Should I be worrying about the tacoma I bought?

Dont worry too much about it. My buddy bought his 01 regular cab 4WD sight unseen from Virginia and while it wasn't as nice as he thought, it was NOT junk or a rust bucket. He's put about 2k into it and it's a reliable good looking little truck now. It has some frame rust but had the undercoating applied.

Ask them to make a video for you. When I was buying mine out of state, I had the sales person make a video of the truck to include getting under it and showing me the frame. This helped quite a bit. By doing this, I turned a 4runner in Wisconsin away due to frame rust issues.

 

These frames rot from the inside out, so there is no way to tell by eye that it is rotten, unless it has completely rusted through at some places. Be wary of frames that were painted to hide the rust. The only way to tell if a frame is good is to hit it with a hammer, so that's why I would want to go in person and check the frame myself

If you look at the second picture of under the cab, you see a bit of rust on the fuel tank skid plate and on the underside of the cab as well, but no rust on the frame rails... just some kind of thick black goo. Also, this black thing, it didn't splash on other stuff, so it looks like it was done by hand. If it's rustproofing, the whole undercarriage should be covered with this thing, not just the frame

Anyway, I would definitely check the frame in person. Or at least, as suggested, ask them to to a video of them probing around the frame to see if there is any potential rust issues. Additional pictures would be helpful too

 

Looks nice!! As others have said, the frame needs to be checked in person – not pics…

 

That sounds like there trying to make you happy

 

Eh, I guess. Just trying to be optimistic and give another human the benefit of the doubt. Should be getting more pictures and video of the frame tomorrow.

 

well yes because roads that get salted regularly can rot out these frames to the point they literally break apart on you.

rusted out frames is about the only thing I would say anyone has to fear about buying a 1st gen Tacoma, if the frame is in good condition and you change oil regularly moist of them will go between 300-400k miles with "some" that go 500k+ miles

if a dealer is involved then have them find out if the frame was ever replaced, if it was then that is a very good thing, if not it will be something to keep an eye on even if it does pass a frame inspection.

since you already purchased it, then there isnt much we can help you with until you get it home and crawl under it yourself to see the condition first hand.

as mentioned earlier by someone, expect to need new leaf springs, most need replacing weather the truck ever hauled anything or not because the oem leafs were garbage and weak.

 

How much did you pay if you don't mind me asking?

I mean honestly if the frame is fine and it doesn't shake at 65mph your fine and you can drive it for ever, change all the oils and then see how your new truck is, you should just bite the bullet and fly there and drive back you'd be so happy

 

That picture of the frame looks like painted rust to me. Maybe it's just surface rust...Idk. Let us know when you get it.

 

already planning on it lol. just a progressive aal though most likely

11,500

I would definitely do that but it's already purchased, already have a transportation service booked, and I'm too busy with school

Will do for sure. What do you mean by painted rust exactly though? Like painted to cover up rust? Dealer will have more pics and video sent to me tomorrow.

 

Did you check the carfax and auto check ?

 

he means the frame is smooth but the pictures it looks "lumpy" like they painted over bubbling rust.

personally I don't think that is it, I bet the undercoating was just sprayed on lumpy like that, "or" when they sprayed on the bed liner they sprayed the underside of the truck at the same time. either way don't stress it until you can see it in person then you can tell what they did.

up north with the salted roads I think its common, or should be, to spray on a rust preventing coating

 

yeah carfax was good

ahhh, gotcha.

 

Well if the suspension is shot I guess you gotta lift it... bummer

 

LOL

However I'm starting to think she meant it's harder to transport a vehicle from that kind of area...

 

Id say your fine, the reason I say that is typically just looking at other components under a truck you can tell if there's going to be rust on the frame. Take the step bar brackets for example. They look to be in really good shape with minimal if any slight surface rust. If they were completely corroded then I would be far more worried. Would I buy a truck based off just looking at brackets and other stuff? Probably not but it would give me a little bit more of a warm and fuzzy. Should have reached out to a WV member to go take a peek for you!

 

Thanks for the input! I was considering doing so but when one of these trucks are in good condition, they get taken off the market so damn quick. Saw a few get taken off the market the same day it was listed, so I jumped on this one as soon as I could, which was only ~1 day on the market as well lol.

 

I would be curious just what she meant .

Granted it is much better to buy a vehicle from the Southwest then the Northeast .

Time will tell once you get it home

 

Original inquiry:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-anyone-confirm-this-is-a-trd-off-road.487093

 

OP....stop....enjoy your truck....and life.

 

You know what a frame looks like when the original paint begins to boil and peel as the metal underneath is rusting? It looks like that, that has been painted over. Since the picture is out of focus maybe it's nothing. Not trying to get you worried, it's just what it looked like to me.