Looking at buying 100 series in Richmond - Rust questions

[adrenalinefjz80]

Are those non-oem CVs I see? If so, I'd walk.

 

[TXLX100]

You're kidding right? My 9 month old LX has that much 'rust'. Do you guys use your trucks or just stare at the frame?

Did your old one rust out is why you have a 9 month old ?

I Use.... In Texas. And rinse it when I get back from the coast or coastal flats. My Ford has slight rust on the frame rails where the paint has failed. The exhaust on the LX, still dull silver looking.

 

[stonepa]

Did your old one rust out is why you have a 9 month old ?

I Use.... In Texas. And rinse it when I get back from the coast or coastal flats. My Ford has slight rust on the frame rails where the paint has failed. The exhaust on the LX, still dull silver looking.

Nope. I replaced the 1998 100 that I drove up here in the great white north for 16 years / 331k miles. The frame and suspension was plenty rusty after all those years but everything was still solid. Never had a rust related failure beyond the parking brake assembly which was a simple fix. Maintenance wasn't bad. There wasn't a stuck bolt or nut that wouldn't yield to wd40 and a little heat.

Body panel rust is a different matter. I hate body rust.

These trucks are tough. If you are looking to drive a vehicle as transportation rather than a make it a hobby i just think there are more important things to worry about than a little surface rust. I'd make sure the truck is bulletproof mechanically then use my time planning or going somewhere cool. In the end a truck is just a tool to transport you to an awesome experience.

 

[fireball]

The small amount of surface rust on the underside of that truck was nothing at all to worry about and certainly not a reason to pass on that truck.

This is coming from a guy in PA who flew out to California to find a rust free truck and does most of his own work.