determining frame damage...

So last Friday I was rear ended by a Honda civic on my way to work. I was stopped and she hit me at about 35-40mph and didn't do much stopping just used my truck to bring her to a half. Luckily as she hit me I just got off the brake as traffic in front of me must started to move. My Tacoma looks like it took the hit very well, I had my receiver in my hitch and she got her bumper reinforcement pretty square on that. Her car had to be towed away, bumper reinforcement was folded where she hit my receiver and of course radiator was damaged. Since then I have been trying to locate any damage to my truck before the adjuster looks at it so I have an idea of what needs to be looked at/ fixed and don't think I have found anything, possible? I will attach some pictures below of the only things I noticed is that the frame isn't exactly flat in the areas I am pointing to, but out trucks could be this way in that spot. Could someone look at there truck and verify? Thanks, I hope my baby didn't suffer any serious frame damage but hard to tell at this point.

First pic of frame is driver side looking through wheel opening, other two are passenger side looking through wheel opening as well.

 

Maybe it's just the angle, but the gap between the bed and cab looks larger on the passenger side than it does on the driver.

 

Dang, sorry OP!

 

^ Agreed, gaps look quite different in those pics.

 

something isn't straight on there. Could be frame, could be bed damage, or both. But something's out of whack, the bed isn't straight compared to the cab. Looks like its off compared to the wheels too so hopefully just bed isn't straight.

 

X3 on the bed / cab gap. Also the space between the bumper and bed on each side. Again, it could just be the angle of the picture. Not sure about the frame pics. Hard to tell if the metal looks "stressed". How does the truck drive? Does it feel like it's going straight or pulling?

On a side note, how do you like your Leer cap? I just got a price on one from Leondard.

I just thought of something else, if as other posters have noted, the bed is shifted, can you tell if anything has moved inside the bed? I'd look at the bed anchor bolts to see if it looks like the bed has moved?

 

I think that's the angle, I just went outside and backed it down the driveway to get more head on pictures. I have taken a tape measure to the bed/ cab gap and both sides are equal. Truck drives great no vibrations, pulling or weird noises.

 

The leer cap has been great, love the looks of it and the removable rear window has been a welcome feature.

 

Here's a comparison pic from December.

 

Yes, that looks more square. The only thing I'm looking at now is the bumper. Is it tilting down slightly? Again it could be the picture.

 

Ignore my last post, bumper looks the same. Thanks for the cap info, I'm pretty sure I'm going to order one.

 

Rear Bumper has always kind of had that tilt to it, look at my comparison picture. Initial esimate of the truck they thought everything looked fine, I'm just amazed it can take that kind of hit and come out on top. I don't even have a scratch on my bumper, +1 Tacoma.

 

That's good news for sure. Just the aggravation is annoying. All because someone else wasn't paying attention? (Texting ?) I don't worry about my driving, it's all the other people.

 

Awesome, are you going with the 100xq? Its a great cap, when I first got it i was worried the style of the windows wouldn't allow enough ventilation for my lab when shes back there but it hasn't been an issue. The fold down window is great like i said so you can clean the rear window of the truck/back areas of cab with ease.

 

I think I'm going to get the 100XR with the front fold down slider. Also considering a headliner and the Thule tracks. Did you get yours at Leonard?

 

Check this thread, which shows very well the frame damage from the hitch being hit. Look for bent or buckled areas on the rear frame.

 

Thanks for the link, mine looks nothing like those pictures and my bed didn't hot the cab at all so I might be good to go. Only area I can find that isn't straight is in the photo below but I don't know if it's like that begin with. I need to compare or look at another Tacoma to figure that out. That picture is looking through the driver side wheel opening just behind that bed mount, the top part of the frame there isn't 100% flat.

 

You should take it to a body shop and have them do a frame verification. That's the only way to tell if something is off. It's about $350 for the frame check, but you can always bill her insurance later.

 

It obviously looks like the other driver's fault; and was there a police report?

Probably Yes, to those 2, above stated points.

So now your insurance company, should schedule your appointment, with their adjuster. At that time, You tell him/her that you are concerned about frame damage.

It is their job to check it out, and if they deem that there might be a problem; you will select a body shop w/ a frame machine.

Once on the frame machine, they will take measurements; and then determine if repairs are needed. If done right it may even be better than original.

Anyway, your insurance company will be involved.

oldracer

 

Just went through this but I was hit by a 4000 lb Ford van fucking dumb ass.... First of all your frame is most likely not bent but that doesn't mean you don't have frame damage.

DO NOT GET ALL CAUGHT UP IN FRAME DAMAGE. Its not the 70's and 80's any more we have the tools......

The Toyota shop I went to has a $750,000 frame machine that bitch is no joke. Seriously its ridiculous and it doesn't lie.

Your frame may or may not have a diamond condition or a height condition. All it means is one of the rails might have shifted forward ever so slightly mine was 1/100 of a inch off and 1/10 of a inch to height do you know how little that is. They pull it costs about $700 and its done. All my alignment numbers were factory spec the frame is in factory specs. My truck looks brand new drives brand new I'm a freak when it comes to my cars. My 2003 mustang looks brand new, I can't tell the difference with after my accident.

TAKE YOUR CAR TO TOYOTA! They do these trucks all month long they know what there doing they know how to make it right. Also know this your truck wasn't perfect when you got it. From the factory your frame can be within 3/10 of a inch off on either rail that's Toyota's specifications and Toyota has high standards in quality assurance so that means that these cars aren't perfect from the factory.

The bumper being tilted I thought the same thing and go look a brand new tacoma it looks exactly the same they just tilt like that. I didn't believe it until I checked out a 15 and sure enough that have the lean to them. Also the rear tail gates aren't perfect either some have a little shake to them and the lines are off.

What ever doesn't matter. Your truck will be fine as long as you take it to Toyota ask for all OEM parts and don't take anything less. Also if you are trying to pursue a diminished value calm PM me I'll explain more didn't work out for me.