[davepl]

If you're in the desert, you should be able to find a rust-free truck - I managed up here. I'd say the only reason to buy a truck that requires rust repair is if it's rare and desirable for some other reason (Cheyenne Super shortbox, etc). Otherwise your money is almost always better spent buying a better truck than it is repairing the rustier one.

Rust never sleeps, and unless you can do your own bodywork, it's expensive.

All in all, I agree with your father in law :-)