Hey all,

I just went to look at a 96 Tacoma today. 3.4, 5 speed, and in suprisingly good condition. It drove very smoothly, and the motor purred.

The one issue is it has a bit of rust in the rear frame. I haven't seen many other yota's frames to compare it against, and don't have much experience with repair of frames. How much is too much? I took some pictures, but also a video I've uploaded to youtube. The video shows the worst of it, and really the only location where it had any.

Would any of you fine gentleman/ladies take a look, and see what you think?

There weren't any holes actually through the frame, except for one very small one I think, and most of the frame was solid on the outside portion. There were just three or four places that I've highlighted in the video that concern me.

[YOUTUBE] [/YOUTUBE]


The third spot I touch in the video, where my finger pulls and pokes at a piece, it felt like a tooth that just got loose, so I figure that it will end up like the opposite side, with it broken off.


The rest of the truck is in good condition, and I tried to thoroughly check everything. This was my only hang-up. Do you think it's enough to make me avoid the truck? Is that repairable, or too much?


Edit: Forgot to mention price. He accepted my offer of 4000. I may ask him to go lower. What would you pay?
The craigslist ad that shows the truck is here.
http://eastky.craigslist.org/cto/4180672876.html

 

They all rust there, there is a recall where toyota either gave you a new frame or bought it back at 1.5x the value. Theres a reason where I live in NJ we dont have any tacomas of that generation left.

Id pass unless you can smack the frame with a hammer and it doesnt go thru. Even then I dont think Id buy it unless they are willing to lower the price.

 

Keep in mind I'm going to post this thread in a couple other forums on the net, as I'm hoping that I can get an answer before tomorrow.

 

I'd pass that's pretty rough.....

 

She's a goner.

 

hell no!

 

ad says frame in great shape. I suggest some glasses and a slap in the head for the seller.

 

Weird, so is he saying the frame is good because the lack of plates or it would be worse if it was plated?

I would pass......

 

Anything can be fixed it is the cost if it is worth it .

As you say you don`t have the skills to do the repair yourself I really think passing on this one would be a good idea.

Only due to the high repair costs when paying someone

I would consider it as a project vehicle for about 1/2 the asking price

i have seen people like this post ads before they really don`t want to sell so will hold out for their price. No doubt being pressured by someone else to sell.

 

Yeah, I'd just move one and find a different one. Let someone else keep it company the last couple of years of its life.

 

I wouldn't pay more than $1,000 for that oxidized heap. Seriously.

Even the backing plate is rusted through.

Walk away.



Andreas

 

The problem is the rust is at the leaf spring mounts - rather than say at the very end of the frame rail were it doesn't matter so much... I would be careful with stress points and rust, had a mazda pickup break in half on me once due to that.

 

Run like the wind!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Pass on it..........

 

+1
gtfoot

 

The only thing that scares me off is the price !!!

If the frame is that poor the rest has to be in just as bad shape.

I have seen and fixed worse.

Much better to pass if you don`t have the means to fix this yourself.

 

My hickup's frame is rusty but that thing is just damn , looks like one good smack with a hammer and it would lose 200lbs

 

I would pay no more than $3500 if it had ZERO rust - the thing has 200K miles and is a standard cab. With that rust I would pay no more than $1700. The problem is people like this guy will never accept that there truck is a piece of crap and take $1700, you can tell from his obnoxious ad how he is bragging that the frame has never been plated, wtf? It's not even worth haggling with him, just find yourself another truck like this...

http://eastky.craigslist.org/cto/4178284632.html

See, check out that frame rail - looks clean: