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2015 Trail Premium. Is this too much of a rust bucket?

Discussion in '5th Gen 4Runners (2010-2024)' started by BigTuna8695, May 12, 2025 at 7:02 PM.

  1. May 12, 2025 at 7:02 PM
    #1
    BigTuna8695

    BigTuna8695 [OP] New Member

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    I was considering buying a 2015 trail premium from upstate NY. I only have these two photos- they aren't exactly photos of the frame, but certainly indicative of rust. I'm assuming I should just ditch this, or is it there a chance the front skid and tire are that rusty and the frame is better?

    https://imgur.com/a/PzZ9EFw
     
  2. May 12, 2025 at 7:05 PM
    #2
    Ironguy

    Ironguy Kind of New

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    Welcome from Arizona!
    A few more pics would help.
     
  3. May 12, 2025 at 7:23 PM
    #3
    mac1usa

    mac1usa New Member

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    Looks pretty rough to me
     
  4. May 12, 2025 at 9:04 PM
    #4
    Hungryhawk

    Hungryhawk New Member

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    Owners clearly did no maintenance on undercarriage. Any competent shop would point out the rust problem to the owner. If told, owner ignored any corrective advice.
    So I imagine lots of important maintenance items were also never done.
    Forget it, look for a vehicle raised away from the rust belt. That also has a good history of fluid & lube changes under hood AND under vehicle -diffs, transfer case, tranny, zerks on drive/propeller shafts.
     
  5. May 12, 2025 at 9:49 PM
    #5
    glwood54

    glwood54 Stop making me buy stuff!

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    I think you're looking at the tip of the rustberg. Keep shopping.
     
    Last edited: May 12, 2025 at 10:01 PM
    Saker, CalcityRenegade and djwantke like this.
  6. May 12, 2025 at 10:03 PM
    #6
    djwantke

    djwantke New Member

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    Bought brand new 2016 After May 2021: -Approx 3" lift/level: Bilstein 5100's, OME 2884 590lb 3" front lift springs, SPC UCA's, ICON 158506 2" lift rear coils, diff drop -Mickey Thompson Baja ATZ LT285/70R17 Load E -Mickey Thompson Sidebiter ll 17x9, 0 offset, 5 backspace -Pro Comp black spline lugs ^installed by 4WheelParts^ -New brakes and rotors by brake shop -4-piece ARB skid kit -Smittybilt 2" nerf steps -MBRP black exhaust tip, chopped OEM -Drivers side OEM FJ oh shit handle -All blacked out emblems -Blacked out roof rails -4x WeatherTech window rain guards -OEM custom rear mud flap deletes -KICK BACK MUD FLAPS 12" WIDE - BLACK TOP AND BLACK WEIGHT -FRAM EXTRA GUARD CA10835 engine air filter -1797 LED tricolor fog bulbs Yellow 3000K White 6000K Blue 15000K 28W 4000LM -Armour paint lower rear bumper -Front bumper high stage high clearance cut -Fenders cut straight across, pink reservoir sprayed black -4Runner Lifestyle sequential fog fangs -4Runner Lifestyle smoked taillight decals -Pedal Commander -Rear passenger cargo mounted 120v truck tire pump -4x Spidertrax 1.25" black aluminum wheel spacers -Yota Twins Paracord Hatch Strap sand camo -Teton Workshop hard anodized matte black aluminum shift knob -Ditch flood lights 4 LED 20w 1400lm w/ OEM hood mounts on OEM style dash switch -Backup flood lights under bumper 6 LED 18w 1500lm on OEM style dash switch -Body Mount Chop; cut, weld, paint -Fender mount chop, re-weld, paint -Fender Liner cut behind wheel (I cut liner in front of wheel clean off at top of viper cut) -Wheel well firewall hammering, painting ^done by Arc One Industries^ -valance cap trim -Agency6 Black Shackle Block 2" US Certified 6061 T6 CNC machined aluminum -DRT fab universal hitch skid -ACDelco inner tie rods, outer tie rods, bellows -Full Dr. KDSS switch kit -March 31 Behind grille 13-1/4" 32 LED light bar + wide-angle, eagle-eye lens 6000lm on OEM style dash switch -RAA Powder coated steel roof rack cargo basket, 1" side rails, 64" x 39" x 6", 250lb limit -roof gas can, water can, shovel -PEAKTOW PTT0063 Hitch Mount Cargo Carrier 51-1/2 x 17-1/2 x 4 inches 500 lbs. Capacity (trips only) -July/2023: purchased first needed SPC balljoint replacement kit - newly released, upgraded non-zerk sealed joints 25002 -July 15/2023: The Original Universal EZ Flares, 1". All four corners -Dec. 2023: removed bumper cover and crash bar, drilled frame, installed Apex Overland KDSS Recovery Points -Jan. 2024: SPC balljoint replacement kit - upgraded non-zerk sealed joint design 25002 -Jan. 2024: custom installed 2lb fire extinguisher between drivers seat and door -Feb. 2024: swapped interior lighting to diode dynamics led’s -Feb. 3/ 2024: 4x KC Wire Hiders, for roof rack lighting -Feb. 13/2024: double ditch lights, on new Rago Fabrication Extension brackets. -3inch Quad Row Amber Pods from LED-Club. 32W 3200Lm 16-LED Spot Beam. Existing: 3inch EVERGEAR clear lens LED pods -May 2024: custom black aluminum grille mesh installed in front of factory plastic -June 2024: custom built powder coated dom sliders -Nov. 2024: thermo-plastic rear mudflaps -Dec. 2024: rear bumper cover clearance cut, sprayed newly exposed parts black -Jan. 2025: trailer hitch removal, relocation of rear led pods to crossmember New: -Exhaust pipe chop after axle -March 2025: new SPC upper control arms, bushings, balljoints. Raised front end 0.75” via Bilstein 5100 spring seat. -April 2025: Evergear bezel-less cube ditch lights 4 LEDs 40W 3.33A 4800Lm 328’ beam distance 30° 6000k beam angle shatter & crack resistant lens -April 2025: Evergear Ultra Series light bar 27-3/4” flood spot combo 60 LEDs 60W 5A 6000Lm 1227’ beam distance Dual row, dual beam angle 30°/60° April 2025: BULLY Rock Crawler Hi-Intensity LED Utility Lights, Pair 1260 lumens @ 15w (3 x 5w CREE) each 120° flood beam waterproof, dustproof. Under hood: -Blue Fire 6-Circuit Fuse Block w/ LED Indicator & Protection Cover -Blue Sea 100A Circuit Breaker w/ reset lever In progress/in the garage queue: ~ Wanted - 80% OFFROAD Hitch Replacement Recovery Point, PerryParts or Wheelers bump stops, 1" body lift, custom dom front bumper, winch, rear dom bumper with side hoops, kdss angle correction, C or D load 35’s, bolt on cat shields
    Rustberg right ahead!

    IMG_5329.jpg
     
    Dmesser92 likes this.
  7. May 12, 2025 at 10:05 PM
    #7
    Dmesser92

    Dmesser92 New Member

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    Hard pass. Unless rust remediation is your thing.
     
  8. May 12, 2025 at 10:05 PM
    #8
    djwantke

    djwantke New Member

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    @BigTuna8695 welcome here!

    I have a 2016 Trail. I’ve seen worse. But can’t help but wonder what else is suspect.
    More pics thanks
     
  9. May 12, 2025 at 10:18 PM
    #9
    Slopemaster

    Slopemaster Slope Survivalist

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  10. May 13, 2025 at 5:13 AM
    #10
    Too Stroked

    Too Stroked New Member

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    I live in the heart of the rust belt (upstate NY) and that one's a hard pass. In fact, any vehicle that's 10 years old and has been driven winters up here - even with proper rust protection measures - is generally going to be a hard pass. Once the tin worm starts feeding, it's virtually impossible to stop.

    And for those of you that think one can crawl under that bad boy, do some sanding, rust neutralization and rust proofing and have it live a decent life are sadly mistaken. Rust truly never sleeps.
     
    Nick B likes this.
  11. May 13, 2025 at 12:59 PM
    #11
    GrimJeeper91

    GrimJeeper91 New Member

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    Yokohama AT's, Bilstein 5100's, Talon's Garage full skids.
    That would definitely scare me away!

    About the only good thing about living it Southern California is our vehicles don't end up looking like this!
     

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