any value - original owner 2009 TRD Off Road 100k - frame shot

I saw several topics on frame replacement questions and may have missed this question/thoughts.

Original Owner - 2009 Tacoma TRD OR, all stock, with leer cap, 103k, all maintenance done at dealer, all records, new tires with less than 1,000 miles (wrangler duratec), etc.. Body in great shape for year, interior very good, no accidents, etc…but frame is rusted. Started life in Syracuse, hence the rust due to salt and over the past 10yrs, it’s been in Florida.

yes, the dealer inspected the frame annually when it was under the extended frame warranty (ended in 2021 for me)


Background - I purchased this truck new in 2009. Supposed to be the “forever” truck and it was until last month when the dealer told me it is unfit to drive (that is its own story) while I had it in there for the annual oil change, due to the frame being unsafe. They quoted me $10k’ish to replace. I passed on that and now it sits at a friends as I decide what to do with it, e.g., sell at auction, sell as is and/or part out but the last is my least favorite option. I am not looking for an arm and leg but I think there is value for someone out there.

I already purchased a new truck. Just want to get feedback from the Taco community.

pic is from a couple years ago, but looks the same. The hood paint is faded, top of cab and cap are faded.

 

That sucks ! And welcome to the forum!

If it were me I would

1. Call around state wide or even neighboring states to wrecking yards to get quotes to sell it. Tacomas are still in high demand for parts from body panels and drivetrain.

2. Call IAAI and Copart auctions, you can consign with them to sell it.

3. Donate to charity : take the tax write off and wipe your hands clean of it.

My hunch is that you aren't leaning toward the parting it out and having sketchy low ballers come to your house to buy $20 parts.

 

If you were to fix the frame would it increase the value by 10K? It's a desirable truck and seems to be in otherwise great shape, I would think you would get at least 10k more for it as a fully driveable vehicle.

 

That's a shame.

All that $ for dealer services for all those years, and yet none of them coached you on what was need to prevent this problem.

That's like you having annual physicals, letting your Dr know you've been a smoker for a bunch of years, and he doesn't encourage you to quit. Then tells you you have stage 4 cancer.

Almost criminal.

 

Gonna be thought to find someone that’s familiar with fixing frames down in FL

Seeing your garage, if I was in your shoes I’d just sell as is

 

How bad is the frame? Can it be Safety Capped? There is a ton of life left in the truck if the frame was repaired or replaced. Dealers are shaded as fuck get a different opinion. You could repair it and get a good price for it.

 

That fastest and easiest way is like what is mentioned above. Donate it to a qualified charity and take the tax write off. Do a little research on a qualified charity is the key.

 

I bought my '09 in Massachusetts in '09, and drove it through the winters of '09/'10, '10/'11, and '11/'12. Between '12 and '18 I would store it (outside/covered) in MA for the winter.

In September of 2017 I was asked by the dealer to stop by and have a complementary frame inspection because MA is a cold climate state. After the inspection, the service manager told me that the frame was fine, the truck is in nice shape, and asked if I would I be "interested in trading it in on a newer Tacoma?" No, I wasn't interested.

In early '18 I got the letter from Toyota Corporate indicating that the inspection SHOULD have included an application of CRC, and that would REQUIRE a two day stay for it to cure, which would include a rental car at no cost to me. My truck was not left overnight nor did I get a rental car, so I called Toyota Corporate. The next day I got a call from the dealer asking me to schedule another inspection. After this inspection I was told by a different service manager that the truck had failed their inspection, and I would have to leave the truck because the frame failure was imminent. It was not safe to drive. The time elapsed between the "frame is fine," and the "frame failure was imminent" was approximately 7 months. The frame on my truck did not rust out while it was driven for four weeks, and parked and covered for 6 months.

The point of the above is that the dealer does not care about you, your finances, or your truck. They will screw you every damn time.

Ever since I have had the new frame on the truck, I drive it to FL in October or November (before snow), and I have WoolWaxed the entire frame and under body of the truck - twice!

There are still parts of the truck that show rust from the few years use in the North East winters. The transmission cooling lines look sketchy, lots of clamps and clips for wiring/plumbing of the truck have had to be removed, cleaned and painted. ALL of the serpentine bely pulleys have had to be replaced, and I dropped and painted the driveshaft when I replaced the carrier bearing. I also have wire wheeled the rust, then repainted the entire rear bumper/trailer hitch. These are things that would likely have to be addressed on the OP's truck.

 

If it were me, I'd have it fixed and keep it. I like to keep trucks for life, especially ones I buy new, which is only my 2013 Tacoma. You already know the maintenance history since it's been yours since new.

 

Thanks for the inputs. A lot of same thoughts and feelings (I was pissed) that I had. At this stage, I moved on from the thought of repairing - but by all means, if someone wanted to give it a go - I’d love to see it land in a Taco enthusiasts hands and driven for another 100 or 200k. The people that I do know that could take on this project have enough “project Toyota’s” and I think their better half’s would shoot them if they took it on.

I was not tracking to a charity - good idea.

Such a good truck, until it wasn’t.

Flame suit on, but I did not replace with a Tacoma or Toyota - I am hoping this new truck will be the “forever truck #2” - new F250 4x4 with the 7.3L gas, no turbos, low options, low creacher comforts - hopefully less to break. Be easier towing a car too, which I do a couple times a year. The Taco did okay, but this should be an improvement.

sorry to be leaving the Tacoma community! Keep on - keeping on! And, thanks again for all the relatable inputs and comments

 

Post a pic of the new ride!

 

Ah yes…
Old/New comparison photo

 

"The point of the above is that the dealer does not care about you, your finances, or your truck. They will screw you every damn time."

That bit of wisdom should be taught to every kid in high school! Truer words have never been spoken as it applies to all dealers, not just Toyota

 

Do you have pictures of the frame? If you sell, how much would you want?

 

That is the same body style as a F250 what a coincidence.

 

I will get pics this weekend and post. Feedback on the frame is that structural integrity is compromised on the front half of the vehicle. Sorry, that’s pretty vague.

Feedback from those who are more mechanically inclined than I and considered welding solutions - ultimately, and due to liability (rightfully so) - they said it’s toast.

I’m leaning towards auctioning it “as is” - a friend is a regular with this and thinks it will fetch more $$$ than the junkyard.

For reference, I called one yard just to see, and mind you, I’d argue my truck is in above average condition mechanically, interior, ALL records and no hit body - with exception of previously mentioned paint fade - they said $500-600

I won’t be parting this thing out. I’m sure there is money in that but I don’t have the time to go through that process. Just looking at a used motor and trans and cutting the eBay price in half to be conservative - someone could do alright. Everything on this truck is stock and works as intended. If it didn’t I replaced it.

so, considering the above - plus brand new tires, new front breaks, new thus and that, just a shit frame - what is it worth??? IDK. $1K, $3K, or?

 

Rust may have killed the frame, but other stuff might be rusted out too. Body does look clean tho

$1k-$3k you could sell it today. Lol. $10k and you gonna get a ton of tire kickers. How much hassle vs reward do you want? Somewhere in between those prices

Where in FL, south Florida?

 

Melbourne, FL

true in your comment of “other stuff” - I presume everything underneath the body could be suspect at some point.

I have some requests out on what range to expect at an auction, in this condition.

 

1-3k is a steal. I would pay that for a parts truck .

 

There is value in your running gear and I see some good body panels as well of course, so someone who needs parts can buy the whole thing