Tacoma frame crossmember

Hello All, new here. I purchased a new 2021 3rd gen tacoma limited nightshade truck this past summer, only 1,6xx miles at the time of accident. Ran over a big ladder on the freeway, could not swerve would have caused more damage.

Long story short, the truck took most of the impact on the skid plate, issue is that right under is the mount for the diff, punctured the steel skid plate and shifted the crossmember by a few inches (see picture).

now the question: Is the crossmember replaceable? it does how one of the lower control arm connection points. Whole frame replacement? ideas? advice?

for those who are wondering, insurance wrote it off due to the damage, but since its a new truck, I bought it out and attempting to fix it. seeing my options. Have not taken it to frame shop yet, need to rent a trailer and take it in after holiday closures. Thank you in advance.

 

Welcome to the forum. Toyota uses high strength steel for their frames and opinions vary about repairs on them. I’m not an expert by any means but generally speaking a frame with that much damage would be replaced rather than repaired. I’m sure some repair guys on here will have a better answer for you soon.

 

Looks like that diff mount is bent, too.

16xx miles and a salvage title?

 

Hard call to make from just pictures .

Worst case front frame splice .

see if the frame can be pulled go from there.

 

Whole new frame is the safest and best way for this. Here in WI, any salvaged/totaled vehicle needs to have safety inspection, before back on to road. Plus can possibly have title cleared, with full frame replacement.

 

Welcome to the forum sorry your first post has to be such a bummer.

With an almost new truck a frame swap wouldn't be too bad of a job, no rusty fasteners and worn out parts to fight with. As an added bonus you could do a really good job rustproofing the new frame without the rest of the truck in the way. (I like Cosmoline)

Might be a long wait to get the new frame however.

 

Those parts are available separately for crash repairs. Someone here posted the parts diagram a while back. I’ll see if I can dig it up.

 

Here you go. They are cheap for what they are. I plugged in my truck (2017 short bed 4dr TRD or and I can get all the parts)

https://parts.lakelandtoyota.com/sh...017&ukey_driveLine=15261&ukey_trimLevel=30361

 

what insurance company? ive seen a taco 10 years old get hit while parked in rear and have frame replaced by insurance company..

 

How much did you buy it back for?

 

Insurance totaled for a cross member replacement? That does not seem right. Is there more damage you may not know about?

 

Id buy that and take it to a fab shop and let them weld it in.

 

Hey welcome to the forum. SORRY for your trouble.. Let me understand this, your saying your ins co has totaled this truck for that damage ? NO WAY !!! I have been a tech for 40 years and do a lot of coll shop repairs on frames, susp etc etc.. I cant not understand why this new truck could not be fixed, UNLESS something else is wrong, did the air bags deploy ? NO body damage ?? IF NO, I would be all over the ins company telling them you want a new front frame cross-member [CRADLE] section if it is bolted together, if not you want a new frame no ifs ands or butts. Take your truck to a certified collision and shop have them do complete check on the damage, this way you have something to back you up. The frame replacement is not as bad as people think. Being a NEW truck it would be easy to do... THIS my friend is bulls..... !!! good luck, let us know how this ends up.

 

Theres got to be. No way they total out a $45k truck over a $300 cross member. Dont insurance companies general write them off when damages reach something like 80-90% of the value? In this case that would probably be in the 30-35k range. There has got to be significant damage elsewhere.

 

correct, 16xx currently sitting in garage until I can figure out how to proceed. I found a frame shop in Enumclaw WA which is about 20 min away, will tow it after holidays and once the snow melt. we are currently snowed in.

 

the truck was written off due to all airbags going off. Insurance did not want to touch it.

 

Thats what I was questioning, is it safe to do a frame splice? especially since that crossmember is where the lower control arm connects to. seems like everyone tries to pull the frame. I am contemplating on a new frame, but there are non available. Dealer eta 6 months or so.

 

Now the rest of the story!!

I don`t get the whole write off just because of air bag deployment.

a friend got a 2015 Ford F250 4x4 6.7 with very little damage because the air bags deployed only minor sheet metal damage .

 

If done correct it is just as good or better then new!!

People close to you can give you a better idea but the physical splice might be as far back as the front cab mount. Well past the suspension attachments in a straight section of the frame.

The thing with new Trucks the lead time for parts !

I don`t know enough without doing some research are the 2018/19 frames the same you might be able to snag one of them.

A new frame is the best option pulling the frame if it can be done . last would be a frame splice off a used vehicle.

Without being up close and in person it is just a guess

 

Back around 2010 i bought a 06 tundra that the insurance adjusted wrote off as totaled. Said the repairs would exceed book value. Basically we had to replace one side of the bed, and entire rear axle including the leafs, along with some repair to the rear of the cab. I ended up driving the truck for a few months, and then selling it. Truck ran fine, you'd never know it was totaled.