Opion On Frame Damage And Repairability

2019 tacoma trd off road Went into a drainage ditch. Looks like may be frame damage opinions? cost?

 

This is the only actual frame damage and its a easy fix too. Bend it back and weld it shut.

Front bumper stuff replace.

The ripples in the frame in picture 3 are not from a impact, those are from when the frame was made.

 

If being repaired at a body shop through insurance then frame should be replaced. Toyota specifies "Cold repair" only. No heating up, no welding.

 

I don’t see anything bad. New front bumper reinforcement, maybe some core support parts or repair and rail end repair.

 

should I be concerned about the rust?

 

Wire brush it, repaint it and spray it with fluid film or something like that.

 

Rust was probably there before you went in the ditch

 

Its a racing developed off roader! It should be good

 

My concern is this portion. how can they put this together without a weld. I've heard new frames are two months right now. I would rather total it.

Per Toyota

Since all Toyota and Lexus frames are made of High Strength Steel (HSS); Toyota does not approve of the use of open flame heating or any heating device to stress relieve HSS during the repair process. Heating HSS may alter the strength, durability, and quality of the steel.

“Cold straightening” (stress relieving) is the only repair method presently approved to repair perimeter frames. If the perimeter frame cannot be satisfactorily restored to original dimen- sions during this process, it should be replaced.

 

I smashed one side shut wheeling and then I welded end plates there. Painted it black and looks factory

 

Neat. I'm sure if it looks "Factory" then it's just as strong!

 

HSS is just whatever alloy they choose and heat treated AFTER fabrication and assembly. Welding before heat treatment, and any local change in temper it causes, is reset when heat treated.

 

When I put on my bumper I had to take out the crash bar end thingys which left the ends open. I smashed one shut like a toothpaste tube on a rock. After i put it back to original shape then i welded some end plates which make it stronger than stock and dont look dumb.

 

Make it stronger than stock or stronger than wide open after you removed the crash bars?

Don't even bother answering, whatever you want to think is fine because I don't care.

 

bruh

 

I hate to break it to you, but they are not going to total your truck for that.... and I really doubt they are going to authorize a new frame for that either.

 

only thing that i see is the mounting point for the aluminum bumper support bar...it might need to get on the frame rack to get it straight... everything else shouldn't be that bad of a fix...

 

Below is the answer but some of you are missing it. This section of the frame can NOT be repaired without welding, and the fame can NOT be welded as per Toyota.

This is a new frame scenario, depending on cost and insurance this could be a write off.

OP should not accept any scenario other than new frame.

 

Agree. 15+ years body shop experience. Worked at Toyota approved repair facilities.

The insurance company may fight it tooth and nail. It will be up to the shop and customer to prove why this needs to be replaced. Best case scenario is taking this to a Toyota approved repair facility. One that is on board with fighting for a new frame.

 

Yup.

Can that section of the frame be hammered back into position and welded? Sure.

Should it be? Absolutely not. No grey area here, frame can NOT be welded according to Toyota. OP may have to fight insurance company on this one but it’s crystal clear.

Don’t want to beat a dead horse but OP should accept nothing less than a new frame as the repair. Any scenario other than that is unacceptable.