Rusty Frame

K-Dawg

Do you have paperwork or the ability for the dealer to provide yiou information about this frame replacement?

The extended warranty didn’t cover 95-00 trucks. Toyota didn’t replace frames on 95-00 models. They bought them back.

The fact that a Toyota dealer is saying the frame was replaced seems incongruent with Toyota’s policy/corrective action.

That might be a place to start investigating.

 

The cost of setting up such manufacturing capabilities is staggering.

Especially when you consider the target market is extremely small/limited and is only diminishing.

 

Plus I imagine liability would be an issue for doing an entire frame. Not the same as making a fender or light.

 

I gotcha… I missed that on the 2nd Gens!

Spending $100-$200 annually under coating any vehicle with the proper product is the best money you can spend on maintenance.

 

What likely happened was it got coated

 

You can probably find a fab shop willing to do the work but it'll still likely cost a pretty penny, not be guaranteed to not rust, and still be a pain to swap over. Although that would still be better than the rotted out frame

 

The first rule buying a used vehicle is to have thoroughly inspected by someone qualified. I don't know what recourse there is, but in some states the seller must disclose if the vehicle was damaged in a flood, salvaged, or rebuilt. In the op's case their likely sol.

 

Some guy here is selling a good frame but he is in CA.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2004-tacoma-xtra-cab-v6-partout.721315/page-8#post-26046181

 

That’s a really nice frame for 300 bucks

 

first rule is...............’ buyer beware ‘ !!!!


hard to believe he didnt look under the wheel wells

many rate a used vehicle that has plenty o wax & armor allg ou

i would start parting out the good stuff

recoup most of the $$$

 

The dealer and Toyota both are clearly stating the frame was replaced in December 2011. I was curious about the buy back as well. Not sure why it wasn't bought back but the articles I've read online state that only the vehicles rusted beyond repair were bought back. The rest were repaired, which is why Empty Lord's comment about it having been coated makes sense. If they replaced the frame that would imply that the damage was beyond repair. Something does not add up.

 

Yes some that are beyond repair was replaced immediately. But most had to get it sprayed with undercoating before toyota would do the replacement. It's possible that the truck was sprayed which actually makes the rust worse but never went back in for the replacement.

 

Does anyone know the typical cost to ship a frame? Is it basically the same as shipping an entire vehicle or is there another (less expensive) way?

Also, if I were to attempt parting out the vehicle, is there a guide somewhere for a first-timer like me that outlines the process and gives tips, etc. Other than the motor, trans, wheels, and tires, what other parts are of value and what things are of little value other than the frame?

Thanks for all the help!

 

Shipping a non rolling frame is freight. A rolling frame can be shipped like a car. Depending on where it’s going you can be 600-2000 To ship one

 

PM me the vin when you can and I can tel you exactly what was done


- work at a dealer, have access to TIS

 

On a good note:

the OP’s mom is a total badass for wanting an old Tacoma. I could barely convince my wife to get a 1st Gen as my second vehicle. She says I drive clunkers.

 

Quick update: My mother really wants to keep the truck and has decided she would like to see if we can replace the frame. We’re going to try to buy a rolling chassis with the full frame all the suspension parts, gas tank etc. and have a body guy install the body of the truck onto the new chassis.

Is it worth it to go thru all this and potentially sink another 5-6k into it?

 

you'll most likely never recoup that much money invested in the truck. But if your going to keep this truck forever, and pass it down to other members of the family, then I say do it. I'd only go this route if the body and interior are in really nice shape.

In the end, it's really up to you, keep the truck, or sell it, or part it out.

 

If you have to ask, probably not. The only people(on here) that seem to be up for the task of swapping frames are incredibly mechanically inclined.

However this will hold value and won't be tanking like buying a new or couple year old truck. Having an actual new frame is a huge selling point down the road and piece of mind.

 

Sad to hear of this problem.

That said I know people who are completely clueless when it comes to vehicles . Just maybe the seller had no idea or if they were aware they had no real idea just how bad it was not likely but possible .

Anything can be fixed if it is cost effective only the owner can say. What gets expensive is paying normal Labor rates when you can`t do the work yourself at this time.

I myself can say I have put far more money(thousands) into vehicles then it would ever be possible to get out

I am curious why the Toyota dealer is saying the frame was replaced back then the dealers were not swapping frames even if the owner was paying for the work.

I have heard some Toyota dealers are doing frame swaps for this age Truck I had heard the cost was around $12,000.00

Best of Luck