What should I do with my frame? Advice needed.

I have a 2010 4x4 ACLB with 75,000 miles on it and the frame is in really good shape with some surface rust and no perforation that I can tell. I took the truck in for a frame inspection this past winter and they told me that it doesn’t qualify yet and to go back when I have a few months of warranty left.

My dilemma is this: Do I drive the truck in as much water and salt as I can for the next year try to qualify for a new frame, or should I just start woolwaxing it to keep it in it’s current condition? I’d a new frame so that I can keep the truck for another 10+ years, but i’m a bit worried that even if I try to let it rust over the next year it still won’t qualify for replacement and I will end up with a frame that is worse off than if I just started taking care of it now.

 

I wouldn't intentionally rust the frame. That's a huge gamble. Just start treating yours yearly and it'll last if its in good shape

 

For truck that is driven as little as yours that would be truly a dumb gamble to take. If you continue to drive at the current rate and take care of there is zero reason that truck doesn’t last another 20 years.

 

Why would you intentionally rust a good frame in order to try to qualify for a frame replacement? It's not like you can just rust only the frame and not rust the rest of the suspension parts or paint. Your truck value will increase preserving its current condition versus deliberately rusting it.

 

Sounds like you have a truck that you should take care of. If it’s in the shape you say, it isn’t going to rust enough before warranty runs out.

I think you’ll be just fine. The frame will probably last longer than you think.

 

I once knew a guy that bought some kind of rediculous full coverage tire warranty. Every 10000 miles, like clockwork, he would intentionally rub a curb at just the right angle to thrash two tires, but somehow his rims were magically spared from damage. Then boom, free tires.

What you are proposing is of the same moral equivalence as that guy. Don't be that guy.

 

Key word, that you can tell.

Find out the first date your truck was put into service and get it inspected close to that..do NOT go over, I've heard of people being denied that were 2 months or less than that out.

Inboxing you as well, I'm in a similar boat but mine is rotted

 

Thanks for the advice, I guess it is really dumb to not take care of the frame that I have since it’s in such good shape. Going to start coating it with fluid film to keep it the way it is.

 

Like ABA180 said, "that you can tell"

The frame on my 2009 was looking good I thought, until it wasn't. It happened really fast, almost felt like over night. It was rusting from the inside out near my front cab mount, I tapped on them with a jack handle one day and it went right through the frame. I got lucky and got my truck in for the frame Inspection in late October 2020 (my expiry date was May 2021 in Canada) and it qualified for the frame replacement. I'm still waiting for my frame to come in.

I was in the same situation you are in now, debating what to do. If mine wasn't going to qualify for the frame I was probably reluctantly going to sell it as i knew it would just be a matter of time until it started to rot out. I feel really bad for the guys who missed out on the frame replacement at the time of inspection to then have problems arise just shortly after.

With yours being a 2010 you should have some more time before it expires. Talk to someone at your dealer who knows what they are talking about in regard to this inspection process and get them to give you the date for yours, Id even ask for it in writing.

 

Plus, you really want your truck disassembled and put back together if you can avoid it?

 

I think OP has at least a few weeks for the 12 years, all determined by date of first service of vehicle on the road. BUT if it missed the initial inspection and spray treatment that's another story so that is the lynch pin ATM.

I was planning on getting under mine over the summer anyway but seeing the exhaust hanger falling down I had to look anyway, which was where one hole is (the smaller). The outside of the passenger rail is worse..one finger pushing caved it in.

 

Not ideal but it helps in some ways, I'm getting my shocks replaced in the process. That said I would rather pay for that and not have to be without the truck for a while of course.

 

What’s this 12 years thing?

 

At some point (different depending on year of truck) you need to get an initial inspection. Check your VIN to see what your timetable is.

If it fails, reframe. If it passes, they apply the Corrosion Resistant Coating. That qualifies you for a second inspection within 12 years from first date of vehicle being put into service.

If it passes the second inspection, you're on your own. If it fails, reframe. Mine failed the second one the other day

 

Clean and coat your frame 2x a year with Po 15/Fluid Film.

 

I was in the same boat you were when I got the notice in the mail from Toyota about the LSC in 2014, so instead of rolling the dice by letting my frames corrosion get worse and hoping that waiting till the last minute mine would fail, I decided to get it inspected right away, with the CRC applied and started also applying FF internally to the front boxed section where most perforation start. I feel I made the right decision knowing how well I took care of the frame up till 2014 and my 2006 frame seems to be holding up well with my annual FF coatings.

 

My truck doesn’t owe me anything Do the best you can and good luck!

 

Your 2010 looks brand new, nice truck!

 

I’m very lucky

 

yeah, that’s what i’m going to do. I think my frame is in good enough shape that if I start coating 2x a year it’ll probably last a while longer.