You're not kidding. Ours had pretty deep surface rust on the low areas but not rotten. We spent a day or two wire wheeling the **** out of it then painted the rust areas with POR 15, then Raptor liner over that. If you're going to paint it like factory, it's a **** ton more work. We cut a corner with it due to schedule. Still looks great today. Hard as a rock.
Kueneman may have something to chime in with here, not sure what condition their trunk was in.