Had an accident today (got pics), need opinions on fixing - Page 2

gyrate · 09-01-2008, 04:36 AM

you need a new bed or someone willing to sheetmetal the bent part if there is no additional damage. its often just cheaper to drop a new bed v labor costs.

i see you have the goodyears on there... what are you doing driving in the rain with those? thats suicidal at the very least.

(and yes i used them in snow because i wanted to destroy them!)

tholmes · 09-01-2008, 07:33 AM

This was my second set of "stockers". I was able to pick them up as new take-offs for dirt cheap (less than 300). This is the second time that I have hydroplaned with them, and they are coming off as soon as I get the truck back. Everything I have found so far indicates that the whole bed would have to be replaced based on the damage description from the body shop. One week and counting til the truck goes in. Worst thing is that we had planned to take the boat out this weekend and that got nixed because they adjuster said no towing due to frame damage. Bummer.

tholmes · 09-15-2008, 12:32 PM

Okay, update from the insurance co.

Because I had my trailer hitch on and that is what was the lead point as far as impact, it buckled the frame where the hitch mounts to it. Nissan's blue prints say the frame can not be repaired in the rear by cutting, only cold pulling. There is no way to pull the damage out, so adjustor says the truck needs a new frame. How much does a frame cost, is our frame one solid piece from front to back, what are the chances that an 05 with 82k (crew cab 4x4 LE) might get totaled as a result of this bombshell? Keep in mind the bed still has to be repaired (or replaced) too, along with a new reciever, right quarter panel, rear bumper, sonar pieces, and I think one of my manifolds got cracked (is that possible) because the truck had the dreaded tick afterwards.

Any thoughts?

vilim12 · 09-15-2008, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tholmes

Okay, update from the insurance co.

Because I had my trailer hitch on and that is what was the lead point as far as impact, it buckled the frame where the hitch mounts to it. Nissan's blue prints say the frame can not be repaired in the rear by cutting, only cold pulling. There is no way to pull the damage out, so adjustor says the truck needs a new frame. How much does a frame cost, is our frame one solid piece from front to back, what are the chances that an 05 with 82k (crew cab 4x4 LE) might get totaled as a result of this bombshell? Keep in mind the bed still has to be repaired (or replaced) too, along with a new reciever, right quarter panel, rear bumper, sonar pieces, and I think one of my manifolds got cracked (is that possible) because the truck had the dreaded tick afterwards.

Any thoughts?

Why not pay your deductible and let them handle it?

**crash519** · 09-15-2008, 12:53 PM

An '05 with 82k miles and it needs a frame? The labor alone for that is is huge. The frame price is nothing compared to the total hours to R&R a frame. It SHOULD be a total.

vilim12 · 09-15-2008, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crash519

An '05 with 82k miles and it needs a frame? The labor alone for that is is huge. The frame price is nothing compared to the total hours to R&R a frame. It SHOULD be a total.

I dont see how its not totaled either

**bagellord** · 09-15-2008, 01:51 PM

All I have to say is that blows. And that it should be totaled. Anyone else remember the commercial for the titan where they try to bend it [frame] on those poles or whatever?

HudsonValleyTitan · 09-15-2008, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tholmes

***************UPDATES******************

Took the truck to the adjusters today. Went to two places. The first was the place the insurance wanted me to go to. Just a typical type of repair shop. Their estimate was for $5500, but didn't include what work would have to be done on the bed or the frame. Nor did it cover the rhino lining be redone. Second shop was in a different league. Same place that Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Volvo, etc send their vehicles to get repaired. Here was the nitty gritty. I had my hitch on with a 2in ball. It appears that is what took the initial impact as the points on the frame where hitch bolts in buckled the frame on the right side (side that had initial impact) and dimpled the left side. He did not know what Nissan's repair instructions are for the rear frame especially where the trailer hitch mounts. The bed is definitely buckled. The whole bed is tweaked so that the right side is lower than the left and the left side is jammed closer to the cab (I can stick my hand up to my thumb in the gap between the cab on the left side and can get my whole arm into the right side). Does anyone know whether the bed can be taken apart in pieces or is it one solid piece. We find out on the 8th when I drop it off what the deal will be. They are replacing the camper shell for me ($1550). So, I guess we will see what the cost is based upon whether or not the frame has to be repaired or replaced and based upon whether the bed can repaired in peices or a whole new one is required. I don't think they will total it as they would have to do over 12k in repairs to reach that level. Then again, a new bed, new frame, that could send the price up there. Any thoughts or experience as far as what those things cost?

All that damage, including the frame....and you were only doing 20 MPH huh??? Glad everyone is ok.

TitanThunder · 09-15-2008, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HudsonValleyTitan

All that damage, including the frame....and you were only doing 20 MPH huh??? Glad everyone is ok.

The wreck I had last year looks ten times worse than yours does and the guy that hit me was doing about 30-40mph.

I had about $7000 worth of damage on an 07 LE model and it wasn't even close to totaled.

HRTKD · 09-15-2008, 04:40 PM

If it was me I would take it to a place that really knows what they are doing when it comes to frames. Check to see if there really is frame damage. I had an adjuster total my '91 Ranger because the rear bumper was bent down from a rear end collision. I wasn't going to argue with the "expert" but after getting a nice fat check I bought an aftermarket bumper with the necessary frame brackets and it looks just fine with no apparent frame damage. You do have a lot more work to do to get back to looking right (bed, bumper, etc) but it's possible the frame is OK.

tholmes · 09-15-2008, 05:49 PM

I could have been going closer to thirty when I impacted. We slid a pretty good distance and scrubbed off a good amount of speed though. From the mark on the embankment where the trailer ball hit to where the rear end was after we came to a stop was no more than 30ft, I know that for certain. The camper shell was farther from the truck than the truck was from the impact.

I have already called insurance and they are taking care of it, I am just trying to figure out if I should be starting to nose around for a new rig because my rental coverage is only for so long.

I did crawl under the truck with the adjustor and he showed me the spots where he was concerned. There are six or four bolts that mount the hitch to the frame. The set of bolts closest to the cab is the spot where the frame bent on both sides. The drivers side is not as bad as the passenger. The frame bent at that location (the passenger) about 30 degrees, right where the bolt goes through the hitch and into the frame. It is bad enough that the bolt can't be backed out. If I didn't have a 5k lb boat I pulled or a 7500lb trailer for work, I wouldn't be that concerned. As it is, I can't afford a week spot when towing those loads, especially when I have the whole family with me going to the lake. That is just a scary thought.

HRTKD · 09-15-2008, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tholmes

I did crawl under the truck with the adjustor and he showed me the spots where he was concerned. There are six or four bolts that mount the hitch to the frame. The set of bolts closest to the cab is the spot where the frame bent on both sides. The drivers side is not as bad as the passenger. The frame bent at that location (the passenger) about 30 degrees, right where the bolt goes through the hitch and into the frame. It is bad enough that the bolt can't be backed out. If I didn't have a 5k lb boat I pulled or a 7500lb trailer for work, I wouldn't be that concerned. As it is, I can't afford a week spot when towing those loads, especially when I have the whole family with me going to the lake. That is just a scary thought.

Ah, well then ignore what I said. If you can readily see that the frame is bent then you're hosed. Good luck with the insurance company. I hope they come through for you.

tholmes · 10-03-2008, 08:17 AM

Well Gentlemen and any Ladies out there, it is a sad day for my rig. Insurance adjuster just called and told me that she is totalled. I have to go and get all of my stuff out today before it heads to a salvage yard. Apparently with them having to replace the frame, a new frame put us over the threshold for totaling it. If they had found a used one, I would have been okay, but they couldn't find one.

Now I am at a big crossroads in vehicle choice. I can't decide whether I should buy something more economical, get an SUV like the Armada, midsize pickup like a frontier, I just don't know. Anyways, I am gonna go strip it of everything, so I might have somethings for sale. I am really bummed out.

HRTKD · 10-03-2008, 08:24 AM

That stinks. For what I bought my Titan for I would still need a 1/2 ton pickup truck even if mine was totalled.

tholmes · 10-03-2008, 06:36 PM

Well, here is the last view I had of her today before she got hauled off. I did spend some time stripping it down. I took the xenon's out, the running boards, tow hooks, floor mats (both heavy weather mats and carpeted), bug shield and the CAI. Took me about two hours to get everything off. Now I got a couple months to figure out what to do.

On a positive note, my payoff was 17500. The insurance company is giving me around 19500 for it. Whew, didn't need to use the gap insurance after all.