I got bad news about my 02 SR5...need advice
- Thread starter Newbie-But-Learnin
- Start date
Newbie-But-Learnin
New member
Want mine? Really REALLY solid frame. :lie: I give you good price. :behindsofa:
I kid, but seriously I love the 3rd gen body style more than any other, and would definitely buy again. Just check it completely and be diligent in the upkeep and you should be fine.
Bijan
New member
Put it on craigslist. sell it and buy another one
GHARP57
New member
drive it to a metal fab shop in town and get a quote on welding plates on to fix it.
Most people forgot these are boxed frame and are quite durable, another 4runner i bought had a hole in the frame right near the rear lateral arm mount, we lifted it right on hole and it is strong as can be
Most people forgot these are boxed frame and are quite durable, another 4runner i bought had a hole in the frame right near the rear lateral arm mount, we lifted it right on hole and it is strong as can be
thegipper
New member
It never hurts to have some pro's look at it but unless there is solid metal to weld to, some plate's probably wont cut it.
If it was just that one section where it was really rotted and there was good metal near by, then you could definitely strengthen it with some plates. It's hard to tell from the picture but on face value, it doesn't look like there is "weldable" metal on that frame.
KidVermicious
New member
^ I agree. From looking at the pics, that looks rusted out all up the seam. To have a shop properly fix that would likely cost much more than the repaired truck would be worth.
MStudt
official vendor
Looks the same as any other rusted out 3rd Gen frame. Hell, it looks like mine used to before I fixed it. If you decide to fix please don't take the advise a couple people are giving with patching it. Cut the rusted sections out, and replace them.
This is not a difficult job, but most people end up not wanting to mess with it. If you have access to a welder you're halfway there. I've done some frame repair on mine, and plan on doing a lot more this summer.
This is not a difficult job, but most people end up not wanting to mess with it. If you have access to a welder you're halfway there. I've done some frame repair on mine, and plan on doing a lot more this summer.
Newbie-But-Learnin
New member
I'm gonna swing by the metal shop tomorrow and just see what they have to say about working with it, but it's a good 2-3 feet of rot from about the back axle on up. The gap between the bottom of the frame and the top is about an inch. My gut feeling is that there isn't much good material left to patch, so I doubt I go that route.
As for getting a new frame... I'm not sure I'm up to the task. I'm sure I could learn, but I have such little experience with cars. This truck was my first attempt at teaching myself (please read "spent hours reading on here and finally mustering the guts to try the easy things"). I suppose I could use it as a bigger learning experience, but it seems like quite the under taking for someone with as little experience as I have.
If I'm gonna sell it, I will sell it probably as a parts truck, but at the most with full disclosure of everything wrong with it. Anyone buying a T4R deserves to know what they're getting!
As for getting a new frame... I'm not sure I'm up to the task. I'm sure I could learn, but I have such little experience with cars. This truck was my first attempt at teaching myself (please read "spent hours reading on here and finally mustering the guts to try the easy things"). I suppose I could use it as a bigger learning experience, but it seems like quite the under taking for someone with as little experience as I have.
If I'm gonna sell it, I will sell it probably as a parts truck, but at the most with full disclosure of everything wrong with it. Anyone buying a T4R deserves to know what they're getting!
SnowLizard
New member
Ok, I know it's the harder route, but you could get another 4runner, and swap stuff over. Like you said it'll be a learning curve. A huge one. But I'm sure when your done you'll be able to tackle anything else maintenance wise and mod wise with much more confidence.
Or you could get a cheap 2wd 4runner and swap your 4wd over.... 2wds are cheap.
Or you could get a cheap 2wd 4runner and swap your 4wd over.... 2wds are cheap.
MStudt
official vendor
I'm willing to bet that the rust doesn't go up much more the 1-1/2" at the most. I bet if you stick your finger inside the frame rail from one of the factory access holes you won't feel rust above that hole. You'll have about $30 in material to fix the entire thing. If you have access to a welder it's a pretty easy job.
Newbie-But-Learnin
New member
HammerTime
New member
Man, this sucks! Such a sweet truck, too! My advice the whole- frame fixed with your mileage is probably only worth about 5k. Given your limited experience, financially you'll be better off to get whatever you can out of it (I think you should be able to get around 3k-3500). Buy a plane ticket to the south and buy another 3rd Gen with no rust. Your opportunity cost in the time involved to switch frames will be way more than the difference. Especially since you don't really have the time to mess with it. Somebody (like me) will buy it off you and try to patch it together for as long as many more miles as they can get, and then part it out.
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Sent from my SM-G900R4 using Tapatalk
these threads always, always confuse me. so for rust belt folks, does rust literally just eat any vehicle you own every few years? how do car dealerships sell new cars in the rust belt with that situation?
it's like going to the cell phone store and paying $600 for an iPhone they tell you will have a cracked screen in 2 years for sure.
it's like going to the cell phone store and paying $600 for an iPhone they tell you will have a cracked screen in 2 years for sure.
HammerTime
New member
You can prevent a lot of it by periodic washing especially during winter, coating the frame with rust reformer or POR15. This is one of the worst examples I've seen for its age. It can also be repaired if you catch it soon enough. Just a part of life around here.
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Sent from my SM-G900R4 using Tapatalk
Newbie-But-Learnin
New member
It really is a shame, both the lack of care and the distance from PA. I was actually debating driving my girlfriend to Philly in a few months for school, but that was also going to be pulling a trailer of her stuff and I'm not gonna add extra strain to that already weak frame.
I still haven't been to the metal shop to see what they can do for how much, but there is a chance I will inherit, or at least purchase for cheap, a 4th gen with just shy of 100k from a friend who recently passed (purchase from his brother).
Shitty way to come into another 4runner, but I'm sure he'd love to know it'll be cared for by someone wanting to learn more and more about this trucks.
I still haven't been to the metal shop to see what they can do for how much, but there is a chance I will inherit, or at least purchase for cheap, a 4th gen with just shy of 100k from a friend who recently passed (purchase from his brother).
Shitty way to come into another 4runner, but I'm sure he'd love to know it'll be cared for by someone wanting to learn more and more about this trucks.
