Completely Rusted Rear Hatch

The rear hatch of my 2011 4Runner is completely trashed and will likely need to be replaced. I've owned it for the last 3 years and already replaced the latch after it seized but now the rust is coming through and showing on the exterior around the window.
Has anyone replaced a hatch before? I'm looking into purchasing a new panel assembly and weather stripping then swapping the rest of my existing parts to the new one, then caulking the rear window and disconnecting the rear window switch.

 

Man I’m glad I don’t live in the rust belt. Seems like an endless battle.

 

Would salvage yard hatch be an option?

 

Looks like a good place to put some sort of rust proofing. Anyone ever open the hatch and spray the inside?

 

I thought the same thing but isn't most of the rust proofing messy and sticky? Not sure how many types there are. Underbody is what I am referring to.

 

I was thinking fluid film on the inside and something rubber on the outside. Maybe plastidip or something

 

It's the worst.

Unfortunately in Canada there's only 1 available on the other side of the country, from what the salvage yards I've called have told me. This could change weekly though.

Fluid film has been applied but it's getting to the point of being past repair, flakes of rust literally fall off. Only a matter of time before the latch comes loose.

 

find a replacement in the southern half of the US. go for a scenic drive.

 

ACF 50 could work in those areas

 

Yes, I did - with Fluid Film. Highly recommended.

 

If you decide to spray a preservative to the inside hatch area just be sure to avoid the window tracks. They already have the problem of getting hung up with excessive dust accumulation.

 

Damn, I live in the midwest but as soon as it hits November, the wife and I head to Florida and return in March. I live in Illinois and watch videos of vehicles in Michigan - damn the amount of rust on those cars.

 

It hurts my feelings thinking about vehicles being out of service so early in life due to rust.

 

With proper maintenance / rustproofing they will last

 

Yep you are right. I live in Michigan and that’s why my 4R is a fair weather vehicle only. I would like to last 20 plus years.

Before the economy and interest rates went crazy some of my friends friends leased cars also and just gave them back after 2-3 year no rust to look at. Now lease prices are ridiculous also.

Many people also get winter “beaters”. If it’s not the salt the pot holes from the roads get you. It’s a beautiful state with the beautiful lakes but there are trade offs like anything else

 

I dont mess with my 4Runner in Ohio between the first snow in Nov/Dec and the first few spring rains in April. I just turn it on and drive it around the block when the roads are clean weekly if possible.

The latch on the inside of my hatch is rusted out. Has anyone replaced just the in er latch mechanism and not the whole door?

 

My dealer advised me to not even start it up in garage winter. They said the engine and parts while they warm up don’t warm up like they would driving. He said drive it 8-10 miles if you’re going to Drive it. So I stabilize the gas and trickle charge the battery with a battery tender.

 

That would make sense. I do on occasion take it out on the freeway and in a logistics park cycle through the 4WD Hi/Lo when salt is not a factor.

 

Yeah I think I did my old truck a dis service starting and idling in winter in garage. The exhaust rusted out with too much water just sitting in there and not getting pushed out. I used to drive it on nice days too but not far very close by. Now I ask for insurance storage rate and leave it parked. Storage Insurnace is much cheaper.

 

I would take off the inside trim panel and get access to that from inside, sand it all down to bare inside and out, use body filler to fill the holes then Por15 that area inside and out, touch up as needed. Might buy you a few more years for $100 or less in parts.

 

Sell it and get a Jeep? 99 problems but a rusting tailgate ain't one (because it's aluminum).

 

Fckin' Toyotas. Luckily mine is in as bad as yours, but I had to drive 30 miles home the other night in my 2013 because the catch on the hatch was so rusted it wasn't functioning. Luckily when I get home I was able to fix it, I sprayed it down, good with WD-40 and worked it back and forth with a screwdriver while hitting the button.

I also have to drill out my license plate light screws because they're so rusty I can't get a screwdriver to grip them.