2006 Tacoma frame. I’m a newbie so please be nice

I just bought a 2006 Tacoma 4 cylinder truck for $500. Body is great, frame is rusty everywhere. Where is the problem area on these frames? Are there aftermarket repair kits available? It was not sprayed and it was not replaced under warranty. It’s the original frame. I am proficient at welding but I don’t want to build an entire frame. Can someone point me in the direction of how to repair this frame. With as many miles as it has I don’t want to spend a ton of money but would like to drive it to and from work and save some gas $. I drive 22 miles each way for work and currently drive a 2014 suburban at 14.7 MPG

 

No affiliation, but I've seen this referenced here before. I need to start looking into it for a 2003 access cab.

 

Many spots can be taken over by rust. Before people give you advice on how to repair it, you need to determine what actually needs to be repaired. Get under the truck and take a look for any heavily rusted areas and or holes. Remember that those Safe t caps are only a good option if you have good metal to weld to.

 

I’ve not seen a kit for Single Cab trucks.
I guess you could measure your frame and the Access Cab / Double Cab frame and see if you could make one of those kits work?

Depending on your frame and where the bad spots are, you might have to cut some plate steel and do the best you can?

 

They don't offer parts/kits for Regular Cabs

 

Just want to say here: Knowing that you are not alone helps. Thousands of people have been impacted by this issue: beautiful looking truck on the outside (like yours), big issues with the frames. If it helps, know that it's an issue with the big $$$ Tundra and Sequoia's too.

 

Welcome to TW!

Most failures are near the cats on the inboard side of the frame. Grab a ball peen hammer and go to town, hit every square inch you can, you'll find out if any areas need structural repair.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/frame-restoration-did-it-myself.368199/

 

I believe this frame should be the same as an AC short bed.

 

They never made ACSB, I mean there was the Incross but that's a concept

 

Just out of curiosity, where did the Taco live where it got the rust ?

 

You'll do well to nurse 20 out of that 5 lug if your commute has any stoplights. 21 or so if open road.

Sorry to say when you calculate the savings in fuel against the cost to repair and that's gonna have a long ROI.

Since you're in cheap, look for another truck that's banged up but with a good frame. Build one good truck, sell extra parts & keep some key spare parts, sell the rest as scrap

 

Thanks everyone for the advice. I can’t find parts for the regular cab. It’s an upstate ny truck.

 

I’m regularly getting 23 mixed on my 4x4 regular cab with majority of miles on the highway although more time spent in the city. I’m guessing he could do a bit better than that.

 

Folks,
Does anyone know what the differences are in the different Tacoma frames? I’m thinking it’s just the lengths. I’m asking because I’m thinking it may be easier to buy the pieces from Safe T Cap and modify them to fit the regular cab. I really need the front section of the frame where it bends from the outside frame rail in towards the center of the truck. I would think that section would be the same for all the frames. Agree? Disagree?

 

Looking to purchase part TAC-30-XD from Safe-T-Cap listed above in this thread. My plan is to shorten the length to fit the standard cab. Looking for any thoughts and or advice from anyone who has done this.
Thanks a lot - KF