New to this

Hello everyone. I am starting this to help navigate my 17 year old son on places to find valuable information. Seems kids these days only have FB and youtube, lol. I was explaining to him that a web forum is a better place to find better information in one place. Also ask very specific questions. I plan to get this going for him and hand over the password. My name is Dave, he is Kody. We live in SW Ohio.

Anyways, we are new to the tacoma world. I owned a Tundra for a couple of years but it never needed anything besides fuel. We picked up an 03' Tacoma for $3,800 for his first vehicle. It has rust, it has high miles, it has a lift and I believe it has an updated frame. Thinking our first fix will be to buy a rocker panel and tackle that. Drivers side is pretty clean, passenger side is gone.

 

Previous owner said he replaced the rear axle, radiator, both front axle shafts, brakes all around, some front end parts and some other things. He owned a reputable mechanic shop locally and this was him and his dogs truck. Feels like a great platform for us to share. Something to help me keep him broke enough to not he able to afford drugs, lol. I've always have a love for building trucks. Currently building a 19' F350 CCLB single rear wheel with a powerstroke. I love this stuff but I've never been much into these little trucks. Expensive little things! Plus I've always needed something with some towing ability. So I am lost when it comes to these. Thanks ahead of time for any help or wisdom shared.

 

Hows the rest of the frame?
Make sure to spray that frame with Fluid Film or Cosmoline to keep it from rusting out quickly especially being in the rust belt!

 

Some surface rust just starting in a few spots. I was planning on covering it in POR15 once we get it in the barn and get after the rocker panel. Thanks for the heads up, are either of those better than POR15 for toyota frames?

 

POR15 is a rust converter if I remember correctly so you'd then wanna paint over the POR15 then spray the Cosmoline on as a protective layer. You should apply the Cosmoline every year before winter. Make sure you really do a good job prepping and paying attention to the POR15 directions ad I've read it's kinda picky.

 

That makes good sense. I've only used it on new stuff or items I stripped down completely. I've also never been good at keeping anything more than 2 years, lol. Trying to be better about that.

 

Welcome aboard!

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Thanks for the welcomes. Lots of reading to be had around here.

 

Welcome to TW

 

Welcome aboard from a transplanted Michigander. This is a great place to learn. I started at zero doing research before I bought my 18 new. Our local thread was a great resource, so look in the regional section of the forums and see what's around. Have some fun.

 

Awesome, I didn't realize there was a regional section yet. Fell down the rabbit hole on a couple of active threads and that was all so far. Lol. I'll find it tonight after work. Thanks

 

Saved you a little searching.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/ohio.212/

 

Posted and thanks! You don't get this kind of help on FB, lol.