Hello All,

I'm thinking of buying a 2000 F150 4x4 with the v6 motor. I test drove the truck today, it drove fine, the engine/transmission/transfer case appeared well maintained. The tires were also fairly new and had lots of tread. The bad part was the frame. It had a lot of rot. The front cross member that connects to the A-arm suspension piece was rotted pretty bad, and there was a straight section of frame that had the bottom rusted out for about a foot or so. Is this truck worth buying, or is the bad frame pretty much the end for it? Is there anyone out there that has had frame rot issues before, and was able to have them welded? I attached a pic of the front cross member rot.

 

Personally, I'd stay away from the truck. I hate rust more than dents. At least with dents you can straighten them. With rust, it's going to continue to rust, even with rust treatments. Once it gets' it's hold into metal, there is NO WAY to stop it from continuing into the rest of the truck. What could start in the front, will end up at the back in short order. Rust is a bitch when it comes to vehicles.

I don't know where you live, but if I was going to dump a pile of money into a truck, I'd want the body to stay on the frame. There are numerous writeups on rust and trying to kill it on here, but the final result is usually the same. The rust comes back, and usually is worse than before the repairs.

 

If your frame is that rusted, you have other stuff under there that's rusty too. You could spend a lot of time and money replacing stuff. I'd look for something cleaner.

 

I would not buy that truck unless it was real cheap for parts, no way I would drive it on the road or the trail...

 

No matter what you save in the initial cost, it will cost at least 3x as much for a shop to replace/repair that. I'd pass and find another truck. Look outside of your immediate area(possibly other states) if no rust free trucks are available.

 

Nope. Wouldn't buy it.

 

Exactly, - if it's rusted that bad in that particular spot, - I can just imagine what the rest is like.

lol, I believe the sway bar connects real close to where that section of the frame fell apart.

 

I don't think the OP likes our answers as he hasn't reposted since the original. I know I'd sure stay away from this truck, as the rest has agreed. Like I said before, when rust starts, you will never totally kill it, although rust can kill you.

 

Hey guys sorry for the late response. I took your advice and passed up on buying the truck. Its a shame because it had a great motor and transmission, interior was in great shape too. It will make a good parts truck to someone. I bought a 95 XL instead with some body rust, but frame is in great shape. I couldn't believe it. The 95 had even less miles too. This thing must have sat in a garage for a while. I am in the process of fixing it up now, any tips on how to coat the frame to prevent rot? I will be driving this thing in winter and putting a plow on it, so I need the frame to stay solid.

 

prime and paint is my suggestion. But most importantly put in a salt/moisture-barrier. I recommend spraying fluid film heavy all under the truck. Apply it twice a year and you'll have a beautiful body and frame forever. It makes the underside of the truck oily but it beats the alternative... Frame rot.

-Kirk