98 Tacoma frame corrosion questions.

My frame has rusted so badly on my access can 4wd Tacoma that it's unsafe to drive. I had a shop look at it (after looking around forever for somebody willing to do the work) and found one place that will replace the frame from the cab to the rear bumper. They have lots of experience doing these repairs.

The only problem is they want $2000 to do it. I'm uncertain if it's worth dropping that much money into. It's got 210K miles.

Thanks in advance!

 

I don't know if the frame recall would still apply to you but if I were you I'd take my chances and call Toyota to see if you qualify. I know they extended it.

 

That seems a decent price there is some work to doing it the correct way.

What is the rest of the truck look like or perhaps I should ask has the maintenance been done or every thing was just neglected .

I have a 2000 with around the same mileage 3.4 5 speed If I had to pay to have the same work done I would because I don`t have $10,000.00 in cash for a new truck used truck!!!!

 

^ Try $30,000.

 

I meant for another of the same vintage as mine 2000 or 2 years in either direction with 250,000 miles or so .

$10,000.00 should buy one in that range

Not brand new I never bought but one new vehicle and that was enough for this incarnation

 

I could be flat out wrong, but I thought at one time the recall on '95.5-'04 frames had unlimited mileage. As long as the frame had not been cut on or welded on, it was under recall. But I may be completely wrong.

 

I had 3 I repaired bought back so the cutting or welding does not apply .

15 years was the longest I ever heard as long as the truck was inspected and the undercoating band aid was applied

 

95.5-1999 or 2000 was the buyback program, there was no recall for frames on the early model first gens. Toyota just bought them back for 1.5x KBB value or something like that. That program ended several years ago, unfortunately there's nothing that Toyota will do for the OP (except maybe install a new frame if he pays for it, last I remember reading that was in the ballpark of 20 grand). The frame recall only applied to later model first gens (01 - 04 I think) and was good for 15 years past the build date of the vehicle. So only 2002-2004 trucks would still qualify today, and only if the other strict criteria is met (had to have been inspected and coated prior to 2011 and has to be registered in specific "cold weather" states, etc.)

 

$2k to replace the back half of the frame sounds like a legit deal to me, I'd take it (if I was that intent on keeping the truck)

 

I went ahead and approved the estimate. I will have it back (if things go well) on Monday and I'll let you all know. With any luck I'll get another 10 years out of it. I've owned that sucker since the fall of 2000. The only major repairs it's needed are tie rods and a clutch which came to about ($1100).

I should count my blessings, could you imagine how far in debt I'd be had I owned a GM product for 16 years? Lol.

 

What state are you in Chad? Thanks

 

Like a GM would hold together that long! Bah!

 

I'm in middle Tennessee.

 

I'm picking up the truck this morning. The work looks awesome and I'm thrilled to be getting
my truck back!

 

Here are a couple pics of the replacement frame.

 

Hell yeah hombre. Looks like a fair price and like the frame swapped under it is in good shape. I've always been curious what a shop would actually charge. Did you provide the frame or the 2k price included the 'new' frame?

 

They found the salvaged frame, I can't say how glad I am to have this taken care of. I've given their shop several top reviews. It's hard to find places willing to complete this type of a repair.

Now I need ball joints, front shocks, and an alignment.

 

I would highly recommend spraying the frame with Fluid Film. Especially on the inside, since thats where the rust usually begins. The work looks superbly done and best of luck in the future.

_Charlie

 

welds look pretty bad tbh. looks like theres some internal bracing so thats good though.

 

I would have been ashamed having welds that poor out the door !!

I wonder just where the frame came from and what type of work to protect it was done