So I was rear-ended....

....by a cop of all people.
He was NOT happy. He had to call his supervisor out to write up the accident report and take pictures. Then they called yet another cop to come pick his car up, and they took him straight to be drug tested. (department policy)

Anyway, it was a low speed accident, with my trailer hitch taking all of the impact. The ball / hitch went through the front bumper of the cop car, but there was no visible damage to my taco. My concern is being that since the hitch is basically tied into the frame, that something may possibly be "off" that I'm just not aware of, even if the outward signs indicate that everything is as it should be.

So....
Is there anything specific that I should be looking for? Or just take it to a shop and let them look it over?
I tow a camper, boat, and a couple different trailers, so the reliability of the hitch is critical to me.
Thanks all!

 

File through insurance and take it to a shop and have them take a look at the frame to make sure nothing is bent. Glad nothing major was damaged to your ride.

 

Believe me, the officer's buddies within the department will never let him live this down. I'm sure he will have at least one nickname after this.

 

Is the bumper or hitch bent or mis aligned in any way? Sounds like it wasnt a terribly bad hit so i wouldnt be too worried

Either way... LOL that it was a cop, we all are not perfect!

 

Be prepared to pay your deductible to fix it - if it needs fixed. Cop cars have no insurance..................

 

had something similar happen to me. Bent the tow package and broke the plug without damaging the frame.. make sure your chrome bumper didn't come into contact with the bed side. Check all the gaps between bumper to bed and bed to cab. Take it to a 3rd party repair shop and get some quotes.

OEM tow package is about $1200 + $300 for the plug. Then the bumper and all the plastic parts gets expensive. Just parts was close to $2k. Bought an aftermarket steel bumper with integrated tow hitch to replace it.

second option is to buy a tow hitch off craigslist. People concerned with off road clearance almost give them away.

 

I call bullshit

 

Hit by a cop?

 

I was rear-ended by a a car going less than 10mph and the estimate for the damage to my bumper (which looked like it had a tiny dent on either side of the license plate) was for nearly $700. Long story short: I now have a high clearance off-road bumper that was cheaper than an OEM toyota one. Love it.

 

One call, that's all! All your money worries will be over! Did you fall out of your truck onto the pavement screaming, "My neck, my back, my eyes"! "Mommy, Mommy"!

 

My wife was rear ended by a cop car a couple years ago. Not only did they have insurance on the cop car, they bent over backwards to make certain we weren't planning on suing.

 

I just got done doing an oil change / tire rotation / drive shaft lube, and decided to give it a more thorough inspection while I had the chance.
It seems that although the rear bumper isn't bent, that it made contact with the rear of the truck, and then bounced back out to its normal location, as there is a very slight imprint / scratch in the drivers side fender where the bumper has obviously made contact.
I guess I'll open a claim and have it looked over, just to be safe.

Thanks for the replies, all!

 

Sorry Mr OP, I know it isn't funny but...I HATE when that happens !

 

you put a pic of the wrong end of your truck, a butt shot would be more appropriate...just sayin'

 

They have insurance or are self insured by the city/county etc... He will not have to pay a deductible. That is silly.

 

Correct.
In this case, they are self-insured.....meaning that basically I can get back all the money I paid in tickets over the years to fix my truck!


Ok, so I know it really doesn't work like that, but it makes me feel better.

 

FALSE

 

Police cars are self-insured (like USPS). Bad data!

 

Thanks for providing proof that not everything you read on the internet is true.