I asked for trouble and I got it.

pauldub wrote:
I'd be leery about putting so much money into a rust bucket, different story if it was from a salt free state.

I'm with you, living here. Back there it's a different story. Spend a grand each year for the next 5 years replacing rusted out parts, or buy a used truck that is halfway to being in the same condition, or spend big bucks on a new one and watch it die slowly of cancer.

Being's it's 2019 now and not 1999 or 1979, if I lived back there I wouldn't even consider buying a used daily driver more than a few years old, locally.
I've turned my buddies from IL and WI on to the vehicles out here in the PNW. They almost spooge their jeans when they see a 15 year old truck tht looks like it was stored in a dry barn it's whole life with only a blown engine for $1000.