How fast does Frame Rust occur on 1st gens?

Hi,

Curious how fast it takes for rust to set in / start eating at frames. I have a truck that was mostly garaged and has minor surface rust & one small nickel sized, young piece of bubbling rust on the frame. Doesn't look too bad. No holes or weakness in the spot yet but clearly rust is present. My mechanic said to keep an eye on it every time I jack it up to change oil.

This truck is from new england, but was undercoated in 2010 and has been washed every week during winter, plus driven very lightly / not in salt puddles / was garaged, etc.

Two scenarios I need help with:

1. I drive to southern california with this truck, where there is no rust / threat of rust. How long will it take for that surface rust / small nickel sized piece to grow once I'm there? How many years or miles?

2. I stay in New England and drive it thru multiple winters, washing underbody and minimizing salt exposure. How long does rust take to become an issue?

 

To clarify, the truck is a 2001 sr5 with 74k miles and drives like it's brand new.

I can see myself driving this for 10 years in california - assuming the frame lasts that long.

Best case scenario answer: you're good until 200k or whatever, 10 years no problem.

Worst case: nothing you can do, will become a problem in 1 year.

 

i have the same question! I brought an AZ '01 sr5 to VT and have kept it undercoated - wonder how long I would have?

 

For What it is worth my Tacoma spent it`s Youth in Central Texas 2 winters it needed Tender Loving care.

I just panted things and kept after when I could That Liquid Brine is Brutal

If you can do the work or have a friend that will for expenses it is not bad

 

climate is dry, so that rust is not going to worsen.... as long as you don't go driving into the ocean or park in a pond. Salty water is very bad (southern equivalent of winter salt)

if you want to drive it through the salt, you have to rustproof it both inside and out, as it will make it last much longer, but the best is to not expose it to the salt. Unprotected car exposed to winter salt is only a matter of a few years before it starts getting eaten up by rust. Rustproofed car: a long time, as long as you keep rustproofing it every year

 

WTF it means "keep an eye on it"? Doesn't matter how long you would stare at that thing, it will not help. Instead of "keeping eye" you should act. Get fluid film and treat the frame. Do it every year and it should keep the rust from growing.

 

I drive mine on the beach weekly... Wash it off maybe every other time, do have some undercoating on the frame and don't have any frame rust.

 

Yeah obviously going to act quickly and get a fluid film treatment yearly - the idea behind keeping an eye on it is to check periodically if that area grows or gets worse even w fluid film / undercoating. He was more saying, "here's the area of concern on this frame, to pay attention to." Planning to do fluid film anyways for future winter use both in new england and western US.

 

Texas here. Very little to no rust at all. What surface rust I did have was wire wheeled and subsequently treated with rust inhibitor. There are some products that you can spray onto surface rust and it will bond with it and prevent spreading. I personally get under the truck and check every few years to see whats needed.

 

at the end of January 2008 I had 3 holes about 2-3" each

on the side of the frame on my 1996 4 cyl extra cab. 6 weeks later it was one long hole about 2' long.

 

The only way to tell is to take a ballpeen hammer and tap it along all the rust spots, the sound and sensation tells a lot. The nasty frames feel soft to the hammer blows and will flake off, possible holes.

 

In some states it takes the time you took to write that first post!