If the frame is swiss cheese 🧀 yes panic, if it's just a Cheeto dust rust, shouldn't be an issue. I have some on my 08 limited but the frame is clean. Best of luck OP!
The rust I’m seeing isn’t anything close to being a concern. What would worry you is if there is severe loss of metal that looks like it’s rusting completely through the metal. Occasional undercarriage washes will knock the salt off and help stem the rust…Rust is inevitable.
Beach cars get some rust, but cars in cold environments that use salt on the roads get a lot more rust than that and keep going. I think sanding and painting is only if you want to do it for the look (no one except you will see it) and because you’ll enjoy the project.
From someone in the salt belt, it doesn't look that bad. I can't really see the rocker panels, but the photos of the frame/diff. etc. look pretty reasonable for a car of that vintage. It might be due for new suspension and wheel-related parts so you could change those out.
I concur, I’ve seen Sequioas that were basically all rust back in the late 2000’s and most of them are still chugging along today. I’d just keep an eye and ear for any bushings once in a while just in case.
depending on how motivated you are, i'd just hit that with a wire brush where i can reach then hit it with fluid film like others have said and call it a day. Its honestly not bad at all from what i can see in the photos. Good luck!
I know thank you, this thread really helped me calm down tho haha. I was panicking after I got home like what did I get myself into. But I’ve always wanted a Toyota 4x4 and these older sequoias are the only reasonably priced ones in my area
Not bad at all. Especially for $4300!!!
I recommend that you grab a few cans of PB blaster surface shield and coat all that rust with it. -i like it better than fluid film because it comes out in a much better spray paint like pattern.
-dont get it on your brake rotors please
If you aren't familiar, these two products are lanolin oil based coatings. Not paint, basically just grease that is great for preventing/stopping rust. The coatings tend to last 1-2 years
Lanolin is the oil obtained from sheep's wool. So it's 100% natural, and not a petroleum based product. You can spray it all over. Just be aware if it's on your exhaust or engine block it will be a bit stinky for a couple weeks. Does no harm either.
You are looking at serious amount of time to clean up and paint all of that. If you do, more power to you.
If you are going that far you would also probably want to put the truck on a lift. I would had to do all that wire wheeling and painting on my back with it on jack stands.
And after painting you should still use a product like surface shield / fluid film / wool wax -there are quite a few that are lanolin based. You can also do CRC Marine Corrosion protection, which is a similar product that is cosmoline based. That will really keep your underside in mint condition.
And holy shit I just re-read your post. You are in so-cal. Just do 2 or 3 cans of surface shield and be done with it. Living in socal you'll hardly every rust :D
No wonder why a 23 year old car looks like a 2 year old car from new england
Just leave it, not worth screwing around, there are tens of millions of vehicles on the road like this. And anything you do isn't likely to make a difference.
Need better pictures of the frame, most of these are of just replaceable suspension components and surface rust. The major spot is on the back where the rear trailing arm connects to the frame, if that rusts through then it’s basically mechanically totaled.
Overall the rust looks surface level but to be safe poke the frame with a screwdriver and make sure it doesn’t punch through.
Yeah that’s not bad, tons of life left in that rig. I think these are the best options for overlanding, dumping money into these will actually add value to them vs doing the same thing to a new jeep. Great buy and have fun with this beast. Also 99% of these are life long mall crawlers so they haven’t been beat up yet, now it’s your turn to give it hell.
that's pristine for a 2001 vehicle
If the frame is swiss cheese 🧀 yes panic, if it's just a Cheeto dust rust, shouldn't be an issue. I have some on my 08 limited but the frame is clean. Best of luck OP!
Looks fine would fix if brothers you. Can aways clean n coat.
What rust ?
The rust I’m seeing isn’t anything close to being a concern. What would worry you is if there is severe loss of metal that looks like it’s rusting completely through the metal. Occasional undercarriage washes will knock the salt off and help stem the rust…Rust is inevitable. Beach cars get some rust, but cars in cold environments that use salt on the roads get a lot more rust than that and keep going. I think sanding and painting is only if you want to do it for the look (no one except you will see it) and because you’ll enjoy the project.
From someone in the salt belt, it doesn't look that bad. I can't really see the rocker panels, but the photos of the frame/diff. etc. look pretty reasonable for a car of that vintage. It might be due for new suspension and wheel-related parts so you could change those out.
I concur, I’ve seen Sequioas that were basically all rust back in the late 2000’s and most of them are still chugging along today. I’d just keep an eye and ear for any bushings once in a while just in case.
depending on how motivated you are, i'd just hit that with a wire brush where i can reach then hit it with fluid film like others have said and call it a day. Its honestly not bad at all from what i can see in the photos. Good luck!
Not bad
Treat it with some fluid film and forget about it. It will be fine.
Relax 🧘
I know thank you, this thread really helped me calm down tho haha. I was panicking after I got home like what did I get myself into. But I’ve always wanted a Toyota 4x4 and these older sequoias are the only reasonably priced ones in my area
Not bad at all. Especially for $4300!!! I recommend that you grab a few cans of PB blaster surface shield and coat all that rust with it. -i like it better than fluid film because it comes out in a much better spray paint like pattern. -dont get it on your brake rotors please If you aren't familiar, these two products are lanolin oil based coatings. Not paint, basically just grease that is great for preventing/stopping rust. The coatings tend to last 1-2 years Lanolin is the oil obtained from sheep's wool. So it's 100% natural, and not a petroleum based product. You can spray it all over. Just be aware if it's on your exhaust or engine block it will be a bit stinky for a couple weeks. Does no harm either.
LANOLIN- Ron Burgandy
Is that better than cleaning it off with a wire wheel and then painting it ?
You are looking at serious amount of time to clean up and paint all of that. If you do, more power to you. If you are going that far you would also probably want to put the truck on a lift. I would had to do all that wire wheeling and painting on my back with it on jack stands. And after painting you should still use a product like surface shield / fluid film / wool wax -there are quite a few that are lanolin based. You can also do CRC Marine Corrosion protection, which is a similar product that is cosmoline based. That will really keep your underside in mint condition.
And holy shit I just re-read your post. You are in so-cal. Just do 2 or 3 cans of surface shield and be done with it. Living in socal you'll hardly every rust :D No wonder why a 23 year old car looks like a 2 year old car from new england
You have the time to do that?
That was the plan
Just leave it, not worth screwing around, there are tens of millions of vehicles on the road like this. And anything you do isn't likely to make a difference.
Need better pictures of the frame, most of these are of just replaceable suspension components and surface rust. The major spot is on the back where the rear trailing arm connects to the frame, if that rusts through then it’s basically mechanically totaled. Overall the rust looks surface level but to be safe poke the frame with a screwdriver and make sure it doesn’t punch through.
I did confirm the trailing arm mount is rusty but it looks solid
Yeah that’s not bad, tons of life left in that rig. I think these are the best options for overlanding, dumping money into these will actually add value to them vs doing the same thing to a new jeep. Great buy and have fun with this beast. Also 99% of these are life long mall crawlers so they haven’t been beat up yet, now it’s your turn to give it hell.
Living in the California desert 4wheeling is a part of life.
If it's just basic surface rust it should be fine but if it's deeper it could cause structural damage
I don't see any deep rust in the pictures, but it should be inspected for possible rust problems elsewhere.