Frame rotted out in several places

[Jeepmedic46]

My 04 F150 has several areas of frame rot. The dealership that discovered it said it was undriveable. The place where I bought it said he has a guy who can fix the frame. I told him I would get back to him. I told him if he does the work then the truck frame will be reinspected. What is the procedure for fixing a frame? Is it worth it?

 

[Jeepmedic46]

 

[Anak]

That is not the vehicle you want.

Particularly not if you think you are going to take it on trails.

A frame replacement might fix the problem, but I would wonder about the body mounts. That kind of cancer is the death of a vehicle.

I can pretty much guarantee you the guy who sold it to you is a shyster and his repair guy will be no better.

 

[M Rose]

That frame is swiss cheese. to fix it would require a lot ofgrinding, welding, and time..... better to do a frame swap, or look for another truck. I went through this a few years back and it was cheaper to replace the whole truck.

 

[BCMoto]

I would look for another truck to swap all your parts onto...

 

[oldmopars]

If it was a very valuable truck it could be fixed, but it is not. You will spend more fixing it than it is worth to do it right. Get a different truck, preferably a rust free one.
In short, get rid of it before it turn into a nightmare.

 

[Jeepmedic46]

Thank you everyone, Going to return the truck. We’ve had nothing but trouble with it. Brought it in to have a oil change and found the frame was rotten. Any suggestions on what to get for something up to 6000. A lot of older trucks all have the same problem with frames.

 

[oldmopars]

Have you thought about a Fly-and-Drive? Find a good truck out in the dry side of the USA, Arizona, Nevada, California or the Eastern NW. Then fly out and drive it home.
Out here we have trucks as far back as the 60's that are rust free. I drive a 90 GMC that is completely rust free. To me it would be worth doing because you can fix anything, but rust is death to any vehicle. Starting with a completely rust free truck would give you a solid base, even if you need to fix a few small issues.
You can put a new engine in a truck for a fraction of what rust repair could cost you.
I know that the cost to fly and drive will impact the budget and may require you to spend less on the truck, but you will get a rust free truck.
You may not need to go all the way to the West Coast, but the supply of rust free trucks out here is huge, so there are a lot available.
Think of it as a foundation, you would not build a house on a crumbling foundation, don't build an Overland rig on a rusty foundation.

 

[Anak]

Thank you everyone, Going to return the truck. We’ve had nothing but trouble with it. Brought it in to have a oil change and found the frame was rotten. Any suggestions on what to get for something up to 6000. A lot of older trucks all have the same problem with frames.

I think one of the best bargains going in used vehicles right now are the 15-20 year old Tahoes and Suburbans. $2,000 can get you a nice solid platform. Many of them have been family haulers, largely driven by responsible parents, and have plenty of life left in them.

 

[Jeepmedic46]

Have you thought about a Fly-and-Drive? Find a good truck out in the dry side of the USA, Arizona, Nevada, California or the Eastern NW. Then fly out and drive it home.
Out here we have trucks as far back as the 60's that are rust free. I drive a 90 GMC that is completely rust free. To me it would be worth doing because you can fix anything, but rust is death to any vehicle. Starting with a completely rust free truck would give you a solid base, even if you need to fix a few small issues.
You can put a new engine in a truck for a fraction of what rust repair could cost you.
I know that the cost to fly and drive will impact the budget and may require you to spend less on the truck, but you will get a rust free truck.
You may not need to go all the way to the West Coast, but the supply of rust free trucks out here is huge, so there are a lot available.
Think of it as a foundation, you would not build a house on a crumbling foundation, don't build an Overland rig on a rusty foundation.

I will look at that thank you, Have to wait for the title for this truck then supposedly will get my money back.

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

View attachment 123587View attachment 123587

The pictures are too close up to see just what is rotted. It looks more like floor board than frame. Can you back off a shoot another pic. It looks more like a unibody than a body on frame.

 

[Jeep backroads]

I will look at that thank you, Have to wait for the title for this truck then supposedly will get my money back.

There are a lot of older jeeps that have low miles. Might consider one of those?

 

[Jeepmedic46]

The pictures are too close up to see just what is rotted. It looks more like floor board than frame. Can you back off a shoot another pic. It looks more like a unibody than a body on frame.

The mechanic took the pictures. There are a lot more pictures but unfortunately I can’t seem to share them. I’m not liking the new update on the I phone.

 

[Jeepmedic46]

There are a lot of older jeeps that have low miles. Might consider one of those?

I’m not seeing any older jeeps that are cheaper. My first Jeep was a 89 and I loved that Jeep. 2nd one was a 02 wrangler. Can’t believe the price on them. I have no luck on Craigslist so I look on Facebook market place.

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

I’m not seeing any older jeeps that are cheaper. My first Jeep was a 89 and I loved that Jeep. 2nd one was a 02 wrangler. Can’t believe the price on them. I have no luck on Craigslist so I look on Facebook market place.

Nothing to like about that situation.

 

[M Rose]

I’m not seeing any older jeeps that are cheaper. My first Jeep was a 89 and I loved that Jeep. 2nd one was a 02 wrangler. Can’t believe the price on them. I have no luck on Craigslist so I look on Facebook market place.

Look for an old frame rotted YJ with a good power plant and decent tub. when I lived in upstate New York, Deals were to be had o the old YJs going for under 1000 because they couldn't pass inspections because of frame rot. You can pick up a brand new frame for a YJ at around 2500 delivered to your nearest shipping yard or shop. And it only takes 1 weekend to swap everything from one frame to another. Then you just went from a several hundred dollar rig to one that is easy worth several grand.

***DISCLAIMER: This only works for Jeep CJ-Early Wranglers and other highly looked at rigs such as import mini 4x4 pickups, and some import suvs ***

 

[Downs]

Craigslist died to me as soon as they started charging to post items on there. No sense in using it now IMO, haven't been on it since. Any Wranlger is going to demand a premium unless you are willing to drive an older 2.5L I4 TJ. Even those can be pricey. Take a look at the Grand Cherokees specifically late model ZJs and WJs. I'm seeing better deals on those around me than with even XJs. They're comfy off roaders. WJs especially given their target market were more likely to be garaged, mostly used on pavement and professionally maintained.

 

[systemdelete]

Have you thought about a Fly-and-Drive? Find a good truck out in the dry side of the USA, Arizona, Nevada, California or the Eastern NW. Then fly out and drive it home.

^this

Drove my ‘99 Land Rover up into Ontario last week. Some of the looks it’s gotten at gas stations and parking lots while shopping have been interesting. Mostly locals amazed it doesn’t have rust holes like the local discos from the time period apparently did. Definitely worth shopping outside your home region of rust is common there.

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

Have you thought about a Fly-and-Drive? Find a good truck out in the dry side of the USA, Arizona, Nevada, California or the Eastern NW. Then fly out and drive it home.
Out here we have trucks as far back as the 60's that are rust free. I drive a 90 GMC that is completely rust free. To me it would be worth doing because you can fix anything, but rust is death to any vehicle. Starting with a completely rust free truck would give you a solid base, even if you need to fix a few small issues.
You can put a new engine in a truck for a fraction of what rust repair could cost you.
I know that the cost to fly and drive will impact the budget and may require you to spend less on the truck, but you will get a rust free truck.
You may not need to go all the way to the West Coast, but the supply of rust free trucks out here is huge, so there are a lot available.
Think of it as a foundation, you would not build a house on a crumbling foundation, don't build an Overland rig on a rusty foundation.

That sounds like something I would do or similar. Next best thing is to drive to the SW, find something decent (often it may not run for some simple reason) Rent a car hauler and pull it back home. Not expensive that way and give you transportation whereever you go looking..

 

[MidOH]

I'll have to go roll under an olde f150, but could you zoom out a pic? Those look like the bottom of the body, not the frame?

The cab rockers regularly rot out on 150's. Never seen it to the point where the cab mounts were going to fail. but surely possible.