Should I Do a Bed Swap Myself or Pay Someone

It's looking to good to not fix the frame now. Even if you have to do it yourself you can make it happen. It doesn't need to be perfect.


Here are frame measurements if you would like to measure and see where it is off (second pic is for an xtracab). Measuring that X at the rear of the frame will tell you a lot.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tacoma-frame-dimensions.436399/#post-20656590

 

Thanks man. I found portable hydraulic presses for this task if all else fails I should be able to use those diagrams and move everything back into place. It would be a job for sure

 

Been talking to frame shops. No one will fix it everyone says it’s too rusty and stuff. It’s probably the end fellas. It was a good run

 

Any pictures of the rust? Might be worth you just living with one less bed bolt or bending it back yourself and getting it close enough

 

At this point it’s a safety thing. If I straighten it but wreck it again because the frame has problems I’d never be able to live with myself especially if I hurt someone. If I got a shop to do it they are liable and I have words from a professional that it’s safe. I think I’ll just pull what parts I can off of it and scrape the rest and try to buy another one

 

Looks like the truck was rear ended pretty hard to bend the frame up like that.

Being an old hit (assuming), I wouldn't be surprised if a claim was made on it and they just took the money and kept it and just sold the truck as shown.

There are shops that work on frames and can probably help to fix that.

 

Actually it’s from a guard rail it just happened two weeks ago. I’ve talked to a handful of shops now no one wants to assume the liability. Other than some sketchy dude running an operation out of his back yard (lol)

 

That look like surface rust from the paint being knocked off where it bent. Either there is more rust towards the front of the truck or they are being to picky. That type of frame kink is straightened all the time.

 

Yeah I’ll keep asking around I guess. If someone would straighten it I’d be golden. The rest is easy

 

I can see the argument for not wanting to be liable for that frame - they see rust like that, and it's just safer to assume the frame is badly rusted in other areas thus straightening the frame could possibly break it (in their eyes).

It's easy to walk away from a job like that, than risk taking it in and trying to work with it so I can't really blame any shops for turning you away.

Maybe pull off the bed, and assess the entire rear frame. Remove any and all rust and if it's not compromised, I bet a shop will be willing to straighten it for you.

But just based off those pictures, I can easily see why they'll say no.

 

Yeah man I don’t blame anyone for not wanting to touch it. Same exact reason I don’t want to try it lol

 

I haven't kept up with this thread - have you pulled the bed?

Just get a buddy, unbolt the bed, and remove it. It's easy and really lightweight.

This will give you all the access you need to thoroughly inspect the frame yourself. Worst case you take an angle grinder with a crimped wire wheel and go to town on the toughest, rusted areas.

Make sure you wear goggles and a mask.

 

Yeah I pulled it and actually swapped it with one I pulled out of a junkyard. During that process is where I discovered the damage to the frame

 

He posted pictures of the bed off a page back.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...lf-or-pay-someone.857294/page-3#post-30601441


Frame doesn't look bad to me in the pictures posted. Looks like a truck that's 25ish years old and that's coming from someone in Texas. That is why I am wondering if they are seeing more rust on the frame that we can't see in those pictures. I don't see any scale just surface rust.

 

They just don’t want to be liable. If something happens it could come back on them they don’t want that

 

Then what is the point of a frame shop. Did one shop say this or multiple?

 

While I agree the very few pictures don't look too bad, without a thorough inspection it's just easier to pass on that sort of job.

 

I’ve been to 3 shops now. 2 were Toyota certified. Toyota automatically says replace the frame if it’s bent. The third was a mom and pop and they said they won’t touch it because of the rust. I got one more but have to wait a month to get in to see them

 

Time to make it at trial rig…
It really doesn’t look that compromised. Some folks run frames completely rusted in half.