Why did my tacoma go to the Dentist?

TWO THIRTY

I bought this truck 3 years ago with 169k on it as a winter beater for $800 from my girlfriend's brother. It keeps running so I keep driving it.
It's been a great truck. Hit 230k on the way home from work tonight. I've done the normal stuff to it, oil changes every 4k, new front rotors, calipers, & pads from from Napa. New emergency brake cables from toyota. When in needed tires (235/75R15) I also treated it to some american racing rims.
The only oddball repair that had to be done to it was replacing the third member on the rear end because it was rotted to the point it was seeping out gear oil. I've heard of the rear axle housing rusting though and I bought a weld on replacemet cover from Barnes 4x4 to have on hand when the repairs were made, but it was not needed. It's now hanging on my garage wall. A used third member was sourced from a junkyard along with new bearings. I picked up new backing plates from Toyota to finish off the job.
The frame was replaced by Toyora back in 2012. I have been coating it with fluid film since I got it. I figure I go through 15 - 20 spray cans a year on it. Winter, spring, summer, & fall, I'm out there spraying it. I'm determined not to let rust win the battle.
When I got it the only sketchy looking things on it were the skid plates, third member, and the backing plates were just starting to get crusty. Someday I'll get around to cleaning up the skid plates.
This truck led to the purchase of a 2019 tacoma trd off road double cab, but so far, I still drive this old truck more.
I dont post here often, but I'm on here daily to figure out what I need to know to keep the old truck reliable.
This site has been a great help.

 

Nice

 

Freaking awesome story hermano. I understand the appeal and feeling of driving these things. I feel much more in tune with it then I do anything else. And it's uncomfortable (60/40 split bench) for long drives. And it's noisy on interstate speeds. But I love driving the sucking thing

 

800 for that "beater" and I only see one dent! Looks like you got a great deal!

 

The owner called me from the jeep dealer when he was gonna trade it in. They offered him $800 for it. I told him he could get more on craigslist, but he didnt want to deal with the hassle. He said it I want it, its mine for $800. I'm a chevy guy at heart, but couldn't pass it up.
As far as the dent, there are 2 on the drivers side bedside. The 1 behind the tire is probrably a $100 fix at a painted dent repair place. There is a second 1 behind the bumper. The bumper was pushed into the bed. The bumper was replaced, leaving the dent in the bed. Relentless fabrication made a bumper that wrapped around and would have covered the damage, but I think they stopped making that bumper for first gens.

 

That's hardly a beater.

I'm really jealous you had a cap for a standard cab with matching paint. For 12 years I drove around with a red fiberglass tonneau cover on my silver Taco because it was the only thing I could find. Every cap was for an extended cab, which Toyota stupidly shaped differently. I mean, that was just idiotic.

 

$800, that's a great price for a great truck. Your're most likely in for "years" of additional good service.

 

It went back for a cleaning today at TWO THIRTY TWO.
Just gotta keep up with the fluid film.

 

It went back for a cleaning today at TWO THIRTY TWO.
Just gotta keep up with the fluid film.

 

It went back for a cleaning today at TWO THIRTY TWO.
Just gotta keep up with the fluid film.