Later model 2nd gen frames

Not true. My brothers 08' is a disaster, and it has spent it's entire life on the coast in Northern California. Salt air is definitely enough to rust these

 

Salt air is enought to rust just about anything.

 

The way Toyota frames rust makes me think the problem is low quality steel. That cancer type rust that just blows apart can be helped with staying clean and dry but eventually it just doesn't have the metallurgical integrity and nothing can stop it. I like Toyota trucks and I've owned three but what is annoying is that Toyota knows that they are using junk steel through the years but doesn't feel compelled to address it. I don't mind repairing/replacing sheet metal or other components, but once a frame is rusted and is no longer safe it's over.

 

For some reason, it doesn't really bother me knowing that my truck may end up rusting. I suppose it's because I've seen first hand that IF a problem develops, Toyota will handle it and the customer (almost) always gets taken care of. If it rusts out, I get a new frame! I see exactly what you mean, though, oldtoyotaguy. They knew the steel was inferior and chose not to address it properly.. or, there's an off chance that the frame supplier had Toyota convinced that the 2nd gen frame quality would be better than the 1st gen. Either way, I don't let it keep me up at night consider I see Ford, GM, and Dodge truck owners DAILY replacing ball joints, wheel bearings, tie rods, blowing engines and transmissions, fighting driveability issues, repeatedly replacing brake calipers and lines, and the list goes on! As always, YMMV, but it would take a whole lot convincing to get me to drive any truck other than a Toyota or Nissan these days. The only exception I would make would be to tow more than these two manufacturers vehicles allow.

 

Yeah, I totally agree with you, HDMac07. That's why I'm driving a Tacoma. Even though frame rust is a big deal, I wouldn't drive a full size truck unless I really needed it, and Tacoma's are the best that's out there. I hope its good enough to give away to a family member when I'm done with it, and I'll buy a new one. I'm an old guy, and I try not to lose too much sleep over rust. On the scale of important stuff like world peace, and ending human suffering, its maybe a .000001

 

I drive almost 40k miles a year so it's doubtful that my truck will owe me any money by the time the frame rusts out. If I planned on owning this truck for more than 10 years I would be concerned but the frame will last 10 years no problem.

 

The picture of my frame above was on this truck, flawless other than the frame:

 

I'm not saying other states don't see winter, or salt air. What I am saying is move to NS, NB, NL, PQ ON, the further east the worse. No way is Florida or even Ohio even in the same category.

 

The snow isnt what hurts the frame, its the amount of salt that our states love to use. Here in pa, once the snow falls, the roads are constantly covered in salt, and so are our vehicles. My truck is covered in salt practically the entire snow season.

And humid salt air is terrible. Check out ac compressor units on properties. There is barely any metal left on them. Electrical panels and components have to be replaced often because of salt corrosion.

 

I agree 100% with you. PA, OH even, they are north eastern states. It's the California coast and Florida owners stating their frames are rust free and they are trying to compare to north east winter conditions. I would hope a 2009 living in Florida would be rust free!

I know snow has little to nothing to do with corrosion/rust, it's the constant temperature swings (-40 to +10 in 24 hours) salt exposure on our roads 6 months of the year, and the constant slush spray under our vehicles.

 

A heated garage doesn't help either.

 

Do say heated because of expansion from having been in the cold?

 

Our roads are salted to the point of murder here too. I can never understand why they go so over board

 

Last winter they started using salt here even if the road was slightly damp in the evening.

 

Blows my mind, then halfway through winter they tell us the budget is blown out of the water usually lol

 

Haha. Yep. Last year was pretty mild for snow though. My theory was that they wanted to get rid of all the salt they had before spring so hey didn't have to store it all summer.

 

I agree, I'm not a chemist but I think it melts the slush (containing slat) and allows it to run in all the seems, crevices etc. Same effect when they heat krown rust proofing before application. Warm liquids creep better.

 

I hope it snows a lot this year, my Tacoma will be sitting at the Toyota garage, and I don't care what happens to this beast! It's a nice truck though.

 

You have a summer truck and a winter truck?

 

2012 with 170k miles.. Looks amazing, just some usual light rust around the big welds.

Salted roads too..