About to purchase a tacoma but found something fishy in a picture (frame)

Hello Everyone,

I left a deposit on my first Tacoma. 2008 to be exact. Lower miles, clean carfax, checked it out in person and all looked great. I am a car guy and engineer, the entire truck has been untouched for the most part except for the rear bumper. The passenger side has been pushed in a bit and a quarter sized dimple was formed by whatever it came in contact with.

This did not worry me at the time as it appeared to be completely cosmetic. I did not have a way to measure but looking under the bumper there was no obvious bends. Now I understand that No one on here can give me a definitive answer but what I am looking for is people who know these frames better than I.

Take a look at this picture.






The rear end of the bed is not sitting square to the rest of the truck. The truck is parked weirdly on a cul-de-sac so the ground from what I remember is uneven. Does the Tacoma flex enough to cause the distortion in the picture?

Truck is not local and I am going to be upset when I show up and start measuring things on flat ground if they do not check out. All body lines and gaps appeared to be perfect and untouched. I only noticed this while looking closer at the pictures. I have not contacted the owner yet asking for him to measure. It is his daughters truck and he did not comment on the bumper other then the dimple.

 

the bed can move a fair amount, but if you're worried have it checked out before you fork over the cash

 

Gas tank? Bro lean

 

Can't see the picture since I am at work but I'd take it somewhere just to be sure. Most shops will do a full once over of a vehicle and tell you any issues they find. Its pretty cheap insurance to have someone who knows what they're looking check things out. I've done this on all the vehicles purchased in my family and a few times they've found things like ball joints and tie rods that need replacing which easily could be missed by the average person car shopping.

 

Honestly the photo angle might be pulling some tricks with your eyes. I'd look in person and on nice level ground. It looks a bit skewed though.

 

Did you circle the Salt Life sticker because it's AWESOME? Is it a keeper?

 

Definitely not even...as stated above..get it checked out . Put it on a lift...don't have the shoulda, coulda, woulda thoughts later...

 

The bumper looks bent to me. On the right side, the step pad seems to be angled down more than the left. Could mean absolutely nothing though. The rear bumpers on these are not very stout.

 

My dealer does pre-purchase inspections for $52, might be worth calling your local one.

 

Yeah, the bumper got dinged. As far as the bed, I'm on my 5th Tacoma and all of them have that little twist, or bro lean as tashcomer put it. My 2013 f150 even had it.

 

Yea, that bed, mounted on C-channels, really does flex.

 

I'd have it checked just to be sure especially since you are already aware of the bumper.
That being said I just took the trash out and looked at my Taco and from 20 feet away it looks way out of whack. My drive way slopes down a hill so there is a fair amount of flex. I also know from trail driving the bed moves a lot. Much like the above GIF only I'm going much much slower.

 

I really do appreciate everyones input. If the bumper was not pushed in, I would not have ever noticed the bed. I was just doing a once over on the pictures to see if anything stood out and this did.

I did some research online and found a few tacoma's on youtube flexing which showed little bed movement (which is what lead me to make this thread). Nothing like the GIF posted above. Steel flexes, tolerances of design differ by manufacture and I have zero experience with toyota. I also found another picture of the truck in question where you are able to view the front of the bed in relation to the cab window. I Also found some stock photos of a 2012 review and compared the two photos in a program.





Both of those trucks beds are not completely square to the cab window however, they both dip on the same side. Getting an inspection done may be a headache but I will make some calls tomorrow for piece of mind.

 

Looks like the plastic top on that side has come unhooked from bumper. Zoom in and check out.

 

the bumpers fold in half on these trucks if the wind blows the wrong way. after seeing the second pic the first pic looks like the camera angle messed with it. have you driven the truck? drive straight? its a used truck, not a garage queen car.

as others have said, if you think its fishy, get it inspected, carfax isn't 100% by any means.

 

OP where are you buying it from?

Used auto dealer?
Do they get they their cars from auctions?

Looks like to me that some one replaced a rear right mud flap that doesn't match the 4x4 one. Could be indication of an accident or just a missing mud flap.

Honestly man, I just bought a car originally from texas and it was in an auction and I bought it from a used car dealer in LA and I wish I would have paid more attention to everything.. To get everyhing up and running properly was about $2,000 extra (suspension etc)

So get to know that truck, its ins and outs, its G spot, the clitorus, see what she (or he) likes, maybe its a little rusty in some places but find out what part needs some grease haha

 

Private party. I would be the third owner.

Mud flaps and all components of the truck look to be all original and worn evenly. The 4x4 is worn off the passenger side flap.

I'll keep you all updated.

 

The Salt Life sticker should get you a $500 discount at a minimum

 

Truck was parked funny. All is fine. I own it now & am very happy with it.

 

Called it. Good work!