First generation frame issues

Toyota won't cover it, the warranty only extends 15 years past the in-service date so his 2001 is 3 years too late.

 

South Carolina is in the running ...
Gobs of them around here.
Here is my 95 underside:

 

i bet my trucks had more fun plowing through a foot of city snow and sloppy slushy ice sux hosing it down in sub freezing temps brrrrrrrrr

why is your bed not underlined? is that not a common practice in SC to prevent rock chips? i mean you must have gravel roads?

 

I lived in Missouri i’m asking question what can I do to fix it or what’s my options

 

Mine isn’t. I only bought it in Feb, but it’s been in the area for 20 years.
The 3 others I’ve looked under to see what I was missing weren’t undercoated either & all three looked to have good frames too.

Edit- I was looking at the spares. My truck had no spare or tools, so I looked to see that was supposed to be there.
I think I am also missing a brace on the passenger side of the bed.

 

I really hope someone releases an aftermarket rust proof frame one of these days. It would be worth it.

 

The demand for a frame for first generation Tacoma`s is not enough to have any one build them or it would be happening now.

building a short run of maybe 50 the cost to the end user would likely be $6000.00 plus While I admit a few diehards would spend the money .

It is doubtful if the current frame supplier will even produce any once all the 2004 warranties are finished this came from my Local Toyota Service Manager.

 

Very good points, but I see the demand rising only up from now forward.

I know I'm never selling either of mine

 

That frame is toast. I would stop driving that truck immediately as you pose a safety hazard to yourself and other motorists.

Toyota will not cover this. You are three years too late for the 15 year service campaign.

Your options are buy a rust free frame and do a frame swap, or have it patched by a welder with repair pieces from someone like www.autorust.com

 

Ok OP the options you have get a good used frame from the Southwest factor in the shipping cost.

Lots of time in labor if you have to pay.

Without seeing more it might be possible to repair what you have

If you can`t fabricate this will be expensive .

Custom build a new frame yourself or have one built

The last options are sell the truck as is or take the time to part it out

 

He doesn’t need to fabricate, companies make parts for this exact purpose. www.autorust.com

If he can weld or can pay for a welder to weld frame patches on that’s a good option. Otherwise I’d buy a replacement frame from a salt free state.

This is the frame of my 1998 5-Lug SR5 with 450,000 miles. It has never left California. I wiped the dust off and it was so shiny, I could see my reflection in it.

 

My Tacoma was in far worse shape till I hit a unexpected new hole in the street now it needs some love

 

You and I use the word fabrication in a different way.

How many of the Auto Rust parts have you installed??

 

The definition of “Fabrication” is creating or inventing something, if you’re welding a premade custom fit patch to a truck it’s not fabrication.

I haven’t installed any. I am just making a suggestion.

 

another frame that has probably never had the joys and thrills of plowing through deep city snow and sloppy slushy ice ... it doesn't know what its been missing out on

 

There sure isnt a lot of good metal there to weld much to. Gotta wonder if the rest of his frame looks like that.

 

Hey man, I have a '99 Xtra Cab and I went through the same process. I posted a thread on here about my journey through it. I had my frame patched with this stuff called Saf-T-Cap. Try Autorust.com. Saf-T-Cap sells individual sections of your frame and they do a ton of Jeep and Toyota work.

Check out my post in the 1st generation forum. It's titled "My frame repair process - rust perforation options for 1st Gen" Link is https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-rust-perforation-options-for-1st-gen.522446/

Best of luck and do whatever you can to salvage the truck, keep it on the road

 

and body panels, too
or is it just isolated to the frame?

 

The thing is while the patch panels might fit perfect on your application what about all the other parts .

Like where the crossmembers are also rotted out the ones holding the gas tank

I will admit I have not had people bring these parts in a few years so I had to snoop on there web site I see the prices increased quite a lot must be the demand !! Nor are any of the cross members being made

Then you have all the other issues with broken bolts .

It is not just welding a few patches on the frame and calling it good.

Every job can be quite different the only way is having it up close and in person

This is why most places don`t touch these jobs or if they do your looking at $2500.00 plus to start

Do you do all the prep work see just what you need then order parts wait for the turn around

 

even if it's galvanized, winter salt and chemicals will make it rust just as bad. Will take longer but it will rust through, eventually.

To protect your vehicle up here, you have two options:
1. Don't drive it during winter
2. Have it rusproofed thoroughly every year