Strengthening 1st generation Tacoma frame

[zoblo]

I recently bought a stock 2003 Tacoma Extra Cab with factory E-locker to replace my 1992 stock Toyota pickup. I have a phoenix popup camper that I will move from my old truck to the Tacoma. The camper loaded weighs around 1000 lbs. and nothing hangs over the back of the truck bed.

I've read in some forums that the frame can bend on the 1st generation tacomas and there may be a need to strengthen the frame such as welding plates on the outside of the frame over the rear axle or boxing that part of the frame in.

I wanted to know if anyone has had a frame problem with a small camper on the back of their 1st generation Tacomas and if this a real issue. I don't do any jumping or rock crawling, obviously but I do like to go off road like going over Elephant Hill or Lockhart basin in Moab.

Fortunately, the frame has no rust issues as has always been in Colorado.

Interestingly, I noticed that the GVW on the 2003 Tacoma is 250 lbs less than the 1992 toyota with the same payload capacity. Looks like toyota saved some weight by lightening the frame that's for sure. I've never had any problems with my 92 toyota. It's been a great truck. Seems bullet proof. The reason I bought the 2003 Tacoma was to get a little more power and a rear locker. And the bed size is the same for fitting my camper, unlike the 2nd generations which are bigger and deeper.

Anyway any experiences or advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[bkg]

imho, Toyota truck frames have sucked since 95.5. I would recommend making your own boxing plates and FULLY boxing the open areas of the frame... Or do nothing. The TG plates are nice, but they miss the worst part of the frame, IMHO, leaving a weak spot.

 

[pray4surf]

I put some plates, welded onto my 98 taco. Even empty bed you can feel the difference. I have no experience boxing the frame, loads more work involved. Personally, I've never seen anyone bend their frames. Plating the rear probably benefited me when the truck was rear ended. FWIW I obtained mine from CBI Fab and we had zero problems with the install.

 

[toylandcruiser]

imho, Toyota truck frames have sucked since 95.5. I would recommend making your own boxing plates and FULLY boxing the open areas of the frame... Or do nothing. The TG plates are nice, but they miss the worst part of the frame, IMHO, leaving a weak spot.

Why? Because they're not boxed?


"I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for a few public officials."
— George Mason, in Debates in Virginia Convention on Ratification of the Constitution, Elliot, Vol. 3, June 16, 1788

 

[Clutch]

Why? Because they're not boxed?

It is the ol' boxed vs. c-channel debate.

For an example, F350 frames aren't boxed...

Other than the rust issue, the Tacoma's weak frame is more about internet lore than anything (imo) , nearly 300K miles on mine...no issues.

 

[toylandcruiser]

It is the ol' boxed vs. c-channel debate.

For an example, F350 frames aren't boxed...

Other than the rust issue, the Tacoma's weak frame is more about internet lore than anything (imo) , nearly 300K miles on mine...no issues.

I agree 100%. Nothing wrong with a c channel frame


"I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for a few public officials."
— George Mason, in Debates in Virginia Convention on Ratification of the Constitution, Elliot, Vol. 3, June 16, 1788

 

[bkg]

Why? Because they're not boxed?


"I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for a few public officials."
— George Mason, in Debates in Virginia Convention on Ratification of the Constitution, Elliot, Vol. 3, June 16, 1788

How many reasons would you like?

Before you answer that... Remember three things. 1 - the amount of xcab trucks with dented cabs. 2 - frame recall. 3 - formerly boxed, and competing against boxed.

I just spent hours under my 10, and I have TG boxing plates on my 04. The frames suck...

 

[bkg]

I put some plates, welded onto my 98 taco. Even empty bed you can feel the difference. I have no experience boxing the frame, loads more work involved. Personally, I've never seen anyone bend their frames. Plating the rear probably benefited me when the truck was rear ended. FWIW I obtained mine from CBI Fab and we had zero problems with the install.

The point that you can FEEL the difference will be overlooked by many, but IMHO is critical. My 10 is much stiffer after adding AP HD sliders. It's very noticeable. That tells me how flexy the stock frame is.

 

[toylandcruiser]

How many reasons would you like?

Before you answer that... Remember three things. 1 - the amount of xcab trucks with dented cabs. 2 - frame recall. 3 - formerly boxed, and competing against boxed.

I just spent hours under my 10, and I have TG boxing plates on my 04. The frames suck...

Toyota shouldn't have had the frames made in America. Should have kept them in japan. I've never seen an xtra cab with a bent cab. Soooo I don't know.


"I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for a few public officials."
— George Mason, in Debates in Virginia Convention on Ratification of the Constitution, Elliot, Vol. 3, June 16, 1788

 

[bkg]

Toyota shouldn't have had the frames made in America. Should have kept them in japan. I've never seen an xtra cab with a bent cab. Soooo I don't know.


"I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for a few public officials."
— George Mason, in Debates in Virginia Convention on Ratification of the Constitution, Elliot, Vol. 3, June 16, 1788

Agree on the US designed frame. Dana didn't do Toyota any favors. Dented cabs is very common. My sub 40k mile 04 has two dents in the cab where the box hit and dented... I've seen many non-wheeled trucks with dents.

 

[toylandcruiser]

Agree on the US designed frame. Dana didn't do Toyota any favors. Dented cabs is very common. My sub 40k mile 04 has two dents in the cab where the box hit and dented... I've seen many non-wheeled trucks with dents.

Crazy I haven't seen any with a dented cab. I was really checking them out but wife didn't want a truck so settled on a Subaru. What a mistake that was.


"I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for a few public officials."
— George Mason, in Debates in Virginia Convention on Ratification of the Constitution, Elliot, Vol. 3, June 16, 1788

 

[2scars]

dented cabs?

What happened that dented the cab? And where?

Brandon

 

[01tundra]

What happened that dented the cab? And where?

Brandon

I haven't seen it in person, but I would guess between the cab and bed near the top of the bed, if I were to take a guess.

I added CBI weld-on frame plates to the back, added a small cross member for the Budbuilt skid, sliders and plated the front of the frame rails for my hidden winch install. The only thing that I intentionally added for frame strength were the rear plates.

 

[pray4surf]

I haven't seen it in person, but I would guess between the cab and bed near the top of the bed, if I were to take a guess.

Bingo! - moreso on those that race/jump their trucks - Which the frame was not designed to do..

 

[DaveInDenver]

Weren't the 1992-1995 Pickup frames made here, too? I don't know if Dana made them or Toyota made them at NUMMI, but I'm fairly certain the whole truck was made here.

Adding the outside plates is fine. Not as good as fully boxing the frame but OTOH the frame was never designed to be fully boxed and the bigger issue IMHO is that some of them got insufficient rust proofing, which when you box in the frame you are asking for rust to start inside. Since it's tough to coat inside after boxing I might consider having the whole frame dipped and galvanized.