frame rust... buy or pass?

Hi all, i've long been searching for a taco.... wondering if you all think i should pass on this one?

Thanks very much for your help!!

 

If you can poke a hole in it I'd pass. If you do get it consider spending some time fixing, grinding, rust proofing. It looks structurally sound in the pic but could have some hidden issues.

 

By Toyota standards, 1, 10 mm rust hole condemns the frame. That truck is essentially worthless if the warranty is no longer valid. I see no sign of under coating, so I'm thinking it does not qualify for the warranty.

As for me, I'm a fabricator and know my way around these trucks quite well. If the price was right and the rest of the truck was mechanically sound, I'd grab it for a project.

 

That hole in picture #5 next to the frame crossmember looks like your biggest red flag, but these frames usually rot from the inside so the rest may not be in great shape either. It definitely needs work, so it depends if you are willing to/able to restore the frame/weld in new sections with frame plates, etc. But if you want to just buy it and be done, then you should pass on this one.

 

Nope! Keep searching

 

^^^^^^^^^^^this. Keep looking. Even a plane ticket to another state would be cheaper than fixing that. Good luck with the search

 

I would pass on that truck...

 

What year is the truck, and where is it located? And the asking Price?

 

Pass...run the other direction...

 

2000, Michigan, $3800

 

I would pass. Unless you want this happening at some point in time:



I would try and search for one from a state where it doesn't snow or they don't salt the roads. My truck has been in the Bay Area its whole life and even here it has some surface rust.

 

Well, it's out of warranty. 2000 was a buy back year, at least for the one I owned which was bought back by toyota due to frame rust. Cold weather state also. Undercoating was not required for 2000s because replacement frames were not available; hence the buy back.

I would pass unless you are sure the frame is solid. The price is also high for that much risk. More like 2-2.5, if that much. If you are into the work it could possibly need (now or down the road)..who knows. It's your money after all.

 

Thanks everyone for your insight. This is much appreciated! The search continues...

 

ya, based on those pictures that's not just a pass but a "run like hell" pass

unless he wants $500 for it you run away, that thing needs a whole new frame or rebuild at least 60% of the frame

 

the only way to tell if the frame is good is to hit it with a hammer, but if there is already holes in it, well, it is very likely it will fail the test.

As said before me, these frames rot from the inside out, so what you don't see is probably worse than what you can actually see. Frames can look good from the outside, when in fact they are so rotten inside that they are paper thin, so if there is already holes in it, pass, unless you want a project to work on

 

it is a parts car...

 

Based on the pics, passing is the right choice...

 

My 2004 just failed its inspection with rust through. Fortunately, it was inspected and treated by the dealer about 5 years ago, so I'll be getting a new frame. But that frame had been cleaned and painted every year since I bought it in 2005. Frame looked great from the outside, but as said, they rot from the inside out. I only saw a tiny spot of rust, but pushed with my thumb, and a good sized hole opened right up.

 

Hey guys new here. I went to see one today and it looked like that underneath but the frame was perfect. What I saw was almost everything else had some surface rust. Control arms, leaf springs ect. Banged around and found nothing with a hole. Is this normal?

 

I would pass on that and not look back...if the rust is that bad on the outside imagine how bad it is inside the frame. You could probably push in several rust holes through that frame with minimal effort.

It being a 2000 model it is no longer eligible for a new frame, even if it was warrantied. Pass.