Is there a reason modern trucks don't come with fully sealed frames to prevent rust?

I agree with most of what you say here, but there is an engineering advantage to allowing frames to flex in certain spots in a controlled manner.

Without getting into the engineering too much, it can allow you to divert loading to stronger spots in the frame. This can affect ride quality, load capacity, etc. It’s not as simple as “boxed vs channel”. Didn’t sound like that’s what you were claiming but it’s good info either way.

Just about every building with a seismic moment frame operates on this principal, and structural engineers even take it a step further by forcing portions of the frame to plastically yield before others. We do this to keep the building standing to allow people to escape after a seismic event.

 

Id invite you to come up to New England and try to recreate that observation lol

Ive always wondered about sacrificial anodes on truck frames. Never really heard of anyone trying that before

 

If they can make and sell Land Rover fully galvanized frames then it's not going to be an issue with galvanizing A Tacoma frame. As far as tapped threaded bolt holes, you do the drilling and tapping after you dip it. And there isn't as many drilled and tapped nuts/holes on frames anymore, most have gone to some type of U nut that doesn't actually attach to the frame but is held in place by the U portion of the nut that fit into a hole in the frame.

 

Toyota dealerships used to try and sell an electronic anode system for vehicles, problem is, with cathodics, it doesn't work at all in the open air, now if it was under water or buried in the earth, you'd have no issue using an anode system or rectifier. Gas pipelines have been doing that for many decades. [been there, done that, both anodes/anode banks and rectifiers.] Above .9 DC you are good to go on protection, we looked for .95 or so. Below .9 we added another anode or two or looked for the ''short'' causing the drop.

 

The Ridgeline isn’t a truck. It’s a Honda Accord with all terrain tires and the trunk lid removed.

Trucks don’t come FWD with a transverse engine layout

 

Just because LR does it doesn’t mean it would “just work” on a Tacoma frame haha. I’d bet $1 that LR incorporated the galvanizing process and potential warping issues into their design considerations when developing the frame. You make a good point about the threadless bolts used nowadays.

To be clear, I’m not saying it can’t be done. There are other galvanizing processes that don’t involve heat. I thought pretty hard about HDG’ing a truck frame for an old mud wheeling rig, especially since dipping a frame is pretty damn cheap lol. It was the folks at the galvanizer who said it’d warp like silly lol

 

I’m not convinced that a Tacoma sandwiched C-channel rusts out any worse than a boxed frame. The historic record at least doesn’t support one is superior rust-wise. 1st gens partially boxed and arguably had more of a rust issue than 2nd gens. I really have not seen much of a 3rd gen rust issue at all yet they are pumping out campaigns for whatever reason. You’d have to ask yourself why they haven’t somehow figured that out yet. Or is it a cost analysis thing, or is it just straight up engineered frame lifespan.

I’ve always wondered if it’s more in the frame coating and prep process that they spec. People have always claimed the USA made frames are more prone to rust than the Japan platforms such as the 4Runner/120 or newer 150 frames. I think that’s a pile of crap. They all rust just the same. The Tacoma set a precedent and became the scapegoat so Toyota doesn’t have to address any of the others.

 

I would say zero chance since it's supposed to use the next Tundra frame rails.

 

Interesting thought, those anodes seem to work protecting corrosion in outboard engines.
As far as full size truck frames rusting, last one i saw was on a 99 chevy 4wd pickup that was driven to vermont every weekend. After 10 years one frame side was totally gone. Saw a 2001 dakota with a rusted hole through the frame after several years big enough to put your fist through. Neither of these trucks had any rust protection. Don't even get me started on those older hyundai's.

 

If you look at where they place the anode/s, they are underwater and they ONLY protect the portion of drive that actually remains underwater as you have to have a ''loop'' foe the conduction of the generated DC current. Above water.....useless.

An anode basically sacrifices itself to protect another metal, but you have to have the current loop.

 

I heve seen rusted out fullsize truck frames that look worse than my Tacoma, which the frame isn't that bad looking.

Surface rust does not look as bad on the frames that are larger.


Here's a rusty Ranger frame.

 

I wonder if that will be the case. Think about it, everyone is going to better mileage vehicles. Will toyota install a heavier frame on a mid size truck that will add weight to the truck? I have a hard time believing that. But we won't know till it happens.

 

Don’t want to poke anyone in the eye here, but the 3rd gen 2GR is used in the Camry and the Sienna. It’ll be interesting to see what Toyota uses for the 4g Tacoma.

At least the 3g Tacoma has a body on frame design. It’ll be a sad day if Toyota decides to take Honda’s route with their mid size pickups.

 

Im pretty sure it’s been confirmed by multiple sources. Tundra, Tacoma, Hilux, 4R and Land Cruiser are all going to the TNGA-F platform.

 

I guess that will save them a lot of money. Will be interesting to see what power plant comes with that, as there is no doubt the Taco will be heavier.

 

3cyl turbo and the same 6spd auto from the 3rd gen.

 

must be a hybrid then.

 

If you opt for a TRD.

 

will they provide a tube of KY with every Taco they sell?

 

Change the name to TED. Toyota Electrical Development.