Being in California it is hard for me to get my head around big rust repairs, it is so much effort in time/skill/$$$ and there is no return on it as you are just getting the truck back to “normal” condition” starting place, that and rust you see is only a portion of what is hidden and that while you fix what you can fix there is still more you could not get to or find, which will creep out thru the paint later. That and it takes 4x as long as you think to repair.
I know it is hard to walk away when you are on a mission to get a truck, but use your eyes and a clinical mind, keep your heart out of the decision as best you can.
The rule I like is purchase the absolute best truck you can stretch to afford, it is by far the cheapest in the long run as the person before you is the one who got 35 cents on the dollar invested if he’s lucky (instead of that person being you getting the 35 cents)
I look at my truck and think of all those little pieces of rubber and trim and screws/glass/chrome/wood/etc/etc/etc/etc let alone the big things like body paint driveline etc and it scares me to think what previous owners (and myself) have spent on keeping it in fine condition.
