JaSkynyrd's ongoing frame replacement thread

My truck is at the dealership right now for a frame inspection. I meet all the requirements for a frame replacement (inspected and undercoated in 2009) and I'm within the 15 year time frame from date of manufacture (Oct 2000). There is no doubt it will fail inspection (massive hole(s)-I gotta get a pic of it for you guys, it's insane), so I'm curious as to whether Toyota would rather spend ~$14-15,000 on replacing my frame on a truck that is nowhere near worth that, or just buy it from me at 1.5xKBB for what should be around $7500.

I'm happy either way, I would rather them buy it back, but if they just replace the frame that's ok too. It's a good truck and I would be excited to see how it drives with a new frame. The service manager said they'd either replace the frame or buy it back from me, but I don't think buyback is an option anymore. This is in Tennessee, he hasn't dealt with many frame replacements down here. Truck came from upstate New York.

It seems that all the frame replacement reports lately have been frame replacement, not buyback.

 

01-04s get new frames as far as I know, 2000 and older get bought back. I don't think I've seen an 01-04 get bought back yet but it could happen I suppose.

 

Thanks. I'll update the thread when I hear back from them.

 

New frame. Hopefully it won't take forever to arrive.

 

Well I'm in my corolla rental. I actually don't mind it to much because the ac works and it has Bluetooth, neither of which my truck has. Also I ride my bicycle to work so I rarely drive the tacoma anyway.

I get the feeling this service manager has never does a frame replacement as a part of this program, but he has been helpful so far. He said he is still talking to toyota corporate to see what he's supposed to do, but they do understand that they will be replacing my frame. I think it's so rusty they don't want to touch any of it.

I'll try and keep this updated.

 

Got a call from the dealership last night telling me that my frame has arrived. There are still a few more parts that they are waiting on that should arrive in the next couple weeks. I went in this morning to talk to the service manager and the tech that will be doing my frame swap because there are a few things that Toyota will not provide, and, there are parts I have already bought and will buy for him to install while he has everything apart. He seemed very knowledgeable and has done about 20 Tacoma frame swaps so he is experienced (I was worried that a southern dealer would not have the experience necessary). I think I'm going to be spending about another $1000 for parts-new bumpers, fuel line, new A/C system, new blinker housing, timing belt, and a couple other minor things, but should have a decent truck that will last a while after I get it back.

He put it up on a drive on lift and took me under and walked me through what the process is...he also said mine is the worst one he'd seen by far...I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story.

 

By the way, I've really enjoyed my corolla rental car. I wasn't excited about it when they put me in it, but it's a nice little car that is surprisingly fun to drive and feels/drives nicer than it would suggest. Bluetooth is neat, it automatically connects to my phone and starts playing my favorite pandora station, plus I can make/receive calls on it through the steering wheel! I'm a simple man with simple needs.

 

That frames a mess, or should I say was a mess. My 2001 was not that bad. You should see if you can get the tech to take pictures of the swap. That kind or record is pretty cool to have. I ended up spending a few hundred dollars on things I figured it would be easier to have them do while they had everything apart. Rear seal for one.

I was at the dealer last weekend getting the gaskets for changing my Dif/transfer/Dif oil (long overdue) and there were a few Tacomas there undergoing frame replacement therapy.

 

Do you guys know if you have to be the original owner to qualify for the replacement?

 

You do not have to be the original owner. However, you (or a previous owner) have to have had the frame inspected within 10 years of the first use date, which basically is 10 years from when the truck was purchased. If it is inspected you get an additional 5 years warranty, for 15 years from the date of first use.

You can look up on an online VIN database whether or not your frame has been inspected, and your trucks date of first use.

 

man oh man that frame is bad. I give props to the previous owner of my truck having a rustless frame in atlantic canada.

 

I got my truck back on Monday! They had it for 11 months, waiting on parts. I did have them replace basically everything on the front end, except the upper control arms. It's like a brand new truck. I was in 3 different rental cars, and while they were all nice, I hated having to worry about scratching them, so to be back in my old truck is a weight off my shoulders. Since i'll be driving this truck for the next 10 years, I drove it straight from the dealer to a shop and had the AC fixed, which had been broken for the past 3 years. Got addicted to the Bluetooth connectivity for streaming music in all the rental cars, so I've bought a new Bluetooth head unit to put in this weekend.

 

Also, the total rental plus repair bill was $20,000 plus.

 

11 months!?! That's insane. I just got mine back 2 weeks ago and it took under 2 months. Glad to hear it all worked out though

 

Fantastic. I remember getting my '01 back with a new frame. Drove like new, and was new as far as I was concerned. Sold it a year later and bought my '03. I was under the '03 today doing the air/fuel sensor ( the cel was on, and I need it out to pass state inspection) and while there, checked out the frame. No holes that I could see, but she goes to the dealer for her annual frame inspection/state inspection as soon as I can schedule it.

 

pretty sure you already got rid of the rental but did you clear out your info for the BT? not sure if its still the same as it used to be but it would store your contacts so when you got back in it wouldnt take long to reload. used to be able to get into the stock system and see the contacts even when the phone wasnt with the car.

ohh and im waiting on my frame now, hopefully it doesnt take as long as it did for yours. lol