Need some advice, buying a rusted frame

Hello,

Looking for some advice here. Is this frame salvageable?

90,000 miles, truck is in great condition otherwise, no accidents reported, great service history.

What would a fair discount be off the overall price of the truck based on the frame condition?

Should I pass on this and keep looking?

 

I think many of us on here have seen worse frames than this one. Yes, there's a lot of rust here but it's difficult to tell if it's structural or just surface rust. Are you able to physically go and see the vehicle? If so, then the usual advice is to take a ball peen hammer, get under the vehicle and test the integrity of the frame. If it's in bad shape then the hammer will frequently go through the rust into the frame interior. There are particular spots towards the rear of the vehicle where water and salt can accumulate and are prone to failing first

How much is the seller asking for this vehicle?

 

Speaking from personal experience. The area of major concern on a rusty frame is the spot you CAN'T see.. in particular the passenger side shock mount is an area where water collects inside the frame and rots.

If you think of it in terms of dollars and cents a first gen is generally hovering around the same price as a low model 3rd gen... If it were me I would put that money towards something that wasn't a questionable gamble...

I've seen and had worse, but I would pass. I would spend good money on a first gen that was in really nice shape, but at this point anything that hasn't been covered under the frame recall is just a crap shoot.

 

@tacobellingham $12,900

 

Wow. Makes me regret selling my 2003 TRD OffRoad in PEAK used market price in fall of 2020 for only $15k. It was in way better condition that this one.

At that price I would walk away - both for the condition of the rust AND personally, I would hold out for a cleaner truck.

 

@JasonLee cheers for that. Ah I’ve been looking a few months now for the right, just hasn’t popped up. Gonna keep on the search, appreciate the advice, just a lil sick of looking for a first gen haha

 

What state is it in and what state will it live in?

It looks surface, but pretty far along. If you're serious about it and can look at it, get an inspection camera (borescope) and put in frame. The inside could be fine. If so, the outside can be cleaned up and coated.

I remember looking for one in 2015 and totally get you being tired of looking. It seemed every truck I found on autotrader or cars .com was under contract. I finally overpaid for a good one because I wanted my life back. Still have the truck and it has been good.

GL~

 

@Pbfender15
It's in Texas and I live in NY, not a matter of going to just view the truck. I'd want to be fairly certain of buying it if I made the trip.

Glad to hear you still have the truck and it worked out in the end, appreciate you sharing that. I think I will keep looking for now, but I will also mention what you said about the borescope to the car garage. The seller was straight up and up front with me which was refreshing.

 

That’s a lot more rust than I’d expect from a Texas truck at that price…
Looks like somethin we’d see in the northeast

 

@RustyNut1996 ya think it spent most of it's years in Virginia, still a lot given that

 

Looks like it's cracking at that rear spring hanger.
What did someone do, swap in a rusty frame?
I'd pass. Just not worth the upcoming headaches.

 

For 12,000 I would say pass if you could get it for seven or 8000 it looks like it’s mostly surface rest and not so scaly but you’d really wanna look it over close

 

Look for an Arizona taco for less rust

 

what part of Texas?

 

Don't be fooled, Virginia is in the rust belt.

 

i would think Texas is as well in areas along the gulf coast
salty beaches...

 

Seems like a salty air (coastal) type surface rust. Not the salt-ladden-slush-slop embedded into every nook and cranny type of rust...

I'm in NY/VT also; got my non-winter '03 in Seattle... Bought my '00 winter truck rust-free in Virginia in 2011. Perforation rust on it now.

 

2WD or 4WD? (looks like 2 to me.)

I say it's good but needs the hammer test for sure and needs to be de-rusted and woolwaxed yesterday. 12.5 is a decent range for 4WD but use the rust to get the price down. Way too much for a 2WD, maybe 8. 90K is tempting though.

 

I would past, even if seller drops price to half, I would not buy it, too much rust. Better off keep looking.

 

Yeah if you're going to travel for a Tacoma make it worth your time. This one is a definite pass.