Advice for Buying A 2010 2.7 MAN SR5 CREW (frame)

New to the site and looking for some help.

I live in Hudson Valley NY and am in the middle of looking at/preparing to buy a single owner, 85k miles, 2010, 4x4, 2.7 MAN, SR5 CREW and could use some advice. The main questions I have are regarding the frame and any other potential recall/assorted issues I should keep an eye out for. The truck looks to have been pretty well maintained. The under body is in pretty good shape considering it's lived in NY for its lifespan. No major holes or rust throughout the frame that I can feel or see.

1) If I were to buy it from this individual this week in a private sale would it still be eligible for a free inspection and new frame if it was determined that it needed it down the road?
2) How would I go about getting it inspected?
3) What's the latest date that I would be able to get the frame inspection/replacement done?
4) At 85k miles, well maintained with a seemingly solid frame is $11k a good price?
5) If I buy it and it never ends up being eligible for the frame replacement is that too risky of a chance to take as someone that is going to drive it in NY for as long as the body will hold up and the engine will run? (I average 5k miles a year so I'll more than likely have body/rust issues be the death of the truck before engine issues)

Sorry I don't have any pictures and if the post is a little lengthy. Thanks ahead of time for any advice that I get and I'm looking forward to potentially joining the Taco nation!

 

1) Yes. The class-action lawsuit Toyota settled was for those who "owned" prior to December 2016 (IIRC), but Toyota has addressed this with a Warranty enhancement which is a warranty enhancement, and that applies to the vehicle and not the owner. It is explicitly stated in the warranty notification from Toyota that it is transferable.
2) Just make an appointment with a Toyota dealer for the inspection. You'll need the VIN. Dealers in the Hudson valley should be very well acquainted with the frame inspection/replacement procedure. My dealer here in Connecticut has done several hundred frame replacements and didn't bat a metaphorical eye.
3) 12 years after date-of-first use or May 21, 2018 which ever is later. On your prospective 2010 DOFU would probably be some time in late 2009 or 2010, so +12 years would be sometime in 2021-2022. At least 4 more years.
4) 4wd? Then seems pretty reasonable (gut reaction, I didn't look up any prices). 2wd? dunno.
5) Hard to say. If it just has surface rust and the welds/seams look good, then you'll probably be fine. If it's worse than that but not bad enough to replace yet.....

In any event, it's easy to get an inspection done... so just do that before purchase (hopefully there's a Toyota dealer close enough by). If the frame fails and otherwise the truck is good, I'd buy it before or after the replacement, doesn't matter. If the frame passes, then it's a tougher decision. The criteria for failure is a 10mm HOLE THROUGH THE FRAME where there isn't supposed to be one (and only in six specific regions of the frame). A 5mm HOLE THROUGH THE FRAME will still pass. So, if the frame is sketchy but passes the inspection I'd probably pass on the truck.

 

4) I realized after I wrote it that I forgot to include that it is 4WD.
5) from everything I saw there aren’t any holes period, but maybe there would be within the next 3-10 years. (Hard to judge how long exactly it could last but I’d imagine it’ll last longer than the length of the warranty which obviously makes me nervous)
6) my last question is if I get it inspected now will I still be able to get it inspected again in 2021/2 or is it a one time opportunity and I should wait as long as possible to do it?

Thanks for all the help so far! @supermagic

 

Just talked with the nearest Toyota dealer and they confirmed everything you said. They said the frame is available for free inspection every year until the end of the warranty and that the private sale wouldn’t effect that. They also said they’d probably do the CRC application whenever I brought it in. My last few questions now are.

7) what’s everyone’s experience with the CRC application and it extending the life of the frame?
8) should I hold off on getting the CRC as long as possible in order to try and get the frame replacement?
9) should I grind away any exterior rust myself prior to getting the CRC applied or would they do that for me in the shop as well?