Frame rust out points?

[D13]

The drive train in my 87 is giving up, and I'm tired of fussing with the diesel. So i started thinking about what I really want to drive. The answer i came up with is a 4wd! I have a DD but what I want is something to pull my trailer and get supplies for my landscape projects. Like a truckload of peastone. And I hate getting stuck in every stupid little pothole, or not being able to go thru that snowdrift on the road.

So looking around here in Michigan, the home of all rust, I have found a number of trucks that have been parked because of fuel tank or body issues. I have a couple of good bodies (actually the 87 needs doors rockers and corners but the floor and mounts are great). So my real question is, what areas of the frame should I be looking for to confirn the chassis is good? I know my 84 chassis the lower control arms disintegrated while it sat for 3 years. My 81 the area right behind the wheels is missing (30 years of cow poo and road salt with no bath ever....). Any common issues you rust belt guys have seen?

Thanks!

[andrewmp6]

Not a clue on rust but on a 4x4 check for cracks in the frame around the steering box mounting holes.If you can weld and its cracked they do make a weld in patch and a bolt in brace to stop it from happening.

[jjmorrse]

The 73 87s do have some rust prone areas. They mainly rust.....anywhere north of Kentucky. I know it is a drive, but finding a southern truck makes things easier, except for interior pieces. For those northern trucks are usually better.

[bmchevy1979]

Rear spring hangers and the middle between the cab and bed. Dirt and other debris get trapped in these areas causing them to rust out at the hangers I'm not sure what causes them to rust in the middle but I've hauled of a couple of trucks that were collapsed in the middle and have seen a few that weren't far off I'm sure there are other areas those are just the two main ones I've seen

[andrewmp6]

Here i see them rust out in the rockers and cab corners,I never seen a frame rusted out but i don't live far enough north to see that kinda stuff.

[bmchevy1979]

Well I'm in Cali but I have a lot of friends and family from back east and have seen a few northern trucks that were driven out here then decommissioned because of frame issues

[Chevy_mud_truck]

Check for cracking around the steering box and around the crossmember where the front spring hangers for the rear springs and just look over the back half for rust from the back of the cab back to the end 75% of the truck I seen break at the spring hangers was short beds