Shopping for my first 4runner

I am shopping for my first 4Runner. The search is annoying. All new ones are sky high prices and you can't find any with less than 100k miles for less than like 33,000. That being said I found one. It has 75k miles and looks to be in good shape. I have heard about the rust issues, so I asked for underbody pictures. I was wondering what the experts thought about the amount of rust. Should I look the other way or take a chance and try to clean it up and coat it?

 

Welcome to the forum! What year is that one and where will it be used?

 

It is a 2018 and in the midwest rust belt. Which is why I am trying to be careful

 

That's actually not bad at all for a 2018. I like in the heart of the real rust belt (upstate New York) and that would be a 1-2 year old truck up here.

Getting back to the truck, I'd say it's savable if you immediately get a professional application of Fluid Film, Woolwax or my favorite - Waxoyl. FF would need to be reapplied annually, but WW and Waxoyl do not.

 

I wish I knew how to advise you. Some looks like rust around the welds getting worse and then another pic or two looks bad. Can you take it to someone local for an inspection?

If you bought it I would definitely inquire about sanding then por15 paint then fluid film or similar.

 

I plan on getting my vehicle washed atleast weekly. Which of the coatings holds up best to being washed? I know Fluid Film can come off pretty easily.

 

How much are they asking for that 2018 with 75k miles? Also, what trim is it?

 

It is a SR5 and 30k
and its a 4WD. Not sure why there are so many 2wd near me

 

Ignore the asking which one holds up to being washed. I found your writeup on it! That being said would you suggest I do some sanding first or just coat?

 

If it were me, I'd buy a new SR5 4WD for $9k-10k more. It will be 5 years newer, 75k fewer miles, and will come with the factory warranty. Also, no rust to worry about.

 

Welcome

 

I think rust issues were with Tacomas, I never did any rust protection for my old 4Runner and it has ways more rust after 11 years but still nothing critical. And it's in Ontario with lots of salt on the roads. So I wouldn't worry about rust on the picture, but it might be a good price negotiating point. Saying that I'm going to get Fluid Film undercoating for my new 4Runner.

 

Sanding just opens up more bare metal to corrode even faster. I'd coat it as is. You could also POR 15 then coat.

 

That rust on the frame welds (and elsewhere) is a no-go for me. I passed on a few that had less rust than that, but similar near the front bumper mounts on the frame. One of the 4Runners was a beauty that I thought was "the one", until I looked at the tailgate latch and saw rust in there. I have a lot of experience fixing rusty cars and absolutely will not buy one if I see rust like the pictures above. Something that might help your search is using Carfax to see where the vehicle has been previously registered. Good luck.

 

I saw a ton of used 4Rs like that on the lots before just a few years old. I know mine brand new had some tiny spots on the welds and I never drove in rain even.

At three months old I had a place touch these tiny spots pencil head size on welds with POR15 and fluid film while underside.

This rust topic for me is one more reason mine will not see winter or inclement weather. I know it sounds crazy but I worked to hard for this thing to watch a few winters destroy the frame

 

Here is the underside of my Pro with almost 38k miles for a comparison. I live and drive in Utah, where they salt the roads in winter. The undercarriage does get rinsed weekly. No coatings have ever been applied.

 

Looks like my 2018. As far as I know, they don’t use salt in my area. I imagine that it is frustrating to live in a rust belt area.

 

Got a quote for Waxoyl locally. Though the guy normally only does LandRovers.
Key question is that is it worth applying to a vehicle which I may keep for only 10Yrs

2022 TRD Sports

 

It may help your resale value.

 

In my humble opinion, yes.

 

Wow, must be nice! I can tell you with 100% certainty that up here in the rust belt where they really dump salt, a new 4Runner would look like that for less than a few (winter) months. Yea, it's that bad.

 

What year is it? Looks really clean!

 

Those pics are from my 2020 Pro. My 2016 Limited looked pretty similar at 110k miles before I sold it.

 

Steelevo. That looks fantastic for not being treated and in salt too. Wow.

Do you just go to a quarter wash and was with soap and water in winter/snow etal?

 

The car is actually quite dirty in those pictures. I haven't driven it in a few weeks until the new buyer picks it up.

I use a touchless carwash, in the winter, by my house that has amazing under-car water jets. It's just water from the carwash through the auto wash. On occasion, I'll use their manual bays and wash underneath with hot soap and hot water before using the auto wash.

In the spring and summer, I hand wash and use my power washer. I'll usually use the foam cannon under the car, then do a thorough underbody rinse before starting on the rest of the car.

 

Great advice and great result. Thanks for sharing

 

I think this is very minimal rust, i would woolwax/fluid film the interior of the frame first and do everything under right away, i did woolwax mine to death as i plan to keep the truck a long time

but god its messy working on the truck underneath lol