Is the 200 Series Frame Prone to Rust? (1 Viewer)

[ewillis]

Searched a bit through Google...didn't see much so forgive me if there's a bunch of threads already. Been poking around and considering the 200 series when I sell my 80. I can't help but notice it looks like most undercarriage images I see have what appears to be rust on the welds and various other components under the trucks. These are 4-6 year old LCs in various parts of the country. My 26 year old 80 is way cleaner underneath. Is the 200 more susceptible to undercarriage rust from your experience or am I just looking at crappy examples?

 

[Madtiger]

I doubt that rust prevention got worst over generations given how much 200 was tested for strength and durability by Toyota.

 

[FerrisBueller]

It all depends on where the LC has spent most of its time. My 2018 LC with 52,000 miles has zero rust anywhere, it has been in TX the entire time. If you're looking for something from CA, then you'll probably have no rust problems. This is the general consensus I've seen brought up in other threads, too. The KDSS valve enclosure started to get some thin surface rust, but that is a well known problem with the LC200, and you can prevent further corrosion by covering the KDSS valve with a LPS3 or something similar.

Here's after I coated the KDSS valves with LPS3:

 

[Bunga]

I live in a dry climate and have only taken it on winter salted roads for two weeks and it shows rust. I used LP3 too on all of the exposed parts as you did. I really can't imagine owning one of these in the upper midwest or the east.

 

[mcgaskins]

Rust has ALWAYS been a problem with Toyotas, and it's a frustrating one. When I bought a 2 year old 200 out of Minnesota with ~40k miles it definitely had a bit of surface rust on the welds and anywhere that was relatively exposed. Of course a SoCal or Arizona vehicle doesn't have rust - nothing rusts there, that's why those command a premium. It does not seem like the rust causes catastrophic issues like it did on early Tacomas (just google it if you aren't aware - it's real bad), but the KDSS valves are the big thing to look out for especially if you intend to do suspension work. The funny thing is even though they rust more than they "should", it doesn't seem to affect the resale value much. First gen Tacoma frames turn to swiss cheese anywhere outside of the desert southwest, yet they have the highest residual value of just about any mass produced vehicle ever made.

 

[hickuptruck]

Rust starts at the welds. Then the transfer case cover is the first piece to go. Surface rust at rear axle, and also the rear bumper support/hitch. Where it looks the most s*** is definetly t-case cover and rear by the spare. Rust on the 200 isn't any better or worse than what you'd find of a Tundra, Ram, F150, Titan. Want to have a entirely rust free truck you'd never have to worry about rust or corrosion again? Body off and urethane paint the frame and underside of the body.

 

[bjowett]

Short answer, yes. My old FZJ80 held up far better underneath. Find a super clean unit and wax the heck out of the chassis and body panels.

 

[Sandroad]

You will find lots of crappy examples on Mud because rust is a very common pre-purchase question. With the 200s, it’s my opinion the frame is not the rust problem. It will look rusty quickly in areas where salt is used, but the problem will be with the bolts and shields, etc. on older 200s. The frame is stout, to say the least. It’s for sure possible to find well-cared for 200s anywhere, but if you are looking where salt is used, take a good look underneath!

 

[panerai7]

I've seen enough North East and Mid West used 200's to attest to the rust issue. I don't know what kind of acid something they put down on the roads over there but nothing really can survive it.

 

[CharlieS]

As I understand it, up here for a long time they used halite (salt/sodium chloride/NaCl). For a while now they have been using more liquid brine (NaCl/MgCl in a water solution) rather than solids. It does a good job of accelerating oxidation of metals.

 

[stonepa]

I've seen enough North East and Mid West used 200's to attest to the rust issue. I don't know what kind of acid something they put down on the roads over there but nothing really can survive it.

Thank goodness they build them as stout as they do. My 22 year old 100 has a frame with lots of surface rust but nothing serious. My 5 year old 200 looks good. They seem to last forever, even with the salt.

 

[stonepa]

Rust has ALWAYS been a problem with Toyotas, and it's a frustrating one. When I bought a 2 year old 200 out of Minnesota with ~40k miles it definitely had a bit of surface rust on the welds and anywhere that was relatively exposed. Of course a SoCal or Arizona vehicle doesn't have rust - nothing rusts there, that's why those command a premium. It does not seem like the rust causes catastrophic issues like it did on early Tacomas (just google it if you aren't aware - it's real bad), but the KDSS valves are the big thing to look out for especially if you intend to do suspension work. The funny thing is even though they rust more than they "should", it doesn't seem to affect the resale value much. First gen Tacoma frames turn to swiss cheese anywhere outside of the desert southwest, yet they have the highest residual value of just about any mass produced vehicle ever made.

Dana really built some terrible frames for those Tacomas. The replacement frames do not have the corrosion issues.

 

[panerai7]

Thank goodness they build them as stout as they do. My 22 year old 100 has a frame with lots of surface rust but nothing serious. My 5 year old 200 looks good. They seem to last forever, even with the salt.

I'm not sure where you live and what they spray over there
My old LX470 was from New York and 8 years old at that time. Every damn thing was rusted. The muffler cover was falling off and had holes, the skid plates had holes in them. Every bolt, nut, screw was rusted and broke off if you touched it trying to unscrew it. The whole undercarriage looked like it was spray painted with orange paint. The good latch rusted, radiator bolts, AC lines leaked rusted. Never again will I buy a car from those areas, I don't care if I have to pay more. My LX570 lived its life in Lousiana and some Texas, crawling under the truck is a pleasure, everything comes off with 0 effort, 0 rust, not surface not superficial - nothing.

 

[stonepa]

I'm not sure where you live and what they spray over there
My old LX470 was from New York and 8 years old at that time. Every damn thing was rusted. The muffler cover was falling off and had holes, the skid plates had holes in them. Every bolt, nut, screw was rusted and broke off if you touched it trying to unscrew it. The whole undercarriage looked like it was spray painted with orange paint. The good latch rusted, radiator bolts, AC lines leaked rusted. Never again will I buy a car from those areas, I don't care if I have to pay more. My LX570 lived its life in Lousiana and some Texas, crawling under the truck is a pleasure, everything comes off with 0 effort, 0 rust, not surface not superficial - nothing.

Ok. Glad to hear. If you live where it snows it will be exposed to salt. Even Utah and Colorado are now using salt so the truck will have to stay south to stay perfect.

 

[swiftie]

Lot of rust on my 2014 LC200 but it has spent all its life in Scotland and quite a bit off road. I've always kept an eye on it but the frame is so solid and the rust is only surface at the moment that I'm not concerned. If it was a Landrover/RangeRover/Discovery I would be but the frame is so massive on the LC200

 

[Madtiger]

Damn, i drive to CO

Lot of rust on my 2014 LC200 but it has spent all its life in Scotland and quite a bit off road. I've always kept an eye on it but the frame is so solid and the rust is only surface at the moment that I'm not concerned. If it was a Landrover/RangeRover/Discovery I would be but the frame is so massive on the LC200

If you're in a Land Rover, the frame rust would not be your only worry....

 

[shelby95]

Damn, i drive to CO


If you're in a Land Rover, the frame rust would not be your only worry....

The Land Rover frame is generally well-protected from rust by the flatbed truck between it and the road surface.

 

[stonepa]

The Land Rover frame is generally well-protected from rust by the flatbed truck between it and the road surface.

And the oil leaks. From everywhere, even areas you didn’t know contained oil. As a person who grew up driving a 109” Series 2 wagon, ive seen it all. Switched to Land Cruiser in 1987 and never looked back.

 

[kcruiser200]

Damn, i drive to CO


If you're in a Land Rover, the frame rust would not be your only worry....

but your biggest one!!! land rover frames are known to have production inconsistencies. so trying to repair them with replacement parts turns out to be an exercise in patience, creativity and art!! lol!!!

 

[Moby]

My FJ-62 was from back east. "60s have body and frame rust issues. The rear open channel reinforcements were replaced but the rest of the frame was solid. The body eventually wasn't great and the quarters were cut and replaced with CCoT panels, new tailgate, etc. So not sure that older is better by any means...

But the real question is - is there any manufacturer that is better when we're talking about rust and/or road salt? Even cars with 10 year rust warranties like my '99 Audi developed a rust spot in the PNW. Nothing that spends its life here really rusts here, but a fully dipped, rust warrantied body developed some rust spots here. So yeah, Landcruisers rust. What doesn't? Serious question.