Frame Rot

Hello all,

Just purchased my first Taco, 2002 Xtra cab, 5 speed 4wd.

According to Toyota the frame was replaced in 2009, but the frame is beginning to Rot again where the leaf springs meet the frame on the drivers side. Is there another fix for this seeing how Toyota already replaced the Frame, or should I look into third party fixes?

Thanks all!!!!

 

7 years for the first frame, 10 for the second. Come on Toyota

 

This is what the majority of the frame looks like, was stored in a dirt lot for a month or so so some of what you're seeing here is surface rust/sand/dirt/mud.

 

And here is the piece that I found to be rotted, which from what I understand is a common spot.



And yes the gas tank skid plate is going to be replaced!

 

Where are you located? I find it hard to believe that was already replaced.

 

Being a 2002, you are well beyond the extended warranty period for your truck, which is 15 years from the in-service date.

You're only hope now if either patching the hell out of that one, or sourcing a frame from AZ and start cleaning and treating your frame regularly.

From the looks of that frame which has supposedly already been replaced, do you park that thing in tide pools or something?

 

Truck is from Massachusetts, I am located in Rhode Island.

Frame was replaced in 2009 by Mcgee Toyota in Dudley, Mass.

 

No, I just purchased the truck as a drive around town/drive to work beater.

 

Ok that makes sense. Most anything will rot out in 10 years up there, toyotas especially.

 

Yeah, that area is pretty harsh on frames.

If it's a beater and you ignore the whole "it's not safe thing", just drive it until it falls apart, and it WILL fall apart... But if you want to keep the truck long term you'll need a whole new frame. It'll take some work, but you could source a used one like I said earlier, and new frames run around $4k iirc if you can get one. I think Toyota is holding on to a lot of them until the warranty period is up on all the trucks.

If you want the truck to last (once the frame is replaced) you're going to have to be super anal about cleaning and treating it. There are a few threads I've seen where people describe their routine (seasonally clean and treat with POR-15, etc...).

Good luck!

 

Unfortunately, I did my research on it as well and I get rot lol! Carfax, contacted dealer, the whole 9. Seemed to be very well kept truck for its age.

 

Dunno if I believe that. The one for my dads 08 is being built just for his truck, with the vin stamped in it. I dont think they can stock pile them.

 

Yeah I can't say for sure, I'm just parroting something I heard here, trying to explain why someone couldn't get a frame or something...

 

Yeah thats BS. Theyre built specifically for the truck theyre going on which is why wait times are so high.

 

I have a 2000 and I have always kept the frame and rest of underside clean and would needle descale or wire brush any developing surface rust on the frame, wonder if I should take it north east to sell.....

 

This is a common spot. Fortunately, there is a patch.

https://www.autorust.com/product-category/toyota/tacoma-xtracab-4wd/

 

Wow thanks, I'll have to invest in that. Do you know which one specifically, there are a few different options?

 

Your photo looks to be the "mid frame section w/spring mount"

 

That makes sense. In my old age I could be misremembering what I read a while ago. They maybe weren't stock piling them but weren't building them for private sales because they were focusing on the warranty jobs.