03 Tundra. Rusty frame

Recently acquired a 03 Tundra. Got it for a good price. Everything is in tip top shape minus some spots in the frame. Specifically the driver side below the can door. I attached a pic.
I know the recalls in replacing these ended in 2012. Just wondering what might be an option here. I know they make rust kits to weld over but not sure if that would work in this situation. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Mack

 

I think you bought a parts truck. Might be able to find a frame somewhere.

 

Damn, what’s holding it together there?

www.autorust.com makes repair sections you can weld over it (provided you have good metal to weld it to there) or they’ll guide you to a garage that will use their parts to make a repair.

I’d check the history with the Toyota site to see if it was coated or not for the recall by entering your VIN. You may have to call around to see who’s still doing it. We’ve had a few members who got their frame replaced in the last couple of years.

 

The recall did not end in 2012, people within the last year have gotten a frame replaced if it qualified. That frame under yours is jacked. Not sure you can weld enough metal to it to save it. Come down south and find a dead tundra to pick the frame from.

 

Hopes, prayers and great karma

 

Thanks the Toyota site is just www.toyota.com/recall ?

When I enter the vin it doesn't show any available recall.

 

Is there a particular section I'd be looking at on www.autorust.com?
Thanks for all the help

 

Autorust.com probably can’t save that.

 

That should be the site. You might be able to find more info in the frame replacement thread here:
https://www.tundras.com/threads/early-1st-gen-2000-2003-tundra-frame-replacement-faq.54331/

 

These are the sections that you need (judging by the few pictures you've posted), and assuming you have Access Cab (you should add those details to your profile). However, you can't weld to rust, so I'd want to take an angle grinder to to surrounding metal to see if there's any solid steel to weld to. Check out the certified installers at the autorust.com site, and if there are any nearby then maybe let the experts weigh in. However, I'd be reluctant to drive that truck very far at all.

https://www.autorust.com/product/mid-frame-section-w-spring-mount-art-242x-s-set/

 

If you can’t find it on their website, you can give them a call tomorrow and maybe send them a pic to see what they say. Good luck.

 

This ^^

We've had guys on here get their frames replaced. I swear it's '00-'03. It's the '04+ guys who are fucked.

Read that thread in full.

 

Time to enter the truck into a tuff truck competition and become a youtube sensation

 

You're probably right, but in (1) watching dudes on youtube TRYING to break their rusty frame trucks and failing, and (2) living in a third-world country where lots of our rusty trucks end up and watching them continue to be abused for another decade-plus, I wonder if we aren't excessively hard on trucks with absolutely shite frames like OP's. Maybe? I mean it obviously looks unsafe af and while we hear about LBJ failures on pristine-framed trucks at least once a week, have we ever heard of a 1GT with a clapped-out frame actually just giving up the ghost on the freeway or turning into the bank parking lot like the LBJ trucks?

I mean, I'm not trying to justify anything here--obviously, don't buy rusty trucks unless you can DIY everything because no shop will work on that truck, but OP already bought one--just wondering if the conventional wisdom isn't a little overblown here.

 

It’s overblown for sure. Till the suspension bits fall off going down the road. Or the steering fails cause the rack separates from the frame. Or the brake lines spring a leak. If your rusty, you gotta know where your rusty and make sure the horrific nature of it is just scary looking, or shits about to start falling off.

 

Thanks I've been going through that thread. I guess all I can do at this point is call the dealer and see if they'll have any sympathy on replacing the frame...

If that fails, there is an AutoRust shop located just a few miles from my house. I'll call them up and see if they have any recommendations.

Appreciate all the info and the laughs guys.

 

Yeah, well you pays your money and you takes your chances. That truck might make it down the road OK without pieces dropping off along the way, but if it were rear ended (or otherwise crashed) it would fold up like a wet paper bag. Just sayin...

But given enough time and money anything is possible:

https://www.tundras.com/threads/hutcheson’s-frame-restoration.144548/

 

I created an account on Toyota.com/owners and looked up the service record. It just shows "rust inspection" nothing specifically about doing any treatments or repairs already to it. I dunno if that helps me or not but I read if they already did something they treat that as a completing the recall..

 

Where are you, and where was the truck originally bought? For some reason i think location was a requirement for the recall, like tx-ca tucks werent covered, but i dunno.

 

I'm in Michigan. Truck was originally bought in Illinois

 

Ok, just making sure you knew what you were getting into.

Make a tube chassis.

 

I called two dealerships and talk to the service departments. The first said the recall "expired" and i would be looking at 20k to replace frame. Second said they don't touch them that the insurance company would just consider it totalled. Sad day
Going to try this place that does the safe t caps near me and pray I have some luck with that.

 

This is a similar experience to others on here, but we have found a few dealerships that WILL do the work. Most, I assume, just don't want to touch it because they're not familiar with the work and they know it'll eat up a bay for multiple days, which is multiple jobs lost doing easier work. Not far from what everyone is seeing out of paint shops these days. They don't want private jobs, just insurance work that's an easy in-out, with little to no customer interaction.

My advice to you would be to let folks know whereabouts you are, and maybe someone can chime in with a place within 6-8 hours that they know will do the work.

 

Appreciate it.
I'm in Southeast Michigan. About 45 minutes north of Detroit near Pontiac

 

#1) Make sure insurance is comprehensive to cover theft.

#2) Put a "For Steal" sign in the window, leave it unlocked and key within easy reach inside.

#3) Take insurance proceeds and shop for a rust-free Tundra.

Dan

 

Sounds like your truck may qualify for a new frame to me. Although, you should check the “details” to make sure.

 

Thanks Jack,
Under details both just say "inspect frame" under details. Nothing about any service done.

 

Well, they definitely had it inspected. Whether or not it qualified and/or they chose to receive the spray is the killer. But whoever owned the truck in 2015 knows the answer to that.

 

Called Toyota corporate. They told me to take a hike and I am out of luck. Emailed the service manager at the dealership with a bit of a sob story to see if they'll have any pity. Who knows if he will respond.
Taking it in to a place that does the Safe T caps tomorrow to see what they recommend
Good times.

 

Thought I would chime in here, FWIW. I also live in SE Michigan, and bought an 06 with a bad frame for a good deal a while back. It was out of recall, and I replaced the frame (along with many other parts) myself, over about a years worth of time. It cost me about 5k, including the truck. If you are mechanically inclined and have the time/desire to save the truck, it is doable.