Rust - Replace the whole frame or fixable?

Just got my Tacoma back from an inspection.

They found the frame splitting on both sides, goes from the middle of the frame and goes backwards to the middle of the bed.
I have attached a photo of it.

Is there anything I can do to either:
1. Fix it without replacing the whole frame?
2. Slow down the breakage by removing as much rust as possible and coating it with anit rust and under coating?

or is it: Bad luck! You need to replace the whole thing!

 

Tons of threads on this. Search

 

I tried and I was not able to find anything
Could you please help me with the search term?

 

I am no welding expert... but that is not looking good. Too bad. Is it located front or rear frame or all of it? Maybe another member or custom off road shop that can see it in person can tell you if there is any metal to weld to and reinforce it for a while. I would not think it off road capable / safe in that condition. Hope you can find a useable solution that works without too much headache....

 

Here is one: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rust-repair-project-my-build-thread.768750/page-2#post-27448119

 

Layering metal like Toyota did is a prescription for rust. Being the way I see it in the pictures, I would check the passenger side frame near the catalytic converter, the catalytic converter side of the frame.

 

Will do, thank you

 

The TW Search function sucks. Google whatever it is your looking for and add Tacoma World at the end of the search. That should pull up a number of threads on the subject.

 

You say you got your truck back from “inspection”. What do you mean by that. Was it a dealer inspection, a private mechanic inspection, a buddy inspecting it, a state inspection or what? And what was their conclusion? Replace? Repair? Leave as is ? What?

 

You would need to find a shop that specializes in frame repair. That’s problem 1. Problem 2 is you can’t weld to rusty metal. So you need someone who can analyze the frame and make that determination.

 

Option 1 & 2 are always a possibility...

But with my life on the line, I know what my decision would be...^^^

 

Yup, no doubt about it. It would always be on my mind as to when?

 

I talked to 3 heavy duty mechanics. They say the frame is solid and I do not have to worry. Saying that it should last at least another 100,000km. One was mentioned that they use to run garbage trucks with the same kind of "damage" for years.

They all recommended to spray the stuff that makes rust into a hard substance, then spray ani rust and then give it a under coat

 

Thank goodness you talked to heavy duty mechanics. I was worried.

 

I thought corporate Toyota has a check list to determine if a frame needs replacement (?1cm hole). You could try the dealer…

 

They do, what is the time/year window for 2nd gen frame replacement by Toyota?

 

They do, although in OP's case it's sort of irrelevant since he's outside Toyota's frame replacement time window.

+1

 

It was a private mechanic inspection and looking back at it, clearly he has not a lot of experience with trucks, was very young as well.
His conclusion was that I should replace the frame, it would be a real danger to drive in 1.5 years.

The people who was heavy duty mechanic's said that no need to worry about it. Treat the rust and put on a coat to do what you can from getting the rust keep growing.