My 2002 Tacoma may be History!

Long story short….I got this truck approx 3 years ago off the original owner. It’s a 4 door …5 ft bed ….absolutely love it…only had 66,000 original miles on it. Just hit 100,000 few months ago! Now the bad part….took to get inspected and the frame is rusting away bad!!’ I have the original paperwork when it was recalled for the problem from dealership and all they did the undercoating and treatments crap back in 2010…obviously that didn’t work too well….my question now is what are my options??! I can’t afford to put money into getting plates welded …..the entire gas tank has to be removed to reach some of area. Do I throw a Hail Mary And see if dealership does anything for me….i sort of know it’s probably a waste but I just looking for options and suggestions

 

You'll either need to spend the money to plate it or scrap it when the frame gets bad enough or try to find a good frame and switch everything over.

 

20 year old truck and you bought it 3 years ago. It’s extremely unlikely the dealership or Toyota will do a thing.

If the rest of the truck is great I’d say spend the money to plate it or install a new frame.

 

Recall repair/replacement is long overdue for 1st Gens.

With only 100k miles and being a double cab, I'd absolutely get the cancer cut out and the frame reinforced.

Hell, I'd do it free if you were here (just supply plates, etc).

 

A shame really they are about an hour away .

If my legs still worked I would be glad to donate if the Op could weld the equipment needs some exercise.

12 years ago I would have enjoyed something like this I was to busy building gas turbine plants.

 

I’d say fix the frame if you want to keep the truck. I had mine done professionally and it cost $1200 with some elbow grease on my part to clean the rest of the frame up. If you say you can’t afford to plate the frame, then can you afford a new vehicle’s downpayment and potential monthly payment? I’ve ran this situation in my head multiple times. Needless to say, I have kept mine and I’m glad I did. Good luck with whatever you decide as I know it’s a tough spot to be in

 

where would best places to go and get estimates?

 

When can you start?

 

I went to a local off-road shop to do it. But any fab shop could probably hook you up

 

Ever have those moment you just want to jump off a cliff? I am on the edge now!! Going through divorce is bad enough and now this….

I am gonna prob look into trying to fix….but from sound of it it’s gonna be a pain in ass……see text from mechanic!

 

Any pictures? I’d damn sure plate that truck. The bed comes off easy. It’s not an easy job, but it’s definitely doable. Or sell it to someone who wants to fix it! You will have no problem getting some money out of it..

 

Can you weld OP ?

Maybe we can work something out. I need to do mine and it is far worse.

I feel for you going through a divorce

 

Like An3 said monthly payments on a another one will soon get old. Newer are not always better
Find a good frame, change it and enjoy it for many more years. Got spend some money one way or another. Just my thoughts.

 

What are your goals? Are you attached to THIS truck? Or are you attached to 1st gen trucks? Or are you attached to trucks? Or do you see vehicles are a means of transport?

How much time and money do you have to spend? For how long can you take the truck down for this job? Are you able to buy a $1000 beater sedan for daily driving while you get this truck fixed up over the course of the next few months?

Can you stop driving the truck and take off insurance till you spend time looking for a new frame?

Would the money you spend fixing this truck be better spend towards a new truck? Do you have the space to part out this truck or will you have to sell as a single unit?

 

Equipment is ready I hear plane tickets can be had cheap?? Maybe no longer ?

 

Am going to be getting it looked at in next couple weeks and get plates welded to it….and should be good for Atleast another 5 years hopefully

 

I literally just had this done same place same procedure dropping the gas tank is a pain with rust but there are ways I got the bad cut out he fabricated new piece and it hit me for 1800$ Now keep in mind mine had pretty much rusted in half right at that leaf spring mount and he also welded on a new rear upper shock mount for me. I looked at it like this what can I get for 1800$ thats gonna be better than my truck and mine has 190k

 

if you have a backup vehicle, remove/reinstall the bed yourself (fairly simple job, just cumbersome, don't hurt yourself). the tank, too. that's hours off the labor bill at the shop, and pulling the bed will make assessing/rustproofing the frame loads easier.

find a buddy that'll help you tow it to/from the shop. bribe them with bourbon.

in VT mechanics absolutely hate fixing rust, so I had to do this sort of thing just to get them to work on my rigs. I've had trucks sit in mechanics' yards for months because they just didn't wanna touch them. that text you posted reminded me of those situations, but I hope you have better luck.
I commend you for doing the right thing and keeping it on the road, bud.