Boxing in the Tacoma frame

Fantastic work! I said this on one of your other videos. This is the best frame repair video on YouTube!

@15:38. Another way of doing this for those that don't have a laser (and in some ways maybe better than a laser if you're not doing this on a level shop floor). Take two strings and attach them to form an X from matching points on the flattened section of the frame (from right behind the arch on the left side to where the bumper mounts on the right side, and vice versa). Make sure both strings are tight with the same amount of tension. When all 4 points are flat ('coplanar') the strings will touch in the middle. Really strong but light fishing string is perfect because it has a thin, crisp edge and has a higher straight to weight ration than paracord or cotton string. Piano wire is also perfect and you can use the sound made by plucking to sanity check if both are equally tight. If you wanna get fancy you can use a guitar tuner to actually measure it lol. This is an old school method for straightening machine frames and boxes. I've used this with great success leveling out my large format CNC router before attaching the bed. It works surprisingly well.

the subscribe template got me.

Great work. Exceeding the manufacturers specs. I imagine a satisfying project and something you will appreciate for many years

Absolutely beautiful

Great progress 👍

I've watched dozens of guys fix these frames and hands down you do the best job out of any of them... Sending people your way.

Very neat and professional.

As a joiner/ carpenter I admire your efforts. Well done, man!

You also could have cut a block of wood to Wedge from the axle tube to the bottom of the frame at the point where you want to bend it. It would have taken the flex of the leaf springs out of the equation. Maybe have bent it a hair past perfect to allow for the steel to spring back. I think you did a great rebuild on the frame, definitely better engineered than Toyota had in mind.

Amazing work

Congrats, you weld like a Pro.

This is awesome I wish i had that skill

Nice fab and welding skills. This is why a shop will charge you 2500.00 or more to repair as you did. Got a 99 with 223k on it as well. Bodies pretty mint as its be hot oil coated 3 times over. Can't say the frame looks as nice. Was a Southern truck and 13 years in the Northeast has taken its toll. In the process of trying to locate a frame as I don't have the welding skills to attack it. How'd you like to do another one !!!!!

This is exactly the the I want to do my 95 S-10 Chevy 4x4 like the way you made your inside plates and drilled holes great idea and have to ask what size holes did you drill in your plates

That’s done right. All these people welding patches and leaving the rotted metal underneath. The frame on My 2004 went up front where the sway bar mounts. 4cyl, the v6’s went near the cats usually

Another great video! My right side is also about an inch higher and I'm going to get a 'factory Toyota frame alignment tool' and do the same thing! What kind of laser alignment tool are you using? That looks super handy to have.

strong repair.

I purchased a Truck that appears to have had the frame boxed and have a question out of curiosity more than anything. And please do not take my question(s) wrong, as I do not possess the obvious skillset you do and am in no way knocking your skilset. Having said that, besides someone possibly wanting to box for strength or repair reasons, wouldnt doing this present a scenario where water is introduced and then trapped into a box frame? As stated before, my truck frame is boxed, so it is just a question I posed to myself after noticing and now you. Seems to me, planned obsolesence is at play with these manufactures or else they would just use solid rails from the start.

Looks incredible, nice work. Did you drill drain holes in the bottom of the frame for any moisture that does find its way inside?