WTB: Cheap southern low/no rust truck ~$3,500

On the hunt for a reliable cheap pickup.  RWD poverty spec standard cab is fine, as well as 4 banger or V6.  Brand agnostic, lower mile, newer the better.  Prefer <20 years old.  

I'm finding trucks in MI that fit the bill price wise, but everything here is RUSTY after 10 years old.  

In the current state of Coronavirus and stay at home orders, I'm hesitant to buy down south like I normally would, but thought I'd put out a feeler to see if anybody on here has something or knows somebody with something that might fit the bill as I'd much rather buy a southern truck with some affiliation vs. a random Craigslist/Facebook ad hundreds of miles away.  

Truck being replaced was an '06 Silverado RWD with a 4.3 V6, crank window, etc.  It was perfect, other than it being totaled out a few weeks ago in a collision.  :( 

pic for clicks:  

Why is the 2006 being replaced?

Crusty?

In reply to 914Driver :

" It was perfect, other than it being totaled out a few weeks ago in a collision.  :( "

But what happened to the truck in the pic?

psteav (Forum Supporter) said:

But what happened to the truck in the pic?

Pulled out in front of someone at an intersection and hit hard across the front. (Not me driving) 

This was my sister in laws truck and I'm trying to help her replace it.  Pic above is just for reference.  

Went and looked at an '06 Sierra V6 WT tonight that was low miles and price was right, but the rust underneath was a bit much for my comfort.  Brake lines had been replaced from rust as well.  
 

the rocker rust didn't concern me, but the crossmember pieces that had rotted through were disconcerting.  Frame itself didn't seem tooo bad, but I passed for now.

EDIT:  not sure why pics uploaded upside down.  

In reply to xflowgolf (Forum Supporter) :

Picture from Australia?

It's probably easy enough to replace those bolt-on crossbraces, but I don't blame you, I'd probably pass, too. The first pic certainly illustrates that there's always 10x more rust than you can see at first glance.

I hate rust.

Well if anybody cares, I bought a replacement this morning.  A cheap Ranger popped up on FB Marketplace and I hit it up first thing in the morning.  
 

3.0 V6, 138K, new tires/brakes/shocks within last year.  Needs a little TLC on the interior (armrest broken, needs floor mats/shampoo) but ran and drove great.  Some rust but not terrible.  

Brought it home and gave it a bath.  

plus a bunch of wheel cleaner.  It needs a polish and wax badly, but it cleaned up pretty well.  

Even put a few miles on it doing truck stuff hauling wheels to a buddy's shop for dismounting.  

Seems like a happy ending to this saga.

I think I need some sewer grates in my life, that's a cool truck

I can relate on the rust. Picked up a 02 S10 for my youngest son last year. 

4.3 with less than 60k on it. Runs awesome, no codes or anything. 

But the frame is rotted behind the front wheels.