Northwest Rust on Tacomas?

Hello all.

I'm a new member here and have been agonizingly researching Tacoma frame rust issues trying to decide what I want to do.

I'm a retired aircraft mechanic and live in Olympia, Wa.

I've been lusting after first gen Tacomas for a long time because I just love the looks of them and their somewhat still compact size.

However, being the kind of guy that hates getting burned on bad purchases and researching things to death, I'm very concerned about the frame rust/rot issues.

I know everyone says that they hardly salt roads here in the Northwest, but anyone who has gone through the mountain passes would know different...they salt the hell out of the passes!

I'm the original owner of an 01 Chevy Duramax that lived its beginning years in the Southwest while I was still in the Air Force.

It never had a lick of rust on the underside UNTIL moving back up to the Northwest after military retirement.

My wife and I like to snowmobile, so we frequent the mountain passes quite often. Now, my Duramax has extensive rust on the differential covers, frame tabs, etc...this despite water washing/rinsing. So it cant be said that "it doesn't happen here in the Northwest".

So...now to my original point or question (finally).

Northwest Taco owners, regardless of which generation Taco you own, how have your frames been holding up here in our climate? Do any of you frequent our mountain passes, thus exposing your trucks to road salt? I would imagine living near the coast or driving on the beach would do it as well for that matter?

I thought I would be safe buying an 11 thru 15 Tacoma as well, but I just read a thread stating that they are ramping up a frame campaign on that era as well now!

I guess I'm just looking for some real world feedback or re-assurance that it's a Midwest Rust Belt issue primarily?

 

Incidentally, I purchased this "Pre-Tacoma" 1992 Toyota 4x4 with 22RE 5 Speed with 198,000 miles the other day. Its been meticulously maintained and is in mint condition...but it just doesn't have the power of a V-6. You really have to wind it up pretty good to get up any kind of grades with it. Thus my Tacoma lust is still there...sigh.

 

Welcome Vincent.
Here in the northeast lotta guys use Fluid Film for rust preventative.
Check into the regional threads here on the forum.

 

Welcome to TW. You don't hear about many rust issues with trucks that have spent their lives in the PNW, and Toyota's frame rust campaign doesn't apply to any states around here (at least the one for 1st gens doesn't). My truck has been in Washington for 17 years, including a lot of time in the mountains, and has only superficial (completely normal) surface rust spots on the frame. I am not worried about it at all. After this last round of snow when they de-iced the roads quite a bit, I'll probably do a thorough undercarriage wash, but that's about it.

I think the issue with rust-belt trucks is that it's prolonged exposure, every day in the winter, and the salt gets in the nooks and crannies of the frame and never gets washed out. With the amount of rain we get I think the frames stay pretty clean without having to do much.

Good luck with your search.