1st gen on 225/70/16 !

Hello tacomaworld, been lurking all summer and found gobs of great info!

here’s my 2004 double cab prerunner with 290km’s. I paid 6800$ CAD and drove all around Saguenay (Québec, opposite side of California) and in the woods fully loaded with 3 people and 2 dogs and all our stuff and bikes without putting a penny on it this summer. I love this truck now.

Brought it to the most reputable shop in the greater Montreal to get the frame assessed; it’s in great shape! I asked him to take a looks at the truck and he’ll be doing all the parts that need love:rotten original shocks (for bilstein 5100’s, LBJ’s, steering racks and pinions, a frame crossmember, transmission mount, a gas tank, a few belts (forgot) and a small repair on the frame. He quoted between 5-7k which sounds reasonable considering the cost of OEM parts.

here’s pics of her when I got her: guess what tire size she came in…

 

Not trying to rain on your parade, but if the frame is good, why is a frame cross member being replaced? Also why is the gas tank being replaced? If those are rusted badly then it'd seem likely that the frame is too (at least on the inside). I'd just suggest being cautious about putting the entire value of the truck back into it in a repair bill like this (especially if further rust damage might rear its ugly head again soon).

I'd get a second opinion and ask someone to borescope the inside of your frame. They can look okay but be totally rotten inside

 

i replaced both of my rear crossmembers, and they were much worse than the frame, but the frame definitely still needed work. definitely worth checking out

 

I never knew Que'bec had a city called California.

 

Why is the side step so much lower on the driver's side than the passenger side?

 

Excellent observation; I got the truck this way and asked myself the same question; I’m thinking the previous owner might have been vertically challenged or an old man, which would explain much smaller than stock tires and a lowered side step

 

That’s the first thought I had; it’s stupid to put the value of the truck back in: here’s my reasonning

1) I like the truck and intend on keeping it for awhile
2) they are becoming rare and there is potential upside at resale if I maintain it.
The risk is the frame rusts out… I’ll be getting it boroscoped to reduce my risk… thanks

the shop I chose has 3 1st gens in his yard and knows them inside out so I think I did a good thing but will def. Get it checked out by another.

I don’t have all the details yet but basically asked him to make it run great again. Not sure if it’s the gas tank or a connection that’s causing the leak when full, he said he’d get back to me once the bed is lifted etc…

 

Good luck with it and hopefully that frame is solid