Tacoma Frame Repair

So I've been looking for a used Tacoma for awhile, something that I could take out for weekends and tow a little fishing boat behind. I was hoping to find a manual transmission, xtra cab for $6000 or less, so when I found this 2000 Xtra Cab PreRunner (see pic) for $2500 listed within an hour from me as a dealership trade-in, I snatched it up right away.

The problems I'd been having with all of the Tacoma's in that price range that I was looking for is that they all had frame rot issues (one single cab I found did have the frame replaced under recall but it had 260k miles on it and I hesitated for a day and someone else grabbed it). Most that I had looked at I could poke my finger through in multiple places. Also, since I live in MI there's only 1-2 listed a month within 75 miles of me.

When I picked up the one I have now it was a snowy day and I was wearing my office work clothes so I wasn't able to get fully underneath the truck. The outer and bottom frame rails (where I had seen most of the problems before) looked pretty good so I assumed the inner rails were as good (bad assumption)

After driving the truck for about a week (minus some drivetrain vibration that I've narrowed down to the carrier bearing it drives great!), I took it through the carwash and parked it in my garage until I could get a better look at it. We had a nice day today so I got underneath the truck and started poking at the inside of the frame rails. I was extremely disappointed to see that the inner frame rails crumbled in a half a dozen spots (worst was at the front rear leaf spring mount on both sides). As is, the truck is not driveable. The last picture shows the rear leaf spring mount collapsing into the frame (not sure if I missed this on the snowy day or if it happened over the last week of me driving it).

If I can, I'd love to get her roadworthy for the next 3-5 years for less than an additional $2000 more than I've put into her so far. Unfortunately, I realized today that I would need a new steering rack (min $300), carrier bearing (approx $75), and tires (approx $500), which really brings me down to about $1125

From what I can tell I have 3 options at this point:

1. Order Safe-T-Cap Frame repair pieces from autorust.com, pay a friend that can weld in beer to get them installed on the rear frame spring mount points, Mar-Hyde and Por-15 the hell out of the rest of the frame and pray there aren't any more significant issues.

2. Take it to a shop that does frame repair and hope they can make her road-worthy for less than $1125.

3. Put it on Craigslist for someone more courageous than I and keep my eyes open for the next 6-12 months and hope something better comes up.

My main goal is to just have a truck to make home depot runs and tow a small fishing boat (that doesn't look too bad sitting in the garage or driveway). I don't need to have something off-road capable and I don't plan on abusing it. I also won't be driving it in the winter when there is salt on the road (I consider my 2010 ford fusion my winter beater). Based on my 3 choices above, what would you recommend doing and why? I'm especially looking for advice from people who have run into this exact same conundrum.

Thanks!

 

You knew this and still bought it without checking it out, How expensive are your office clothes?!?

Thats pretty shady of them to even sell that thing, try returning it

Otherwise it looks like a part out to me

 

I thought I had checked it out pretty thoroughly, but I definitely didn't. The big holes in frame in the pictures weren't there until I started poking at it with a screwdriver yesterday

 

That is really shady that a dealer sold that to you. You should call them up and see what they can do sense its not safe to drive.


You should call around and see how much it would cost to be fixed. If you have friend that is a good welder that you trust, see if they would do it. You want to make sure its done right because if its not it could be dangerous. Call a welding shop and see what they say too. I have seen this on Jeeps too in MI I have also seen the repairs last a long time. How many miles are on it? If its a low mile truck It would be worth fixing because these trucks last for 300,000 plus miles. I also know how hard it is to find a nice tacoma in MI. You might need a new frame if its really bad and weak.

 

I agree. The more I think about it the more I'm fairly certain they knew about the issue beforehand.

As much as that might be the easiest route to take, the issue I'm still stuck with is that there aren't a lot of trucks like this out there. Heck, I saw a 2001 listed yesterday blatently advertising that the frame needed repair for $6,000. Has anyone had long-term success repairing a frame from this year truck?

 

I am pretty sure it's actually illegal to sell a vehicle knowing that it is essentially not road worthy. And issues with frames need to clearly documented in the sale or the vehicle would be branded salvage. I'd call up that dealership

 

You really gotta look at the underneath of these trucks when buying used.

 

I'm starting to see the consensus agreement that I should try to take this thing back to the dealership. I'm not totally against that plan of action, I'm just a bit disappointed because there aren't many trucks like this out there (and it looks good in my garage).

Anybody successful with repairs on these frames? I don't need this to drive right away and I'm pretty mechanically inclined (replaced clutches, suspensions, brakes in quantity), if I put some time into it do you think I could reasonably keep it on the road in the summers only for another 3-5 years?

BTW, those pictures I showed were by far the worst areas of the truck (rear hangers).

 

Chernobyl, first things first. There has to be a frame to repair. From the looks of it, what you have is layers of rust, not a frame. Take that POS back to the dealer and demand your money back. Dealer should be ashamed for selling a vehicle that is not road worthy. And that frame looks like it may have been at Chernobyl when the reactor melted down. Sorry the dealer screwed you over.

 

True that.....

 

If they give you a hard time I'd go pitch it to the local news station as a story. Businesses don't like negative press like that.

 

It is quite possible they really had no clue!!

Took it in trade it moved under it`s own power it got parked a price put on who can say.

The yard person may not have bothered to say anything if they saw anything (not my job)

If you can`t get do welding yourself or your beer welder friend does not have the skills and materials and experience to fix this the correct way . Pulling the bed maybe even the cab

I have fixed quite a number of these Trucks before and after the warranty claims started

You really have no clue till you really get under and look at things.

Having to pay someone it is not cost effective !! With your limited budget.

Can you get the seller to pay some of the cost?? Doubtful !!

I think most of us have been over come with new vehicle lust at one time or another.

Sometimes it can be an expensive lesson to learn.

 

I'm in a similar position, my frame isn't anywhere near as bad as yours but needs repairs. IMO, You need to decide if you want to save this Tacoma or start over hunting for a different truck. Is it repairable? Yes. Will it be easy? probably not... I am saving mine.

There are several on here that have rebuilt the frame. Your budget wont be easy unless you do all the work yourself but it can be done. It will be a lot of ...

Take a look at this thread https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/gray223s-98-the-resurrection-rebuild-build.373116/

If I ever buy another used Tacoma it will be from South of the Salt Belt and thoroughly inspected... Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

Even buying one from Down South only extends the time till some tender loving care is needed.

I have one that I repaired Came from Mid Alabama no where near the coast after the second winter it needed some love to pass the Pa inspection.

 

Don't know how these Tacomas retain such high resale value after 8 years. Frame repair and replacement isn't cheap. Sorry this happened to you OP. However I'd be reluctant to buy one from Arizona just because you never know. Any chance this could still be covered by Toyota under the frame recall? I would be exploring any and every avenue. All this money spent on a truck you can do anything with. Terrible.

I'd drive it into a telephone pole or light the thing up

 

Go back to the dealer and be persistent not a dick. If that doesn't work call the news and get the story out through the investigation department. When all those are a dead end park it close to a camp fire when you just happen to have a fuel leak.

 

Haven't been on this site in a week and love the replies, especially

I'm going for the rebuild option. I have a free garage stall, a little bit of extra time/$, and a patient wife. I don't need this vehicle as a daily driver ever (at least that I forsee), and I enjoy wrenching.

I've always wanted to learn how to weld and do metal work, so this will be my chance! I'll post pics as I go and will take all the free advice I can get!

 

Check out this frame repair... @gray223 . It's in his build thread in the profile. It will give you an idea of what your up against.

 

Good luck, I look forward to seeing your progress.

 

Dang same spots were mine was bad. Cut out the bad stuff and start patching! Shouldn't be that bad of a job really. I guess if you wanted to you could just lay a big piece of steel over the holes instead of cut them. May be a better idea actually.

If you do some cutting make sure the frame doesn't move on you. It shouldn't with the little you would be cutting out.

Go around and tap around the frame in other places, make sure its solid elsewhere. And check out my build!

The design of the frames is just stupid. So much water and dirt can get traped in there and it has no way to get out. I think there is just one drain hole on the bottom of each frame rail. And its the only the size of a pin. But there is like 10 holes on the and top of the frame stuff can get into!