Please assess rust on 03 extra cab frame

I'm looking at this truck at a dealer and would appreciate your experienced comments. I have a lot of other pictures if that would help. Thanks

 

It looks like it was treated, best take a hammer to it. Yeah I know, dealership, but fuck it dude. Its your money thats going into this truck, not the dealer's.

 

The truck looks like it has been coated with something (even the tail pipe is black) but still shows a bit of rust sticking out of it. However what you need to look is frame, not diff or fuel tank skid. Especially the part at the front mounting of leaf spring. The frame curves in such way that collects salty water/mud inside and it does no have a drain holes in the lowest part here to let it out. That salty mud eats the frame for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

 

Here's a couple more pics. I have not been to this dealer yet, but this independent dealer sent these at my request

 

Check next to the converters and upfront in the engine bay.

 

Somebody went to town with some undercoating spray. Just look for flaking on the frame and where the frame meets the body. If it was treated (undercoated) right it should be fine.

 

Dealer claims that Toyota dealer undercoated it as part of frame check earlier. It definitely looks coated.

 

A couple of more.

 

The real question is just where did the truck live ??

It does look pretty good

Although if you have winter chemicals where you live it will need constant attention

 

will they give you the paper stating this? or have you checked the VIN to make sure? Remember the '03 warranty runs out in 2018 (depending on month).

 

Thanks for the comments. Where this truck lived is my concern, which was outside, but close to Baltimore as a one owner, has 66K miles on it now. I'm pondering whether it's worth a 6 hour one way drive to see it, hence you all's experience is helpful. Is there a link to where I can check the VIN for history of frame inspection/dealer undercoating as part of that?

 

Try toyotaowners.com
Good luck...

 

Looks pretty darn clean!! Hell, that's a factory gas tank skid plate. Mine rusted and fell off 3 or 4 years ago!! Pull the records to see if Toyota treated the frame. If so, it is definitely worth a further look.

 

What rust?

Look at my '03 pictures if you want to see rust. (or any number of the frame rust threads out there)

Check the Toyota service records at the dealer or at Toyotaowners.com to verify the dealer did the undercoating as part of the frame extended warranty requirements. MD was included in the cold weather states and the undercoating was required to extend the warranty for 15 years from the original "in service" date. The warranty is almost up on this one, so check it over thoroughly. Honestly, she looks very good on the outside though.

 

Thats looks good to me based on the photos/miles/dealership undercoating. My Tacoma came from Long Island, had 29K and had the dealer coating. Looks pretty similar to mine. Hammer test and put it on a lift before closing the deal.

 

You must have got the only good tacoma on Long Island. I bought two there ('97 TRD and '00) and they both rotted out and were bought back by Toyota (both low milage trucks).

 

Yeah I got lucky. The previous owner was a mechanic and took really good care of it. He only took it out in the summer and towed his little aluminum fishing boat. Thus it avoided the harsh NY winters. It had 29k when I bought it and its pretty mint as can be for a truck that old.

 

The Toyota owners site was very helpful. This truck had the dealer applied undercoating on 12/18/09, part # 0028900. It also had the lower front ball joint assembly replaced in 1/06. It has been in MD, near Baltimore its whole life. Its in-service date was 9/03, so the frame warranty extends until 9/18, correct? I have other frame pics not posted, if there is another area of concern I should know about. Thank you all for your assistance.

 

The best way of guessing the state of the truck is looking into pictures, what is in the background, not what picture was supposed to show, especially places not covered by the recent coating. The state of rusted bolts, inside of drain holes in the frame and such. Actually I don't see any obvious red flags. It is possible that the coating was used not to hide but to protect (if you look under my truck it would look the same fresh coated). The only thing I was thinking of is what kind of shithole dealer it is - looking for the"residential" environment the photo were taken at .

Anyway if price is right and the truck you are looking for is this one, it may be a worth the 6 hours trip or get someone inspect it in person.

 

Warranted until 9/2018. That undercoating is in remarkably good condition compared to most I've seen. Typically flakes off after a few years, like mine has. If you buy, or have already bought the vehicle, take measures into your own hands and protect the frame with a coating, inside and out. There are a number of brands discussed here.

Usually on a rusty frame you easily see flaking rust on the outside of the frame, on the rear leaf hangers/shock hangers. If I touch mine, I can chip off dime sized rust flakes from those areas without any effort. I don't see any evidence of that, or any other frame rust, in your photos. They look in new condition. A physical inspection is still recommended, plus a check by a knowledgeable Toyota dealer now and near the end of the warranty period.