Tacoma Frame Cancer -- has this been solved?

I love my tacos, and live in toyota central in my remote rural community where everyone needs a truck and most of them are toyotas. I've had four tacoma 4x4s over the years (1st gen & 2nd gen) and my current '06 has has yet another frame that's completely toast. I'll limp around for a bit, but then it will unceremoniously fold.

So has this been sorted out for current trucks? Some of the folks around here drive other trucks and when they die from myriad other troubles, the frames are generally great. But the tacomas are in great shape, except that the frames are complete shit. We wash them down, pull boxes, paint rust converter & frame paint every few years, and nothing stops it. Is there some magical year where tacoma frames stop being garbage?

(And yes, my truck did go in for the frame recall. They chose to "paint it" and absolved themselves of further responsibility. As soon as I bought it I took it to the Toyota dealership for a full inspection, specifically the frame, and the report came back saying everything looked great, and specifically said the frame was fine... three years later and I can literally, and I mean literally put my finger through the frame everywhere and the engine is collapsing the front mounts and the rear shock mounts are punching through. Frustrating.)

 

Probably not. But actually, I don’t think your question is fairly stated. It’s not necessarily the frame being garbage (ok, actions state otherwise ), but more the environment in which you use it, combined with rust proofing from the factory, equals final result.

If you lived in the desert, you probably wouldn’t have these issues.

Now with that being said, you noted the alternative options. They can also have frame issues as well, plus other “quirks.”

Your truck is almost 17 years old. Full of harsh winters and salty roads. That takes a toll on a vehicle.

Yet here you are, still buying Toyota’s. Really the best you can do is rust proof, keep it clean in the winter, keep on driving.

Or move.

 

Woolwax, fluid film, cosmoline, waxoyl....use these yearly or when needed to protect the frame inside and out

 

I launch in saltwater and drive on the beach regularly. My 2005 frame would probably have rotted out a long time ago if i didn't use these products.

Twice a year, i spend a about one hour pressure washing underneath and applying a new coat of fluidfilm. I have hardly any rust.

It does totally piss me off though that you can find a dead 15yo Dodge ram, tranny is shit out, BUT THE FRAME IS PERFECT

WTF Toyota?

 

To answer your original question, no, there is absolutely no indication that current Tacomas have any changes to the frame metallurgy, construction, or factory coating that would solve the well known and discussed frame rot issues.