More awesome rusty surprises...

Welp, decided to take the flares off today because I had a feeling, and could see from underneath, there was rust. Sure enough, it's real bad on passenger side, and bubbling on driver.

I've done a bit of research, seems like 97-04 Dakota panels work perfectly with our trucks? Anybody got any insight or input as to how to tackle this?

 

Are 00-06 Tundra panels not a thing or is it a price thing? Ignorance here

 

https://www.carparts.com/details/Toyota/Tundra/Replacement/2000-2006/SET-T220107.html?TID=gglpla&origin=pla&gclid=CjwKCAjwjaWoBhAmEiwAXz8DBRdMe9h00N5hEwp8S9WGoilf3iL02sWf9JUyjmDSGlG18fdqWczNHhoCgskQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://parts.lakelandtoyota.com/p/...ar/4010874/658170C010.html?partner=googlebase

 

yea its a price thing, its like 1000$ CAD to get a rear panel, and thats obviously not even painted. Just heard something about dakota patchs and was wondering if anyone could confirm if that was a good option

 

I’d skip that and address your frame first

 

yea already doing that, just finished needle scaling and sanding, gonna fluid film tommorow

 

Looks like the prior owner didn't really do a good job taking care of it (washing the salt off). Most likely would've prevented the wheel well area rot. Mine are still in great condition.

 

Fenders? We don't need no stinking fenders!

This is the perfect time to cut those bastards out for a LT setup. Cut out the rust and make it look intentional b/c you're gonna go mobbin.

 

I like Shifty's idea.
I was gonna say blast it, spray some ruststop, then maybe some diy bedliner but cutting would give better lines.

When i cut my Tacoma fenders, i cut the flares a bit less than i did the metal metal just for cosmetics. As long as you have all the clips, flares should stay on. Primer on the metal, put flares back on, spray bedliner up into open edges of flares/fenders including inside fenders too. You may even be able to adjust and keep fender liners. Took some creative cutting and zipties for me to keep liners on Tacoma.

 

I agree with this dude, find a front-end collision crashed to hell truck and buy the bed.

 

Yea I like your ideas lol, I was thinking about that too. Cut it out , slap the fenders back on and call it a day. I may just do that

 

My truck had the same deal. Took the flairs off and nothing behind them. Time for a new bed

 

I hate flares for that reason. Can’t see the bubbling paint until its too late.

 

Yea that looks about the same as mine... brutal -_- I may just cut for now and look at new bed eventually.

With the wheel well partially gone , is there concern for the tire flinging stuff way up into the inside of the bed? Like mud and whatnot

 

I would think so myself.

 

Put the fender flairs back on and roll with it until you can find a fresh bed

 

Yea there's a bed for 1500$ CAD 45 minutes from me at a scrapyard... I may go look at it. It's black though, unfortunately

 

Well, did some cutting and grinding today , and fluid filmed all over inside. This is with the fenders off, looks a bit crazy but obviously once Fender's are back on there will be no telling, and the rust will have been stopped. It is what it is!

 

Finding that rust under the flares had to have been a big disappointment. Gatta give ya credit though for not giving up on the truck and continuing to breathe life back into it. Were you able to look at that bed 45 mins from you?

 

Thanks haha, yea I feel like I'm on a runaway train... but then again the more I deal with, the more I get a full picture of what condition this truck is in... and the more I change parts and fix stuff. It's gonna get better and better. The frame was the show stopper, but I assessed it was still good , with some grinding and protection!

Yea finding more rust was frustrating. But , it doesn't affect functionality of anything, and even visually it's fine because if the flares going back on. So in the end, it's really not that big of a deal, especially now that I've cut it out and stopped it in its tracks!

Haven't looked at that other bed, and I don't think I will, just save that 1500$ they want and carry on!

 

Can I just say lol... if I'm honest I just miss having a truck, and I'm a real sucker for a blue truck... so I think the blue is keeping me going very nicely haha, I know, ridiculous. This was my taco a few years back, fully built up from stock :