Frame rust might have totaled my plans

I feel your pain. I just got back from my dealer hoping to get a fair trade in for my 170,000, adult owned and driven, 2008 Tacoma with a rotten frame. They offered me $500 for my truck, which is in very good condition. It was like they didn’t even want to be bothered with it. I babyied this thing for 15 years hoping to run it until it died. Never thought this would happen. It is nowhere as bad as yours and may be savalagble but I don’t want to stick someone with a lemon. I was told years ago to sell it before it became a problem. I should have listened. New Jersey winters killed my plans.

 

There is no sunk cost. I would bring it to another couple mechanics to check everything besides the frame out. If it’s all pretty good, I’d pay the 9k for a frame replacement. You will then probably have overpaid for your vehicle, but it could/should last for many, many years still.