Back with another frame. Need your opinion please

I'm no where near it. I cant do any of the tests myself.

 

There are definitely unicorns out here. Found my 04 last year with 24k miles on it in San Diego, no rust anywhere. Arizona, SoCal, New Mexico and Nevada is where I'd really focus my search

 

Craigslist?

 

It's a shame that people spray them to cover the rust 10 years after they should have done it to protect from it. It is well known fact, that once steel turns into rust, there is no amount of spraying that will turn it back to metal.

BTW You guys are spoiled Fiat cars in Europe rusted through in 2-3 years still under the warranty and regardless how much slimy goo people put on it. The metal used to build them was so bad, that the rust was bubbling from under the paint. After I owned my first (and only) Fiat I said to myself, never ever Fiat in my life again. The worst POS I've ever driven. Worse than US Ford. This is why I am very sensitive to Fe2O3.

 

Autotrader actually, it was listed through a Toyota dealership in San Diego. Guy from Arizona traded it in on a new one.

 

My truck has zero rust. And is pretty clean for 170K miles on it.
It was an AZ truck now it's in Cali

 

I wouldn't waste my time personally. That's a long drive/flight for an already questionable frame. Those bolts look rusty as fuck.

 

As others have said, too risky.

Lousy photos of a fair cover up job IMHO.

ANY frame that has lived in salt country needs a manual beating, prodding and boroscope exam.

If it's too far to do yourself, your only choices are to have a TW member you trust find it and do it for you or get a professional exam, and pay for it. Which is prudent to have, including all the other mechanical systems, before dropping a pile 'o cash on one

 

That's why I come to the TW council before I put any money down. Until you guys green light it, I wont buy anything.

 

What year is this? And where is it located? I forgot your location. That spray job looks suspicious.

 

Keep looking. Search CA, AZ, NV, TX, NM. I've purchased two 1st gen in CA between 2012-2015. 2003 with 52K miles, and 2002 with 82K miles. Original CA cars with zero rust. Both were TRD 4x4 manual trans. They are out there. Auto trans a bit easier to find.

 

Some parts looks great, other parts (shackels and hangers) look very questionable. Its probably not a dealer spray as they would of done a better job covering the frame.

 

If it was undercoated by toyota, you should ask for a proof of it, because it looks like a spray can job

Anyway, the texture of the frame underneath the paint isn't too bad, except where the leaf springs attach to the frame (pic 7). And this area is usually the first place where these frames rot. Then, there definitely was rust, as you can see on the areas where there's no paint (top of frame on pic 6, side of bed mount on pic 7) then from the bolts sticking from the cab. Also, remember that these frames rot from the inside out. So if it was already rusty outside, maybe the inside is worst. So I'd perform a hammer test for these reasons

But anyway, if the frame wasn't prepped and treated with a rust killer before the paint was applied, all it did was trap it against the frame, allowing it to progress, unseen to the eye until it is too late. So you'll have to take the paint off and treat it then repaint it or grease it, if it wasn't treated (doesn't look like it was, unfortunately)

For a thirty hours drive, I think it is too risky. I'd pass :/

 

Low miles are nice, but don't let that stop you from looking at stuff with higher miles.

 

Its an 03 located in Vermont.

Yeah I've been looking pretty religiously. They're in demand and a lot of people are charging 17k+ which is just stupid because a 2nd gen can be had for that with the same setup. Not trying to start anything btw.

Seems to be the general consensus. Thank you sir.

I'm looking for low miles not because I am afraid of reliability, but because I know I am going to be putting a lot of miles on it. The other factor is that in many cases the prices arent too different when you find a low mile one. People are asking 13k for a 1st gen with 120/150k. Whats another few thousand if the motor only has 50k?

This whole used Toyota market can be quite ridiculous at times and although I am a die hard Toyota guy, there is a difference between knowing value, and knowing when you're being price gouged because of hype.

 

Op take a look
https://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/ctd/d/2004-toyota-tacoma-4x4/6260520923.html

 

Same milage is mine... 49K

 

Is there any reason that you're looking so hard for one?

My '03 Forester was totaled back in February by some idiot driving way too fast. My car was parked, street parking, and 1st in the row. He swerved to miss some lady and rear-ended my Suby, bending and cracking the frame. I was reimbursed for it through the other party's insurance and I knew I wanted a Tacoma. I looked and looked and looked...took me 3 months. Between the high Colorado premiums on Tacomas and my inability to travel very far (all I had was a bike and it was winter), it took forever. I almost gave up and started looking at 4runners, but it didn't seem right. Finally I found mine.

I dunno, it takes time. Don't give up. They're out there.

 

Why are you wasting your time even looking in the Northeast ??

It is no big deal if you have the skill set to deal with any frame Rust if your in a part of the country that sees winter it is only a matter of time .

Once the weather cools down my Frame is getting some attention

 

Dang, no V6 or locker. That is crazy you found a low mileage one though.

Yeah I plan to quit my job in a year and overland for a while. I need to build it.

I am just looking everywhere on autotrader and cargurus and it came up. I don't like northern cars for this reason but I can't be choosy with a car that's no longer made.