Buying a used truck with rust!?

Phoenix7

Phoenix7

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I really need some advice here, because I found a used 3/4 ton 4x4 truck that is perfect except for some rust. This was a 100% Kansas driven truck. I have a couple photos and will give a brief description, and I would appreciate any and all comments.  I'm refraining from an exact description because it's a hot deal in my opinion, but I will say that it was built after 2013 and has less than 100,000 miles.

The frame looks OK because it has a factory rust protectant coating or spray on it, but it's the welds that are rusted.  The salesman said from everything he's seen in the business, the rust level is a 2 on a scale from 1 to 10, and he also says it will not get worse in Phoenix.  Furthermore, he said that at his classy dealership, any vehicle that is problematic gets sent to auction, and this truck doesn't even come close to fitting in that category. But I would like the opinions of all you guys who have trucks and tow RV's and toy haulers.  My purpose would be towing and light off-roading.

I will let the photos tell the rest of the story.  My questions are these: If I buy it and never treat these welds, what is the outlook for the future with me never driving in the snow?  And if I attempt to do light treatment myself or with a mechanic with spray on naval jelly, rinsing, and then spraying rustoleum, will that make a major difference and would that be an absolute MUST to do if I buy this truck?

These 250 and 350 trucks are hard to get a good buy on right now, and this truck is everything I want in a truck, including color and interior, plus more, so I would appreciate any advice to help me make a decision.

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Buy it! The salesman is absolutely correct IMO that truck looks fine and true, most dealers go through a safety inspection and would pass on it if it was an issue. I in your position would just hit them all with a wire brush and rustoleum and be done. I think you're good man. 

 
Bringing to Az I absolutely would not worry about the welds. If it really bothers you as said, you could clean and use some Steel-it on it.

 
Where you need to worry about rust is behind fender flares, up in the fender wells, cab corners, etc, not the frame. The sheet metal will rust out long before that frame will. I don't know if they salt their roads in Kansas but that stuff lingers and eats away over the years

 
The body will rust out before frame. Check pinch points and rockers. If they are good frame isnt much worry. And rust is ALWAYS worse than it looks. 
 

rust needs to be removed. Sandblast wire wheel or use an automotive rust neutralizer. If you paint over it will continue to rust under the fresh paint. 

 
Phoenix7 said:
 I'm refraining from an exact description because it's a hot deal in my opinion

These 250 and 350 trucks are hard to get a good buy on right now, and this truck is everything I want in a truck, including color and interior, plus more, so I would appreciate any advice to help me make a decision.
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Just be careful bud. There is no such thing as a hot deal coming from a dealership. They buy/sell vehicles for a living and aren't in the business of taking anything less than the absolute most they can squeeze out of the rig. 


 
97.5 % of salesmen say eskimos need ice. I’d want pictures of the wheel wells and bottom of the doors. 

 
zilla68 said:
where at in kansas is it? have you seen it in person? pm me if you want to
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Yes I test drove it today.  I was the one who took the 2 photos.  Carfax says the owner was in Missouri, but it was always serviced in Kansas City, Kansas.  All service records say Kansas, so that is why I said Kansas.

 
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Fireballsocal said:
Just be careful bud. There is no such thing as a hot deal coming from a dealership. They buy/sell vehicles for a living and aren't in the business of taking anything less than the absolute most they can squeeze out of the rig. 
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Yes I totally agree with you!  This is something that all of us should remember.  The hot deal was in my mind, based on my desires, motivation, because it's a diesel 6.7 with low mileage, and the exterior color and interior color and fabric design are absolutely perfect.  And one big example of what you are saying is the fact that the salesman admitted to me, when we were talking about price, that its been in inventory 60 DAYS, and they recently lowered the price a little.  In other words, 60 days is not a hot deal.

 
I read everyone's comments, and I think everyone has excellent points.

But I did deep thinking about this truck while I was at the gym tonight.  I decided not to buy it. Even though there were many things I was thinking about, I will try to sum it up with these main reasons.

1) I only took 2 photos, but there were just too many signs of rust.  Even inside the engine.  And rust on every bolt too.

2) I was worried about all the hidden places that were rusted.

3) I didn't want to be wondering while I was climbing a mountain with a 27' or 30' travel trailer if something was going to break. 

4) There is no reason that I need to spend approx. 46 or 47k "out-the-door" (currently listed at $41,199), way more than I've ever spent on any vehicle in my life, for something I have doubts about.  Like my wife (who thought I was crazy for wanting it) said, I deserve better.

But it will sell.  This 2017 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 Cummins Diesel has 79,300 miles, crystal clear black paint, and the classiest black/gray fabric seats I've ever seen.  It drove super smooth, and it was super smooth going over speed bumps and crawling over normal sized concrete parking barriers (the salesman let me test it).  For some reason it was way smoother over bumps than a 2015 Ram 2500 4x4 Hemi V8 that I test drove 2 weeks ago. 

If any members from Phoenix could be interested in this truck, PM me for the link. 

Thanks again everyone.  I hope this topic may help other people on the topic of rust.

 
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i have alot of co workers in missouri and kc as we have a hq and distribution centers in both. Knowing them, none have ever had an issue with rusting out, its not like being in michigan or new york. those spots on that truck are what we would see here in okla and we get about the same they do weather wise. if the bed isn't beat up, then it prob wasn't used as a work truck. probably a great deal!

 
zilla68 said:
i have alot of co workers in missouri and kc as we have a hq and distribution centers in both. Knowing them, none have ever had an issue with rusting out, its not like being in michigan or new york. those spots on that truck are what we would see here in okla and we get about the same they do weather wise. if the bed isn't beat up, then it prob wasn't used as a work truck. probably a great deal!
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I agree. Prices are comming down. There are a bunch of trucks like that in the phoenix area craigslist same price range/mileage

 
You said rust on all the bolts in the engine compartment....hmmmm did you see a carfax on it?  There have been a LOT of flood events in the last few years....did the carpets look new,  did you look under the dash to see if there is rust up under there... possibly a water car that never got tagged....

 
From the pics I would say that rust looks light and a non-issue but recently I have looked at a few vehicles in the Phoenix area and the dealers I encountered were all crooks. Effin criminals. On 2 different occasions I have taken my business to the Dallas/Ft Worth area and was treated a lot better and definitely got a lot more vehicle for my money. I'm in New Mexico and there ain't chit here so Phoenix is one way and Dallas is the other. 

 
Im glad you went with your gut instinct. That is worth a lot. If you didn’t feel great about buying before, you probably wouldn’t feel different after. I have been looking for a used truck for quite a while and after trying to deal with used car salesmen that want an arm and a leg for used junk I decided to pull the trigger. I ended up buying a brand new 2500 4x4 long bed dodge yesterday, and the funny thing is the same truck a few years old with 50k miles is going for only about $5k less. Plus I have a 100k mile warranty and extras with it.  I drove 6 extra hours to get it but it was worth it, I got a smokin deal.

With that said, used trucks HAVE TO start coming down in price, especially if people can buy new for close to the same price. 

Good luck on your search. 

 
Rorschach said:
From the pics I would say that rust looks light and a non-issue but recently I have looked at a few vehicles in the Phoenix area and the dealers I encountered were all crooks. Effin criminals. On 2 different occasions I have taken my business to the Dallas/Ft Worth area and was treated a lot better and definitely got a lot more vehicle for my money. I'm in New Mexico and there ain't chit here so Phoenix is one way and Dallas is the other. 
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Thanks for your interesting perspective on different cities and states.

 
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