Newbie here! Can you please tell me if this frame has too much rust on it?

Hi All, I'm in the market to purchase a 4Runner, and after many weeks of research I was about to purchase this 2022 SR5, until I looked at the frame and saw the corrosion. Can you folks please help me figure out if this is easy to treat and prevent further corrosion?

 

Welcome. Not the worst I've seen pics of. Should be an easy treat.

 

Thank you on both accounts

 

It's not beyond help, but will need attention to keep it from degrading any further. Where do you live? The urgency depends on the environment.

 

Thanks for the input! I live in Boston area and commute to New Hampshire on a regular basis through winter and fall. The road often is treated with salt! What concerns me is to purchase this and figure out it would cost too much to fix the corrosion and prevent it from progressing!

 

Welcome from Wisconsin! The rust you're showing is very treatable, take care of it now before it's too late.

 

You don't even own the vehicle yet? If you're considering buy it, have the seller treat it for you before purchase. If they're unwilling, it's then a bargaining chip on price. If you're driving in the NE in the winters, you're going to have to maintain the frame on a yearly basis. Get used to it.

 

That's true! I don't even own it yet, and was wondering even if I should buy it or find a more pricey and less corroded one to ensure longevity... Thank you for the input

 

For salt belt vehicle that has not been treated it's about right for it's age. Would it dissuade me? Nope. Would I use it to knock $500-$1000 off the asking price-yep. Then I would fluid film or similar coat it as soon as I bought it.

 

Also consider rust inside the frame rails that is not visible. You can borrow a fiber optic inspection camera with a pencil diameter cable that self illuminates and you see the pic on a screen. Usually you can take photos too.
I got one on Amazon that does a good job for my several uses, mostly looking inside walls thru small hole I drill. Also looking into 1950 shower manifold at valve seats. Some users look into combustion chamber thru spark plug hole.
You could easily see into frame rails for hidden rust on those frame weld areas you see rust on outside

 

Looks fine. Find some 2015 4Runners in your area for an idea of what a rusty frame looks like

Just take it for yearly rustproofing before each winter. Fluid Film, Woolwax, NH Oil, Krown, whatever. Avoid the rubberized shit from Ziebart, etc., those would be a death sentence.

 

How many miles, how does it drive. Depending on those questions, I’d buy, treat with surface shield. Wool wax or fluid film would be good too, but Id start with surface shield before the first winter, then fluid film or wool wax in the spring. Then evey fall treat it. There are a good group of folks from the New England area that frequent Tacoma world, who would be a great help.

 

Thank you all for the great input.

This one has 44k miles on it, runs very well as far as I can tell. I spoke with some 4Runner veterans, and they said the price is steep considering the mileage and trim. I put the link here but I'm not sure if bots would remove it: https://www.woburntoyota.com/invent...-wheel-drive-sport-utility-jtemu5jr0n6011631/

Honestly, as it is not so cheap, I'm not buying this one, given what Spare Part said about hidden corrosion and my OCD I'll always feel there might be something simmering.

I guess a model 2023 or 2024 would be more suitable for me, even if slightly more expensive upfront.

 

Welcome

 

welcome

 

That is too expensive. Should be in the mid to high 30's.

 

I noticed your post and imo, patience always pays off. I would not buy anything that rusty. I would patiently look for a better one, and treat it with rustproof chemicals every year. It is a must. Especially if you live in a "salty environment". If the owner of that vehicle did not bother with rust prevention, what else has he omitted?

 

$41K is way too much… Esp for SR5 trim… I got a 2022 Limited w 15k miles for $43k

 

Thank you all for your input. I did not buy that one, a couple months later got a 2023 TRD Sport with 27k miles for 43k! Still a bit steep in price I guess, but it had no corrosion or rust on the frame!

 

Welcome aboard.

 

No big deal. I would say that's "normal" after having owned a 5th Gen since 2015; it will look like that if you live in the rust belt and don't coat it regularly. I prefer the gooey oil spray and do mine once a year.

 

Another viewpoint. Are you in a hurry? Do you have time to fly and drive home from another area/State. Do you want to keep it a long time? The Pre-owned Toyota Certified website has all models in every State. I found a 50,000 mi 2019 for my daughter just 15 miles from her home.
Dealer salesmen deserve their reputation, so verify everything! I had my independent mechanic do a deep OBD2 check. Car Fax history seemed accurate. I lifted carpet in spots under seats. Examined jack cubby and behind dash. Crawled under and looked in every crevice. No rust anywhere. No diff, drive shaft, tranny or torque converter service showed. So I did them all. That was 2 years ago and runner is good. She now has over 70,000 mi.

 

See post #19.

 

Nice! We need pics, of course!