Is a fixed bent frame worth it?

[Potsie]

I got tagged last night. I stopped at a red light, the driver behind me, on their phone, didn’t. Fun stuff. Hit me hard enough to push me 10’ forward and into the car stopped in front of me. They got a ticket for inattentive driving.

On the surface it doesn’t look much worse than a new bumper, tailgate, and rear quarter panel, but the receiver hitch is pushed down as well - and upon a second look there’s a nice little krinkle in the frame about 10” in front of the rear most spring shackle.

It’s drivable, and I have an appointment for an estimate Monday a.m. Here’s the question - if they total it, is it worth buying back and fixing? I’ve heard more than a few nightmare stories of never quite getting straight again. Any success stories out there?

This would be on a 2017 Tundra Crewmax with 125k on the odometer.

 

[mtmuley]

I got tagged last night. I stopped at a red light, the driver behind me, on their phone, didn’t. Fun stuff. Hit me hard enough to push me 10’ forward and into the car stopped in front of me. They got a ticket for inattentive driving.

On the surface it doesn’t look much worse than a new bumper, tailgate, and rear quarter panel, but the receiver hitch is pushed down as well - and upon a second look there’s a nice little krinkle in the frame about 10” in front of the rear most spring shackle.

It’s drivable, and I have an appointment for an estimate Monday a.m. Here’s the question - if they total it, is it worth buying back and fixing? I’ve heard more than a few nightmare stories of never quite getting straight again. Any success stories out there?

This would be on a 2017 Tundra Crewmax with 125k on the odometer.

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You need numbers from the insurance company and body shop first. mtmuley

 

[cgasner1]

If you decide to keep it you should no you’ll no longer be able to carry full coverage on it. The insurance companies view it as they already paid for that truck once they won’t do it twice. I just bought a car with a rebuilt title and didn’t realize that till after

 

[Forkyfinder]

If you decide to keep it you should no you’ll no longer be able to carry full coverage on it. The insurance companies view it as they already paid for that truck once they won’t do it twice. I just bought a car with a rebuilt title and didn’t realize that till after

Statefarm will - as long as it says "rebuilt" fyi.

 

[mevertsen]

If they total it, I would walk away.

You'll always know its there and it will never be right.

Maybe get an attorney and push for a higher check from dumb driver's insurance, to pay for your new truck you need.

Time off from work, all the bs.

Screw cell phone drivers, with a rusty, aids infected bbq cleaner.

 

[Potsie]

You need numbers from the insurance company and body shop first. mtmuley

Appointment for Monday at 9:30.

 

[CRJR45]

Thats fixable for sure , it just a matter if the numbers work out .
My brother buys totaled DuroMaxs and rebuilds them , but when he gets done he has as much as he would've spent on a truck that wasn't wrecked .
Take the money , IMO

 

[Potsie]

Thats fixable for sure , it just a matter if the numbers work out .
My brother buys totaled DuroMaxs and rebuilds them , but when he gets done he has as much as he would've spent on a truck that wasn't wrecked .
Take the money , IMO

That’s part of the problem. There’s about a $5k to the negative difference in the conservative KBB value of the truck and what I could replace it with - same year, trim package and ballpark mileage.

 

[CRJR45]

That’s part of the problem. There’s about a $5k to the negative difference in the conservative KBB value of the truck and what I could replace it with - same year, trim package and ballpark mileage.

Good luck whatever you decide . I hate having to make decisions like that , I'd change my mind twenty times , then throw money at the problem on Monday . Muleys right , and maybe the insurance payoff will surprise you .

 

[Gellar]

I’d say no, unless you plan on driving it into the ground. You’ll have a hard time selling it or trading it with a salvage title when you are ready to move on.

 

[Robert N]

It’s a question of “what do you want to do with it?”

Motorcycle variant…

I had a Ducati 1100EVO. Took a rock to the crankcase…bled out the oil. Didn’t sieze the motor but…still, dead bike.

Got $11k for the bike, give or take. Went out, bought the 1100EVO back for $2k. Spent the rest on another bike (*2010 F800GS) and a tube of JBWeld.

The EVO became my track bike for several years…the replacement is still with me…

It all depends on what you want to do with the truck in the end. A dedicated Hunting Truck? Sure thing. Just know, it’s resale is garbage, forever.

That doesn’t mean it doesn’t have value.

It just means the value is only worth what it means to you.

 

[brymoore]

That’s part of the problem. There’s about a $5k to the negative difference in the conservative KBB value of the truck and what I could replace it with - same year, trim package and ballpark mileage.

Insurance son says his company uses JD Power with sales within 300 miles. Values at market. He thinks one piece bent frame is a total when you add in labor costs. If the frame has bolted sections like some Fords, it might be repaired.

My wife totaled her rig this spring. Really funny/stupid story. The check was more than I expected from the insurance company.

 

[WildWill]

That’s part of the problem. There’s about a $5k to the negative difference in the conservative KBB value of the truck and what I could replace it with - same year, trim package and ballpark mileage.

Those slightly older tundra's with the v8 are just so sought after. Hope it works out!

 

[Potsie]

Insurance son says his company uses JD Power with sales within 300 miles. Values at market. He thinks one piece bent frame is a total when you add in labor costs. If the frame has bolted sections like some Fords, it might be repaired.

My wife totaled her rig this spring. Really funny/stupid story. The check was more than I expected from the insurance company.

Well that’s helpful. The JD Power number is significantly higher than the KBB.

Thanks for that!

 

[Caseknife]

If the insurance totals it, personally, I would buy it back and straighten and plate the frame. Had a '74 CJ-5 that broke the frame inside the frame shackles on three corners. I plated it myself, showed the buyer many years later, no problem.

 

[Hem]

Bummer across the board.
Especially a bummer it's a '17.
I have 187k on my '17, should get 300k. Tough thought process what would replace it if needed.
Good luck with insurance.

 

[Falcon75]

My question is how do you use it? I had frame with lot rust and starting to colapse between cab and bed from Truck being in NE. $4000 to sandblast and do some welding with some plates and told not to tow what the sticker on door says. 7500 is sticker and tow 5000 lb boat. No problems yet but I always have little bit of worry in my head. Might be better to take what you can get and get a different one so you have piece of mind.

 

[Moserkr]

If you dont tow with it, assuming its totaled, take the money and buy it back. Have a buddy winch that frame as straight as possible, weld a plate on it, and theres your "beater" hunting truck. Use the rest of the money to save for a nice new to you truck. You have some options depending on what you use it for. Once a trucks been hit like that, it will never be quite right even after its professionally fixed, which is why it would make a nice hunting rig to smash into places you otherwise may not.

 

[Gr8bawana]

If the only part of the frame that's bent is in the pic and possibly the other side, I would have no problem having it fixed and driving it.
The hitch could be angled downward because of the bent frame or it may need to be replaced as well.
My BIL had a body shop where they did insurance work all the time. They had a hydraulic frame straightening machine and it worked wonders.

 

[Pucky Freak]

Well do you want a deal or peace of mind? I’d gamble on it, but I also do my own work, so if something didn’t go right I could tear into it a second time.