Questions about selling 1998 4Runner w/ rusted frame

[happybird]

Last edited Tue Dec 14, 2021, 05:21 PM - Edit history (3)

Got the bad news yesterday. The frame is rusted through and will cost around $4000 to fix.

I’m not interested in fixing it and would like to sell it, with full disclosure about the bad frame.

How is the best way to go about finding a buyer? Facebook Marketplace? Or, how much would a junkyard pay? The transmission was rebuilt a couple months ago and I know there are Tacoma and 4Runner enthusiasts who would love to have it … just don’t know how to connect with them.

Any advice is appreciated.


EDIT: Thank you all for the responses. I’m sorry I didn’t reply to them all, it’s been a crazy few days around here.

I am in the process of donating the truck to Habitat for Humanity. They know about the frame and brake lines and are still happy to have it. It will either be auctioned to someone who is willing to put the money into fixing it (well worth it! The transmission was just rebuilt this past summer for $4000... which is why I’ve had enough. The truck with a fine frame is probably only worth $6000-$8000, even with the used 4x4 market so crazy right now) or, if that is unsuccessful, it will be parted out. They think there will be no problem finding a buyer at auction.

Thanks, again!

[happybird]

2. That is one option I've been thinking about

What do they do with the donated cars? I’d hate to see it crushed because there are good parts in there.

[multigraincracker]

9. They go to Dealer Auctions.

You can google local dealer car auctions and watch the on line sales in real time. I’ve bought a few and haul them for local dealers. Right now prices are very high as there are vehicle shortages. That means they are looking for repairable cars and trucks and paying more for parts cars like yours.
You could sell on graigslist and someone might want the tranny.
Good luck.

[Best_man23]

10. Most veterans groups will part out cars they can't sell

In this case, with the rusted frame, the parts are greater than the whole. They'll remove the usable parts and sell them on eBay Motors or Faceborg Marketplace.

If you choose to sell the vehicle, I would fully disclose the frame corrosion issue, meaning you will not get much for the car. If I was restoring a similar Toyota, I would view your car as a "donor car", meaning I would buy it with the purpose of taking the parts I need for mine, then send the rest to the auto salvage yard. Once the vet group takes the usable parts for selling, the rest will go to the salvage yard.

If you scrap the car outright, most auto salvage yards will only give you a couple hundred dollars to take it off your hands. The way they see it if you're taking it there, chances are no one else wants the car.

Another option is to see if any of the local high schools or trade schools need cars for their auto tech students to work on.

[SheltieLover]

3. Part it out

List on fb / craigslist.

Once it's picked clean, sell frame to boneyard for scrap price.

Or list "as is" for parts, but you won't get much.

Pull engine & tranny & sell. Besg to have receipt for tranny rebuild with VIN # on it.

Good luck!

[SheltieLover]

4. Look for an enthusiast forum

Most require a certaon # of posts to list parts for sale. 👍

[LakeArenal]

6. Too bad you don't have it Costa Rica

They love Toyotas and everyone drives old cars that they keep running.

Our mechanic is driving a 1984 Rav 4.
Our 2011 Kia we shipped from US. Lost it’s transmission here it took 9 months to get it fixed. So we bought a 2001 Nissan for $4000 Our mechanic says he’ll be able to keep it running forever.
Once the Kia was fixed we sold our 2011 Kia for $13,000. Twice as much as the blue book in US.

[bucolic_frolic]

7. Find a local auto museum

They know car values. If it were 30 years old it might be worth quite a bit more especially since it's a Toyo.

Also, at least near me, there are local repair shops that sell used fixed-ups on the side. Hard to believe in this car market they wouldn't buy almost anything that runs. They can fix them for a fraction of what they have to charge customers. And there are we buy cars companies. I had a bid from one once. It wasn't a lot, but it was a cash offer.

[doc03]

8. Toyota recalled Tacomas from I believe 1994 to 2007 and either scraped them

or replaced the frame. I have a 2006 that they recalled to inspect the frame about 5 years ago I was shocked when
they told me the frame needed replaced. I had only drove it on roads with salt a few times. Prior to 2006
they recalled and crushed them. I saw hundreds of them pass my house going to a scrap yard for years. They
drained the fluids and crushed them, they weren't even permitted to remove any parts.
I was talking to a women around that time that owned a 4 Runner. The frame on her 4 Runner was totally rusted through
and Toyota would do nothing for her. It is the same frame.
Sorry they won't fix yours either.