Frame Repair

Hello, I'm new here, i have a 1999 Tacoma and the frame is pretty rusty. I wanted to ask if anyone has had good experience with saftcaps or other plates that are welded onto the frame to strengthen it. Any other Ideas and advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

that is a lot of rust. The frame repairs generally require cutting out the bad and welding in a new section. I would say it might be a very expensive and a weeklong project if your willing to put in the work and have the skills. Buy lots of beer and bring knowledgeable friends.

 

I've used safe t cap. Good products. Did my own. No one would weld it without bed and fuel tank removed

 

With the Saftcaps would i need the blue and green section, and do you cut out that part of the frame or just cut the rust and weld over the original frame?

 

Looks like the blue, green and red Cross member reinforcements as well.Extra cabs are the worst because you have to remove bed,cab and fuel tank. Some on here have had good results by removing the bed and cab mounting bolts on one side, loosening the other side and jacking up one side at a time without removing cab and bed completely off frame. They recommend cutting out the bottom and some side then welding tops and ends of caps. These are frame caps not frame replacement sections.Use Corroseal on inside and outside frame AFTER all welding is completed. Then paint outside. Then Fluid Film inside and outside frame.

 

Removing the bed dost scare me but removing the dose, what kind of work is involved in that, lots of wires and bolts to disconnect? I am pretty young and don't have to much experience in all this. but i can get someone that knows how to weld to help me with that.

Thanks for your help!

 

@Cpatt792 welcome to TW!

 

Before you pull the trigger on frame repairs take a ballpeen hammer and give every inch of frame hard hits with it. This will show you what you have left to weld TO. Truck in pix is not safe to drive and would fail safety inspection as is.

 

Ok, thanks for your help, it will probably be a couple weeks before i start the project but i will let you know how it goes.

Thank you

 

is the other side in good condition?

 

Words of wisdom, however, I need to ask, what is a safety inspection ? Huh ?

 

I live in one of the 18 US states requiring annual vehicle inspections.Keeps me on the lookout for the other 30 states license plates on jallops, hoopdies and babbit beaters crossing the double yellows with broken ball joints,bald tires,one headlight,no brake lights or rusted out frames.S.I.P.D.E.

 

I used the safety frame product and it worked goodon a 2001 double cab 4x4. IT took about two solid weeks of work on a ramp lift for one man. Was able to use roll around stool under rack but still a big job. Don't do this without a lift of some type. Some of position welds needed were difficult if you are not a good welder. You would need the 2 different sections from transmission crossmember to crossmember at front of tank and other section from there to crossmember at rear of fuel tank which includes spring perch. A good product

 

I used safe t caps also. Done mine about two years ago. Not a hard job if you remove the bed. Spend the extra for the ones that already have the front spring hangers welded on. Buy new front spring bushings and bolts. Your old ones won’t come out. Chisel our the sleeve inside of your old spring. You don’t need a lift, take the bed off. You’ll also need to drop the fuel tank (easy once the bed is off) I used a grinder for the whole job, cutting and a wire wheel to clean with. Then I coated everything with coraseal and sprayed raptor liner. It can easily be done in a weekend if you have the right tools and a shop to work in. It’s pretty straight forward and a solid repair. I tow vehicles with mine all the time now with no worries of my truck breaking in half

 

@Windfarmer that looks like a solid job! .... do you have any pics from back then with the driver side frame from the other side (inner part) around the fuel tank

is the fuel tank difficult to put back in properly? i have to drop mine as i continue the bad paint removal on my '97
was your '02 not checked for the frame warranty?

a weekend to do all that you say?
i have spent at least 10 hours this weekend to just fully clean about twice the area of that safe t cap but only the bottom and side i can reach while the bed is still on, i must be doing something wrong if i estimate this to take me about 4 months to do from rear bumper all the way to the front wheels

 

The fuel tank isn’t hard to put back on. Just two straps. Less gas, less weight. After I got mine off I just dumped the last couple gallons in a can so it would be easier to put back.

im not sure what happened with the frame warranty. I acquired the truck in 2015 and the po did not go through the proper steps to get it covered. I called Toyota, they said they wouldn’t help me.

I think a lot of people are overwhelmed by thinking about patching a frame. With the safe t cap, you can trace what you need to cut out. Buy a good grinder, a wire wheel, a few cutting discs. A sawzall is also helpful. Once you get that bed and tank off is just a matter of cutting out bad frame, cleaning good frame and welding. The wire wheel on the grinder takes all the work out of it.

 

Cut it out and reinforce it.
I bought my 02 TRD Tacoma from a person who just missed the frame warranty extension.
Had my buddy reinforce it and it's good to go!
Ive spent the past few months doing maintenance and covering the frame in fluid film!