Rusty Frame

*Checks on-hand stock of Fluid Film and changes oil in air-compressor* I know what I'm doing tomorrow!

 

@K-Dawg What color is the interior? I'd be interested in some replacement parts, seriously! You could part that out and easily make more than the $6k you put into it!

 

Wow, that's hard to miss. It's going to fall under buyer beware. You purchased a 2000 used truck, you must not have inspected it to good prior to purchase and now you want Toyota to compensate you? I don't want criticize you OP but you have some responsibility as the purchaser, maybe you can go after the seller for selling an unsafe vehicle. There are other trucks that have had frame issues like older Jeeps, you need to inspect them crawl under there or take it to your local garage put it up on the lift. sounds like you're going to spend money on lawyer fees, good luck OP.

 

I hate to bash a guy for a mistake, it may be obvious to the rest of us but he made a bad purchase.. whatever the reasons. Attorneys aren't going to help him at all and only cost him time and money. He reached out to this community for possible answers or solutions, how about we try and help him rather tell him, nicely or not, what an idiot he is.

 

Well it seems like he has 3 choices:
1. Replace the frame with a new one, looks too bad from pics to repair.
2. Part it out and hopefully he breaks even or might make a few bucks.
3. chalk it up as a learning experience and move on.

 

I would agree. He could also go with #4 although not recommended...sell it "as is" to the next buyer.

 

Going after Toyota is a dead end.

Options:

Part it out. Probably the best way to get most of your money back...

You could sue the guy who sold it to you but that's kind of a gamble?

Sell it to someone else who is willing to take on the project but you'd take a big loss.

Swap the frame yourself. Maybe you could steal a donor truck from Copart? Like a burned out rig that no one else would want...

 

Or you could do what that whistlindiesel idiot does and film yourself crashing it into stuff on Youtube. If you get enough views you might get your $6k back.

 

I thought replacements were only for 01-04s.

95-00s they bought back and crushed.

 

The Safe T Cap restoration is an option for you from https://www.autorust.com/safetcap-installer-network/


these guys are listed on their website as a technicians
Minnesota

Zeus Off Road
620 Southcross Dr West
Burnsville , MN 55306
952-855-7607
Joe Hance


Derby Four Wheel Drive, Inc.
3767 Shadowwood Drive NE
Sauk Rapids, MN 56379
(320)251-0012

i used safe T caps, POR-15 paint, and fluid film on my 2002 Tacoma recently for a frame restoration and it worked really well.

before


after





Frame Holes that needed safe-T-cap


safe-t-cap

 

Of which you just did an excellent job!

For anyone reading this thread. If you are not vehicle savvy (and most times even if you are) it's worth the $ for a pre-purchase inspection.

 

Lol! Really wasn't trying to call him an idiot! We've all been there before. I got lucky and bought mine sight unseen from a buddy and it was in pretty much perfect condition...no rust and the interior was very clean. But not everyone is that lucky. Had another buddy who bought one in the same condition as the OP....I think he sold it not long after,

 

Hope your attorney is working for free for you, 'cause if not you're tossing good money after bad.

That's all done and over, it's how the whole extended replacement circus linked earlier got implemented.

 

Just sucks that the vast majority of people would never even consider looking under a vehicle and the vast majority of sellers, knowing their vehicle is shit, would never mention it.

 

People are dicks!

 

This is the bummer. Sucks that OP probably found TW because of that frame and not beforehand. I don't fault casual buyers for not crawling under vehicles, I get it. Put yourself outside of an enthusiasts' shoes. It just sucks that assholes exist who know their frame is in that condition and still put it up for sale.

 

I'd almost guarantee the seller knew his frame was shit and never said anything.

 

I'd go past almost and say certainly.

 

$6k ticket to board the Titanic. Don’t let the band play in the bed or it’ll fold like an accordion. As others have said, don’t drive it. Part out might be best, as you’ll build some familiarity with the platform if you disassemble it yourself. Then, take your sweet time looking for the next one so as to not get shafted again. Best of luck

 

When someone posts rusty frame pics, being from the rust belt I am usually the one saying "it's not that bad, you can probably drive it for several years...". This is because 2 of the 3 1st gen Tacos in my family have had pretty severe frame rust and were driven quite a while that way.

But, I have to say, the pics you posted are enough for me to say don't drive it. That right rear area is done. And I suspect the front of your rear spring mounts, while not pictured, are likely ready to break. That's when the whole rear section will become unattached.

You're just gonna have to decide whether to replace the frame or part it out. Lawsuits will be fruitless unless your State has some recourse that most don't.

Frame replacement is likely not feasible ($$$ wise) unless you can do the work yourself. In parts, you are probably looking at $6000.