Rust-Safe to drive or terminal diagnosis?

CT does not have an annual safety inspection.

 

No inspections in Ohio (where that basket-case red access cab was registered).

 

NC does require a frame inspection and mine is due in August, so I guess it wasn't that bad until this year. I was curious too, so I checked with ChatGPT which of course, may or may not be accurate and here's the summary of the results:
Summary Table
State / Category Safety Inspection Required? Frame / Chassis Inspection Included?
Hawaii, Maine, Mass., NH, NY, NC, PA, TX, VT, VA, WV Annual Yes (structural checks typical)
Delaware, Missouri, Rhode Island Biennial Yes
Maryland (out-of-state transfers/sales only) As-needed Yes (floor/trunk pans, etc.)
AK, AR, FL, IA, MI, MN, MS, MT, ND, SC, SD, WA, WY None No

 

NY has a safety inspection and frame is a part of that. Mine failed from a few small holes by the tech but shop owner passed it on his license as the holes “weren’t that bad”. I won’t even ask him to pass it next year so will sell or part out the truck. I repaired one side two years ago. Solid runner and nice shape otherwise.

 

I find that very interesting!

 

Not sure why Texas is on that list we have no passenger vehicle inspections at all as of this year, except smog in 17 counties. No smog anywhere after truck 25 yrs old.

 

Hey, it's just my opinion man, Toyota frames of this generation are wildly unpredictable. If you live in a place where an extreme amount of salt is used on roads during winter then you should look into replacement. That's what I had to do with mine, cut new metal and weld it.

It is also very hard to truly know how bad the problem is until you lift the bed off. For me I just attached it to some chains and lifted it out with a tractor bucket.

It could look fine from the outside but be swiss cheese on the inside.