So I bought a 1st Gen Tacoma..

....and I'm wondering what do with it. Yeah, sounds odd right? The future of the frame is the concern since Toyota has had alot of problems with frames and I think the recall expired. The truck just came here (Ohio) from Texas and has seen just one year of local salt, which is why I bought it. It's very clean with just minor surface rust on the frame and no flaking at all, but that will change fast now that it's here. The wife is almost 3 months pregnant and I wanted/need a four door and having a truck around is nice. It's a double cab TRD. It's also 4wd for when I would drop the youngin' off at the in-laws in the country backroads and they drift alot. I also have alot of driveway to plow. I love the truck and it would do alot of things I need. So I've thought about selling it, coating the frame, or just not driving it in the winter. Sooooooo, watcha think? Any good way of coating the frame?

Frame-off and powdercoat?

Im no help on this one: I'm from Texas and if that truck stayed here it would still not be rusted in 30 more years. Unless it lived on the coastal plains.

In general i have a really good impression of those trucks, and i think their prices typically reflect that goodness. Congrats on the highly functional purchase.

Frame off, sandblast, galvanize, powdercoat.

Move?

Oilspray the crap out of it every year.

Worked for me when I lived in areas that had lots of salt on the roads (and in the air (Nova Scotia).

I used Krown. It's recommended by the Automotive Protection Association. Nice thing about it is that it makes all the fasteners on the car easier to remove, so my cars are all easy to work on.

Not sure if you have Krown in the US. Rustcheck is similar - I think that's down there.

Use rust check religiously and you'll be fine. Or another oil based spray.

http://www.fluid-film.com/shop/

I just got back from Toyota looking at the new Tacomas. They were all over my Tacoma and basically came right out and said they wanted it bad and would give top trade-in around $13,000 +. I paid $8,000 for it. I test drove a Camry SE that was marked down to $22000...meh. New Tacomas are too pricey. They mentioned buying it outright also. Decisions...decisions. The frame recall is over. Thanks for the input.

DIY repaint what you can reach + oil spray.

Was there anything good on their used lot in spitting distance of 13k? Unfortunately newer tacomas havent dropped that far yet.

In reply to Vigo:

They had a 2011 Dbl Cab Non-TRD 4x4 for $28,000 with 20,000 miles. That's $4,600 cheaper than the only one they had on the lot which was a TRD package. The prices just don't go down at all on these. These trucks are versatile and I like 'em alot, but I still itch for a 06-08 Tsx. If they would offer that much just to buy it, it would be hard to turn down that much profit. I knew the dealer would be interested in mine since you just don't see them for sale, but I was still shocked when they offered me top trade-in.

It's nice to luck into a deal isn't it?

If I were in your shoes I'd undercoat the damned thing asap. I've seen it done and basically it's just tar sprayed on the bottom of the car to dry and coat everything so it won't rust. A good shop with a high volume paint gun can do it. Make sure they avoid the exhaust bits as that will catch the coating on fire if it gets hot enough.

In reply to Xceler8x:

I know what you mean and they are not getting me into a Camry. Decent DD's, but no grins. How about Por-15? I've heard some of that stuff will chip and actually retain moisture causing more rust.

Does the Tacoma has boxed frame rails, like a Nissan Hardbody? If it does, I have been told that adding drain holes where it can hold water is a good idea. After adding drains and rinsing with water spray Blaster corrosion stop or equivalent into the frame helps.

In reply to pilotbraden:

It is a box frame. I'll look into that. Thanks.

I have a low-simmering ambition to get an X-Runner someday, but tacoma resale value is outrageous. Maybe that statement is a bit too obvious for what has become a de facto 'Tacoma Resale Value is Outrageous' thread.

Fletch1 wrote: In reply to Vigo: They had a 2011 Dbl Cab Non-TRD 4x4 for $28,000 with 20,000 miles. That's $4,600 cheaper than the only one they had on the lot which was a TRD package. The prices just don't go down at all on these. These trucks are versatile and I like 'em alot, but I still itch for a 06-08 Tsx. If they would offer that much just to buy it, it would be hard to turn down that much profit. I knew the dealer would be interested in mine since you just don't see them for sale, but I was still shocked when they offered me top trade-in.

That's almost more than I was quoted over memorial day weekend for a new Tacoma Dbl Cab 4x4 with the TRD sport package (none of the other TRD add-ons though).

They couldn't get the numbers where I wanted on the trade so I passed and will wait.

All quotes were around 10% off MSRP.