What's wrong?

4 months ago I let my friend borrow my truck. I did not know he was hauling 2500 to 3,000 lb 50 Mi several times a week. I just got it back and now it feels like the cab is going to separate from the bed and the wheels feel like they're going to fall off there's so much play in the steering and if the wheel hits a rut it just Yanks it. And never drove this bad before it drove like new there wasn't a scratch or dent on it I'm so sad. Anyway it also would not go any faster than 60 miles an hour going up to pass. And it never had a problem before. I can't afford to get it fixed at this time but I would like to know what it could possibly be. Thank you so much for your time.

 

I'd take it to a shop & have them look at it & tell you what's wrong & have your "friend" pay the bill. Your description of the symptoms is pretty vague & could be anything.

Was this weight in the bed or being pulled on a trailer?

Also, take this as a lesson to never loan out your vehicle.

 

Towing 3k often, although most likely within towing capacity, can wear down the drivetrain.

Quick side note, the cab and bed are actually separate pieces mounted to the same frame.

In order for the wonderful community here to try and help you, we will need pictures. Focus on the front suspension, wheel hubs (behind the wheels), steering rack, tie rods, ball joints, and possibly the lug nuts on the outside of the wheels.

If you are unsure of what these parts are, google and youtube are great resources. I wish you luck and I'm sorry your friend wasn't a good friend.

 

first rule...
Never let anyone borrow/drive your truck

 

The problem is...YOUR FRIEND IS NOT A FRIEND!

 

Thank you Mr. ToyoTaco for your response. To answer your question and be more specific... The weight was in the bed, but he added height with poles and put a rack above that. So the 400 lbs ladders extended over the cab. While 2 heavy pallet Jack's and other items where in the bed. He would drive these loads several times a week 50 to 60 miles.
I was just made aware of this due to the running condition.
The only thing I can compare it to is....My ex-husband added a tow ball to his Mac semi truck to haul a 8000lb load of scrap in a lift trailer. Every time he hit a bump it felt like the unit bent in half and I thought it would separate any minute. That's how my truck feels. It also feels like the wheels are not fastened all the way. Like they go in opposite directions when ever a bump is hit, and wobbly the whole time.
Again, thank you so much for your time and knowledge.

 

3k in the bed??!! Thats over triple what should have been in there. This person needs to pay to have your truck fixed or replaced. Now I'm fearing actual frame damage.

 

Mr Saltybum, I'm afraid you're right. It was only on lone for him to be able to get a round while his box truck was being repaired. Instead he used it like the heavy hauler his broken truck was. I'm a hour and a half drive from where he lives. So the few weeks max I thought it would take to repair his truck was almost 5 months. I am a fool.

 

And that's a fucked up front alignment. This person needs to pay for it NOW.

 

This guy obviously doesn't know anything about weight limits and capacities.

 

As @Metalhead514 said; That kind of weight is WELL over payload capacity & there is no telling what all could be damaged. Doing that 1 time is bad enough, but doing it several times a week for 4 months & travelling 50+ miles....yikes!

You're not a fool, just was trying to be nice. Again, just take it as a lesson learned to never loan out your truck. If I ever let someone "borrow" something, no matter what it is, I plan on it returning broken or simply not being returned at all.

 

Neither did I. But still I would never treat my own vehicle that way. Much less a friend of mine. But I sure learned ALOT from this experience. I loved my little truck. It was perfect.

 

Mr. Metalhead514, I really don't lend out my car or truck. But felt I could trust. Thank you for your response.

 

#1 one rule when loaning material things out to anyone: If they break it, they buy it.

But I don't ever loan anything out for free anyway.

 

Hi Gina - i'm sorry to hear that your friend abused your truck. As someone mentioned, that is far beyond the limit for a Tacoma to haul. Besides potential issues with the drivetrain - I'm certain you will need the suspension repaired or replaced. probably new springs and shocks will cure the rough and bouncy ride. Not sure what is preventing you from going 60... that sounds like a bigger problem. take it to a reputable shop and have your friend cover it. It will be an awkward situation to navigate with your friend, but if he is a semi-normal person, he should understand and step up

 

I do have his signature on an agreement that he returns it in the same condition he got it and assumes all liability for anything damaged while in his possession. Don't know how legal it is, but I won't pursue it in court. I'll just hope he does the right thing. I cannot afford to repair or replace. Thank you for your time and response.

 

Got it. Sorry again - hope you can get it all sorted out. If it is just suspension, it should not cost too much and hopefully he will pay up without too much convincing

 

If someone asks to borrow my truck, they borrow the truck AND ME for the day. I'm always willing to help out, but I don't even let family take it.

 

Mr Cgsk2k , Thank you for your time and response. I think he will step up. Or I hope so. I do value his friendship and would be very disappointed if I were that wrong.

 

I'd have a shop inspect it first. Then I'd start with the "nice" approach with the repair estimate. If he hem/haws over that, then start ramping up by reminding him that you have his signature. There are ways of implying legal threat without speaking a legal threat, and that will motivate most people to resolve the issue in a polite manner, ya know? As much as you fear getting an arbitrator involved, he will fear it more...

Then finally, if your friend is an extra special kind of mooch, that's when you have to make the decision to pursue it with action or write it off.


Best of luck...