Frame replacement on lifted or modified trucks

Taking mine in for the 3rd time. 1st was before the recall had hit my area. 2nd was on a Saturday and no one there that day had a clue about the frame replacement program.
The trucks on 35s with a fabtec 6 inch kit with Alcans. The first trip they tried to blame the cut frame for the rust and said I would have to return it to stock. So anyone having any luck.

 

i work at a toyota dealer and my dealer doesnt really care bout it. just swap everything from the old frame to the new frame
but they might charge you to reinstall the lift since you have to cut the new frame for it. id ask them. does your frame have a hole in it?
if so it usually takes a few months to get all the parts and the frame.

 

I left mine with the local dealer last night for a new frame, brake lines, lower control arms and a clutch job. I figure at almost 250K a clutch might not be a bad idea for the 850.00 they want to do it. Mine has AllPro's on the back, and 885 X on the front. They didn't have a problem working on it, and said they will put it back like they found it. They also gave me a new 2016 Tacoma SR-5 A/C 4 WD to use while they have it. Last night we had a blizzard, and white out conditions. I was very surprised the way the stock truck handled, and also what seemed to be a bit more leg and head room in the cab compared to my 2007. Way out of something I could afford, but certainly a nice and capable truck.

 

I'd ask an independent shop for a quote on a clutch replacement. You may save several hundred by having it done after the fact.

 

I have an excellent shop that takes care of the work we can't do on it. He said he might be able to shave a little off the price, but not enough to make a difference, especially since I'm giving up a work truck already for a couple days. They quoted me 312.00 reduced labor, 85 .00 to do the flywheel, and clutch-pressure plate-throw out bearing and pilot bushing at 400.00 ( plus tax) . And the truck is only down one time compared to two. Hopefully it goes well.

 

Is the rust only around where you cut the frame? In order to deny a warranty claim, they legally have to prove that your modification directly caused the defect to occur. So if you're rusted through at the rear of the frame, then obviously they won't be able to prove in federal court that your cab mount chop caused that.

It's the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, and it was enacted in 1975. Under federal law, if a dealer is going to deny you coverage, they have to be able to prove, in federal court, that your modification caused the defect.

No, you do not have to bring it back to stock for them to replace the frame. That is ridiculous. I recommend that you mention the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act to them. If you're dealing with a tech or a writer, ask for the manager. Hopefully, they will better understand.

Reading here: http://www.autoanything.com/popups/MossWarranty.aspx

 

Didn't do the cab mount chop. It's my work truck so the only offroad it sees our construction sites. And the frames rotted by the drive cat, a large hole.

 

Got ya. You referenced them blaming it on you cutting the frame, so I assumed that's what you had done. What cutting are they referring to?

If it's a large hole, you should have no issue.

They don't know what they're talking about with the taking it back to stock thing.

 

For a 6 inch one of the crossmembers is cut to accommodate the dropping of the diff

 

Ah okay got ya. Well, same principle applies. Unless that's the only place it's rusted, they have no case.

 

So just left the dealer truck would have to be returned to stock. So that's it. Going to go trade it in somewhere else and let it become someone else's problem.

 

So, I thought I pretty clearly explained to you, with sourcing, that federal law completely contradicts what your dealer is saying, but okay.

Kicking the can down the road to another Taco owner instead of just stepping up. Cool man.

 

Per the manager toyota won't let them do work on modified trucks. This isn't a for fun truck it's how I make a living.

 

That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. TONS of guys on here modify their trucks and still have them worked on at dealerships. Some guys even pick their frame replacement time to put on an upgraded suspension by the dealership personnel while everything is apart.

I get it's how you make a living. I'm just telling you that your dealership is 100% just lying to you, and you have federal law, as well a quick call to Toyota, backing you up.

Trading it in is just going to screw another guy over who ends up buying the truck.

 

I know all of this.

They also said once it was failed I wounderstand not be able to drive it, so I asked about the first time it was checked. Anyone knows a dealer in md/pa/de that doesn't suck I'll take it there.

 

And now to wait on toyota customer service

 

I'd beat a motherfuckers ass, right in the showroom.

 

Don't they get paid by Toyota? Why wouldn't they want to do it?

 

I'm a little confused. The dealer will fail the frame, replace it and only return the truck to stock condition, or are they wanting you to return it to stock before they will agree to do the frame swap.

Either way, if its got a big hole next to the drivers side cat which seems to be where most of them failed, I'm surprised they let you have it back.

They failed mine for this, but let me drive it for 4 months while I sat on the waiting list. Right next to the heat shield on the drivers side cat.

 

Return to stock before they touch it. And they never inspected it this time.