing for anyone interested (I'd talk them down to about $5k...): Used 1999 Toyota 4Runner 4DR LIMITED 3.4L AUTO 4WD for Sale in Macomb IL 61455 Gentry Motor Company

Thanks in advance!

 

[4Runner4Leon]

I personally would wait for a rust free vehicle, plenty of them in CA, AZ, and PNW.

In my experience, rust is like cancer, very difficult to cure once it sets in. I've given up my beloved 70's hot rod due to East Coast rust, there was just no practical way to fix it.

So if you're flexible on timing and willing to look out of state, I'd say keep looking (even though this one is not as bad as many others I've seen).

 

[Mark_BC]

Looks pretty good to me, nicer than mine. Just check the frame by the rear lower control arm to make sure it is still solid. Hit it hard with hammer and screw driver.

 

[Shiftless Joe]

That's not that bad, just knock the loose stuff off, spray it with Fluid Film, and it will be good to go.

 

[kolelt]

Looks like you’d be getting your self into a headache and disappointment. Frame is frame. But I can guarantee you that the rockers will probably be rusting through soon. I’d pass

 

[josefmd]

That is why I use Fluid Film...To prevent my frame/ undercarriage from looking like that...:thumb:

 

[thegipper]

IF the price was right, I'd buy it assuming the frame is actually solid and everything else checked out.

My frame looks about like that, maybe worse but it is solid. Take a big screw driver and a hammer with you and check it out.

I've seen frames that "looked" better than this but were actually rotting from the inside out. I've also seen frames that looked way worse than this and were rock hard.

If you do buy it, clean the frame up and start protecting it like you mentioned.

I got a thread going about rust prevention where i'm testing 9 different products. So far LPS 2, LPS 3 and Fluid film are the only products that have protected raw metal for more than 4 days of being exposed to a salt solution spray.

 

[jeredcollins]

That doesn’t look that bad at all

 

[Kanoe]

Wow, are you guys ever picky.

In all seriousness, these pics make this truck look very good. It SEEMS to be better than 90% you will find in my opinion.

You should still give it a good going over to look for hidden problems but I would be jumping all over that one. I think there are lots of people on here who would agree. We've all seen pics of worse, lots worse.

Edit: Just looked again. I say run and check it out, it won't last long.

 

[thecole1098]

Gotta agree with [MENTION=102449]Kanoe[/MENTION]. I live in Texas and even that screams a good deal to me. All it needs is a wire wheel to knock off the surface stuff then some POR15.

 

[BlackCat914]

Lol, buy it. That’s not bad at all.

 

[Scottyboy]

Oh I wish mine was the clean. Canadian winters aren’t kind. I would snap that up in a second if it was up here, that would be considered rust free


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[02gixxersix]

I wouldn't even call that rust, but I'm from NY. Out here people freak out over a tiny amount of surface rust. I don't think I would pay more than $5K or so, though. Has the timing belt been done?

 

[etc.]

Looks very good. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it. Just surface rust. Wire brush + paint = gtg

Also check the rear lower control arm bracket, but if the pictures posted show the extent of the rust, I would buy with confidence.

 

[kolelt]

I mean. Yes it’s really not bad. But he last pic. Looks like rocker panels? I see rust. And body rust is a *****!

 

[Reptile Christ]

I really appreciate everyone’s input! Sounds like it’d be manageable to seal up before it gets any worse. The sales guy claims he took pics of the “worst areas” he could find. I’m inquiring into a couple of others but this one seems promising... thanks again!

 

[littlecat]

Sorry for resurrecting a 1-year old thread. But what do you guys think about rust on this 2017 4Runner? Is it too much or normal? I live in tri-state area. Thanks.

 

[T4R2014]

Idk what rust you're seeing but please hose off that salt.

 

[littlecat]

Idk what rust you're seeing but please hose off that salt.

ha, that's something I need to do this week. Gonna take it to a car wash.

 

[T4R2014]

ha, that's something I need to do this week. Gonna take it to a car wash.

Get it Fluid Filmed and forget about rust.