Truck seems like it's had a lot of work done (1st time buyer)

That pic x2 looks way suspect. $8k huh, if it's a used car place they will get it somebody with Tacoma eyes and money burning a hole in their pocket will buy it even if it is sub par. Check it over well.

 

Agree. Mine was a fair $8K (No rust in the frame rails, significant rust on fuel tank + spare tire crossmembers that I didn't notice until much later, and seized AC compressor). TBH I probably should have leaned on the seller over the AC, but I missed that it wasn't working, and it was $2K lower than some comparable trucks I found, so I can't complain too much.

Plus I'm doing well enough I could afford to overpay a bit for a truck that was mechanically sound and learn a few lessons along the way. You may not be.

 

I'm a 2nd time buyer as of last week - My first buy was at the dealer in '03, so I wasn't looking for rust. Plus I'm in CA. I take it there are certain spots known for rust on these frames - where should we be looking? - so far I've seen rear spring hangers and the bunching rust like in pic 4 stated, but I have no actual rusty tacomas to look at in my neighborhood as examples. I want to be able to look in "the spots" when my new purchase arrives here. Meaning, are there certain spots that are typical for the rust to start - ie - rear wheels, by crossmember, etc.

 

Frame rails: Hammer all the way along them with a wrench or a hammer (I can hear the difference better with a wrench) Pay close attention near the rear axle - the weep holes here are poorly placed

Crossmembers: Drop the spare tire & inspect visually. It'll be obvious. But give it a whack while you've got it dropped. Look at the drain holes of the fuel tank skid plate, they tend to catch anything that flakes off the fuel tank crossmember. The other two crossmembers are easily visually inspected - one with your head under the driver's seat, the other underneath the engine.

 

This one should be a red flag in my book. like many others have said, walk away, you can do better. This truck just has too many questionable issues with it.

 

Look at the clearance between the bed and back of cab, note the closing line, run far away as fast as you can.

 

Thanks everyone for your input and comments, extremely helpful. You'll be happy to know that I have ran away form this one. This truck was NY owned for over 20 years, so yes hard to believe there isn't a rust issue with the frame. Too many unknowns and questionable repairs. That being said, I have taken all your pointers on board, which will help me massively in finding the right truck. I'm going to continue the search further south. Blown away by the support on here, you legends. I will loop back in sometime again with hopefully with...my own Tacoma.

 

An image search for "rusted frame tacoma" will give you plenty of visuals where it tends to go first. As mentioned the hammer test will alert you to hidden rust rot.

 

It was a real rust bucket at one point. You can see the diff cover was cut off and replaced. Maybe they fixed some of it but I'd be leary. Thats probably why the bed and cab don't line up. Frame was rotted and someone fixed it but didn't make sure the frame was leveled when they welded it back together.

 

Also up front in the front wheel well there's a rectangle hole. Stick your finger in it Lmao. If there's lots of dirt or mud the frame is rotting from the inside out and I'd pass.

 

I've bought a lot of used vehicles over the years and the biggest red flag for me is a new paint job. Paint and undercoating hide a lot of sins. Ask yourself whether a reasonable owner will sink a lot of money into a vehicle they plan to sell quickly. The answer is "not likely", meaning that all work was done as cheaply as possible.

The indiscriminate undercoating spray is telling as well - they sprayed part of the tail pipe!

Don't waste your time.