So I started hearing this noise today when I go over bumps and when I got home I looked under the truck and saw the rear left shock mount for the frame ripped off. The shock is extended and rubbing on the underside of the bed. I’m not really sure what to do and this post is more of me venting rather than looking for answers I think. It’s a great truck of course, runs perfect, gets the gas mileage that it’s supposed to and looks great doin’ it. Just the frame is getting worse and worse.

My my plan is to unbolt that shock for now (or should I weld it to a plate and back on the frame?) and I’m thinking of getting a new truck. Not NEW, just new to me and then sell this one. Not sure how much I can get for it. What do you guys think? Truck has about 130k miles and other than the rust issue it’s a solid truck. Body is in great shape save for some certain parts that are rusted. Attached a picture of the truck too.

If I get another truck, I don’t think it would be smart to get another of the same kind. CT has as bad salt issues as any other states. Do the newer Toyota trucks have issues too? New for me means anything from 2005 up. Is the reliability comparable to these old 22re truck?

Thanks for listening

 

tacoma frame recall

buy a southern truck. when i lived in NY (6 years) people would go fly down and bring back rust free trucks/cars on a long weekend.

if the rust in like that in one spot it is like that in more place. Plating the frame you would need to pull the bed etc.
i would say it is now a parts truck

 

That's a clean looking truck. Such a shame the rust issue on the frame.


You COULD look at junkyards (local or southwards) for a donor frame in good condition, but I'm not familiar with frame swap costs and/or complications. However, here in the forums are some folks who have tackled it.

 

Truck from Arizona

 

How does that work with the recall? Can anyone search for a truck that meets the dealer’s vin requirements, buy the truck and get it swapped out? I did call the dealer about a year ago just to see if I might be eligible and of course I’m not .

Yeah, checking out the rest of the frame it’s not great. The outsides, tops and bottoms of the frame rails are solid but the inboard sides are cancer ridden. I was expecting more rust actually. I’m considering welding it up. My mom works at a landscape supply place and they sell steel edging for gardens. Comes in 10’ lengths of 3/16” x 4” wide flat bars for $40. I can weld and I’m just stupid enough to think it’s a good idea.

Southern truck though, that is the ticket.

 

I know! Such a shame. I think the PO drove in acid right up to the frame because the rest of the truck doesn’t match the frame’s condition.

I have ave been reading and watching videos of people swapping frames. That’s just a pipe dream for me. Don’t have the resources or money to pay someone. Just for fun I asked the dealer what it would cost...something around $15k. I laughed and then I cried.

 

Would it be weird to move my whole life to a different state just for truck preservation? I hope they know how good they have it there.

 

That’s what I did. I moved from Boston to Texas. I love the rust free cars. My truck went through 7 New England winters and it shows.

 

I'm betting if they tanked that frame you'd just get back a hand full of captive nuts and a couple pounds of misc steel bits.


Normally I would say get a rust converter and sealer on it ASAP and keep it clean. From the photo I would say you have maybe 1/3rd of a decent frame there.

That's a pretty typical failure spot, usually either the top or bottom of the dogleg will rot out once you lose the frame dust caps they rot from the inside out when not protected.

 

Been driving the truck with one rear shock and I can’t really notice a difference, haha. I wasn’t really able to assess the truck as well as I wanted to this weekend so I’ll drive it up on ramps and go at it with a hammer this coming weekend. Then, if it’s a go, remove the bed and have at it the following weekend.

Yeah, if this bed was dipped in the pickling acid it would just be consumed. If I were to do a frame swap I would get a good one from down south and have that one hot dip galvanized/powder coated. Not going to happen though.

My cousin bought a truck from Arizona and it’s been in Vermont for about 4 years and it’s already been demoted to just a farm truck. Poor thing.

 

I don’t see how people actually buy southern trucks. I mean, I’d love to but logistically I mean. I would have to find one just searching county by county in various states, then either trust the seller if it’s a good truck OR arrange for the seller to bring the car to a local dealer that I call before hand for inspection/assessment and hope the seller didn’t pass $500 to the mechanic to skip over the rotting frame or clutch slipping, and only then fly down and drive it back. Maybe if I knew someone down there it would make more sense.

 

I could mechanically rebuild the whole truck in my driveway, rust repair not so much. I would always buy a southern car, especially if I had a rusty donor vehicle

 

This is a strong indicator of the shock had failed before its mount broke.

 

The interwebz has made truck buying stupid simple. Research C-list, Offer up, classifieds on other forums, etc. Mebbe a member here can check out a vehicle for you via cell/text/emails (for a 6pk or a case of brew?). Plus doing a $ exchange at banks is easier nowadays.

ETA~ I hate rust too LoL-

 

Whatever you end up doing, Fluid Film is your friend!

 

Never thought of a member helping out. Hell, I’d get them a case and a few dances at their favorite gentlemen’s club ). I’ll definitely look into it a little more seriously. And it looks like shipping a truck from Cali to New York would cost between $600 - $1000, I probably wouldn’t spend the money on a plane ticket and fuel (for the truck and for me) or put the unnecessary miles on the truck. Thanks for the clear thinking.

 

Oh trust. I’ve been doing a lot of reading. If the frame is clean inside and out (I wouldn’t get a truck that isn’t) I would probably end up doing the Eastwood internal frame coating and then fluid film the outside and inside every fall.

 

Hey guys, so I checked the truck out yesterday much more thoroughly and sad to say that I’m not going to fix it . Too much rust and too much rot for me to deal with.

Looking at a second gen Tacoma. I’m going to post in that section on one I found to get opinions.

All that being said, what do you think I could get for this truck? The frame either needs to be replaced or heavily repaired. Of course I’d disclose all this to any potential buyers. Am I looking at a couple hundred bucks or a couple thousand? I sold my old ‘88 automatic 4WD with very rusty frame and blown head gasket (engine was half apart) for $820. I’m in southern CT if that matters.

Thanks for all the help on this one.