Value of '03 4x4 SR5 w/ Perforated Frame

Hi all,
I have a 2003 reg cab, 5-spd, 4x4, SR5 with approx 106k miles. I recently had it inspected at the dealer and the underside of both frame rails are heavily perforated and truck has been deemed unsafe to drive. When driven the bed and/or the cab are creaking, so I assume the mounting points are rotted out as well. Outside of the frame issue the truck was still in good shape for the year. The only visible body rust is on the corner of the tailgate. I'd like to put it out for sale on the road in front of my house, but don't know how to gauge the value of the truck with the frame issue. I was thinking of putting it out there for $3k/obo, but just want to get some ideas of whether I'm even close on the pricing. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm in central Vermont and the truck is available if there is any interest in it. The links below are to a picture of the exterior and one of the worst of the rust on the body. Thank you.

http://tinypic.com/r/2568r3o/5

http://tinypic.com/r/9ljqxh/5

 

Can the frame not be repaired at all? If the truck runs well, I'd take it to a frame shop and see if they can fix it reasonably inexpensively. I'd drive that truck for the next 10 years.

 

i thought toyota took care of ppl with the rotted frame by buying the rotten truck at a very generous price??

 

I believe Toyota was buying trucks back unless they were 01+, in which case the frame was replaced under the 15yr corrosion warranty. I'd look into that.

 

Thanks for the replies. I spoke with a couple of local body shops and they didn't seem to eager to perform a repair on the frame. We put it on a lift at one of the shops and the frame began to buckle just after the wheels left the ground.

Apparently I missed the deadline for having the frame repaired/replaced. I spoke to Toyota corporate after being denied by the dealer and corporate told me they couldn't do anything for me and they would be closing my case. It's my own fault for not having it inspected prior to the recall ending. At this point I'm just trying to recover a little bit of cash to put towards the loan for the car that replaced it.

 

If the truck is in that bad a shape, part it out.

You'd probably be looking at a lawsuit if you knew the frame was bad and sold it, and someone got hurt.

 

If your truck was undercoated by Toyota before the deadline for your state (or the state in which the truck was registered at the time), you would be covered for frame replacement until 2018, or 15 years. Frame replacement applies to 2001 through 2004 Tacomas. The frame on my 2001 was replaced last year. My 2003 was undercoated, therefore covered to 2018. Your dealer would have had to run your VIN before doing any work. They should have told you the status of the warranty. You can check it yourself by registering your vehicle on the Toyota owners web site. All Toyota service records for it should be there.

 

our posts crossed on the web somewhere.

Parting it out may be in order. I'd be interested in the driver's door if you do.

 

Thank you all for the replies. Ghs, I'll get in touch with you if I do end up parting it out. I added a link to a picture of the truck in my original post up top. Someone has contacted me about possibly being interested in the whole truck. If that doesn't work out I may start picking it apart. Thanks again guys.

 

Check with toyota corporate, then if that falls through frame repair place.. If it were me id try to fix it.. thats a nice truck with decently low miles

 

Contact corporate. Nail toyota's dick to the floor on this.

 

Did you get a notification in the mail about the recall, or did you miss the deadline by knowing when it was, but without notification?

 

Sorry you're in this situation. Sucks. Good luck with your decision.

 

BINGO!!!

To the OP - you could get more money in parts than you could selling it as a whole. Besides, you would have to 'disclose' the frame issue (to be honest) and nobody is gonna want pay anything for a truck with a messed up frame.

I had a totalled Jeep that I parted out. The only thing that was left, was the crunched body and frame. I gave that to a guy who built a rock buggy out of it. I ebayed everything. Time consuming....but you'll get more money out of it.

 

I did JLee. I kept putting it off due to work, distance to nearest dealer, etc. I guess I got what I deserved on this deal. Just trying to reclaim a little cash and hopefully have someone get good use of it.

 

I'd look for a straight frame at a wrecking yard... that truck is too clean to part out.