When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
. . . about two years ago, a branch broke of a tree due to heavy snow coverage and flattened a roof of a cabin. My friend wanted to fix it for his son, so he straightened the roof, see pictures below, but then abandoned the project and offered it to me. It is rather rust free, the engine starts and runs, and it is moving under its own power.
I have done some research, e.g., I understand a cabin from 2WD will not fit without modification, found a company that makes replacement fenders, hood, and bed, but not a cabin. So, I want to ask the experts:
1. what years of cabins would fit, so that I have a little wider choice. In that respect, I can do simple modifications, e.g., relocated the mount points, modify the central section for a shifter and transfer-case stick, and the like. Would a Xtra cab fit with such minor modifications and either shortening the bed or making it a flat-bed?
2. Where should I look for such a cabin? I tried the usual suspects, Craigslist, e-bay. I have a junk yard about h1.5 hours away, but they will not list the vehicles that they have, so every trip there is a gamble, and considering that I would need to ask a friend with truck, it is rather difficult
3. Is there a good resource showing removing a cabin, so that I can estimate the time if I were to find a junk-yard one?
try facebook, there are several toyota for sale groups, but i imagine that you'll have to drive to find one, or pay huge $$$ at toyota-only yard in the l.a. area
do you have a place to do the cab swap?
with these toyota trucks the vin is usually stickers on the body, no vin on the frame, so make sure it's a clean title.
A gentleman on another forum recommended a facebook group, and the people there were extremely helpful. I had an offer from at least three of them for the correct (4x4) cabin, but they all are 6+ hours away, and since I have no truck, well . . ., and I have no experience how to transport such an unwieldy piece of metal, perhaps the truck was not meant for me.
you could rent a u-haul and a trailer, but you'd need a way to move it on/off the trailer.
another possibility would be to buy a wrecked vehicle with a good cab, that can be towed to your house, instead of just buying a cab by itself.
This is the way. When the cabs are stripped, they are not very heavy. Three guys should be able to load one on a trailer. Four guys should be able to get it done with little effort
Even ignoring my currently non-existent welding skills, I do not think that it would work. If you look at the picture, the entire side matching the door is distorted.
09-02-2024, 04:47 PM
, and I have no experience how to transport such an unwieldy piece of metal, perhaps the truck was not meant for me.
Seriously, I just acquired a TIG welder, so I am practicing.
