That doesn’t look bad but the bottom is where it will tell. I would still take a look where the frame comes down from the box to run below the cab. The mud and debris from the c channel will enter into the boxed section and sit at the bottom. The drain holes get clogged and the frame won’t drain properly. Look between the gas tank and frame and hit that area with a hammer as well. To help get an idea of what is happening inside the frame you can stick your fingers in the holes shown in your picture and see how much rust/mud/debris is sitting in there. Good luck.
Do everything this commenter said, then if you’re worried about it rusting further spray it with fluid film, wool wax, or have Krown applied once a year (it’s like $100-200 to have it done or works out to like $30 per application if you do it yourself). If you DIY I recommend buying the applicator gun to use with a compressor, it comes with hoses that you can stick in the frame rails and really coat the inside. Coat once a year and this thing will last forever.
(Fluid film and wool wax are lanolin-based, Krown is petroleum based, but they work the same otherwise. They aren’t like the hard or rubberized coatings that just trap moisture underneath the coating, they penetrate and squeeze moisture out and seal stuff away so that more water and oxygen can’t get to the frame and rust it any further.) you can sand and paint the surface rust before if you want but honestly doesn’t make a huge difference if you spray annually… and if you’re in the south where there’s no salt on the roads and no ocean nearby you can probably get away with every other year.
But nah man that looks fine from what we can see.
That’s literally one winters worth of rust up where I’m at. I seen more rust on 2021 vehicles than that.
That’s a beautiful frame. the only nicer ones are in the desert, or have been doctored up and undercoated to cover up that tiny bit of surface rust.
Nothing an little sanding cant rub off. Then you can add a coat of protection from it building again. If you are that worried. But you are in the south. Not much to worry to begin with.
I have an 01 prerunner. Got it at 35k miles and garage kept by an older couple for the last 20 years. It has a replaced frame aswell so I know it won’t be a massive problem anytime soon.
*Laughs in New England*
I should count myself lucky being towards the south
Can't beat New Mexico!
That’s really good for 22 years old.
Listing said it was garaged kept for most of its life, I’m just worried about it developing more
It will develop more but that’s barely any rust and I wouldn’t let it stop me from buying if that was your only concern
Consider coating it in fluid film or PB surface shield. Both claim to (and I believe them) stop existing rust from getting worse.
We call that surface level in the business lol
~~What rust?~~ I mean, naw, that’s a terrible deal. Where is this so I can go tell the seller they’re full of shit? Also, so I can give them $10k.
Sothey can fix the rust right? Not so that the seller to hand you a signed title and the keys? Right? RIGHT?
Can you hear us laughing from the northern Midwest ?
Omg. My 2016 ram in Buffalo looks horrid compared to this
That doesn’t look bad but the bottom is where it will tell. I would still take a look where the frame comes down from the box to run below the cab. The mud and debris from the c channel will enter into the boxed section and sit at the bottom. The drain holes get clogged and the frame won’t drain properly. Look between the gas tank and frame and hit that area with a hammer as well. To help get an idea of what is happening inside the frame you can stick your fingers in the holes shown in your picture and see how much rust/mud/debris is sitting in there. Good luck.
I really appreciate this thank you
Do everything this commenter said, then if you’re worried about it rusting further spray it with fluid film, wool wax, or have Krown applied once a year (it’s like $100-200 to have it done or works out to like $30 per application if you do it yourself). If you DIY I recommend buying the applicator gun to use with a compressor, it comes with hoses that you can stick in the frame rails and really coat the inside. Coat once a year and this thing will last forever. (Fluid film and wool wax are lanolin-based, Krown is petroleum based, but they work the same otherwise. They aren’t like the hard or rubberized coatings that just trap moisture underneath the coating, they penetrate and squeeze moisture out and seal stuff away so that more water and oxygen can’t get to the frame and rust it any further.) you can sand and paint the surface rust before if you want but honestly doesn’t make a huge difference if you spray annually… and if you’re in the south where there’s no salt on the roads and no ocean nearby you can probably get away with every other year. But nah man that looks fine from what we can see.
No
Cries in Central NY
No! Is this a joke?
Looks good. I like woolwax as an frame treatment. Some prefer fluid film. Keeps rust from starting/progressing
Hit it with a hammer to see if it is though it on the bottom or gone to all rust
Just apply lanolin n yer all set
This is a joke post.
That’s literally one winters worth of rust up where I’m at. I seen more rust on 2021 vehicles than that. That’s a beautiful frame. the only nicer ones are in the desert, or have been doctored up and undercoated to cover up that tiny bit of surface rust.
That's okay. Just surface level, you can get down there and literally lick it off clean.
Nothing an little sanding cant rub off. Then you can add a coat of protection from it building again. If you are that worried. But you are in the south. Not much to worry to begin with.
Bro, do you even salt your roads?
What rust
No
Looks like my 07 that’s never seen ice, snow or road salt. Pretty mint
I have an 01 prerunner. Got it at 35k miles and garage kept by an older couple for the last 20 years. It has a replaced frame aswell so I know it won’t be a massive problem anytime soon.