Collision thread

Hello all,
Been a long time Yota owner with an '80 Highlux SC 4x4, '10 FJ 4x4 and now a '16 Taco SR AC 4x4, 4cly and love it!

Anyway got rear ended on the way home one night and it was clearly the b's fault, right on the trailer hitch, no receiver ball in so she hit me right on the trailer hitch and crushed the front end of her Hyundai Sonata. Everyone ok but my bumper was bent down about 40 deg and thought an easy fix. Took it in to ToyotaTown Hsv and turns out the frame is bent right behind the hitch mounts, on both sides.
My question is: Do I let ToyotaTown put a brand new frame on my Toy, the only fix they say, for $12k or let the quick fix shop do the best they can and put the bumper and trailor hitch straight for $3k. I could pocket almost $9000 but my conscious is saying do the right thing and let TT fix it with a new frame. The crease in the frame, on both sides, is right behind the receiver bolts that mount to the frame. If I did the quick fix think there would be any trouble towing my '17 Bayliner? Sorry no pics but just took it into TT today. So do the right fix or easy fix?

Thanks,
Bill

 

Comes down to the old adage... Pay me now or pay me later.

Fix it right or don't fix it Bill.

 

^ +1 fix it right.

What happens down the road when another dumbass checking there cell phone rear ends you with a bigger vehicle. Your frame is already compromised and this could put your life in harms way. 9k worth it?

Could also shop around, so maybe you can still pocket a little. Or get the payout and talk TT down.

 

Name's Bill and yeah I'll fix it right. Wanted to get Taco's opinion

 

I'd do the right fix. I couldn't stand knowing my frame on a brand new truck is compromised.

 

I'd drop that truck off to have the frame replaced at the dealer and walk right over to the salesman and work a deal on trade in

 

There is no doubt if you are towing a boat you need that integrity there. Fix it right. Imagine if you were pulling that bayliner out of the water and midway up the ramp the weak point gave way, you would be screwed.

 

When you work a lot of OT and weekends just to buy your truck and have two kids in college, 9 grand will go a long way, but going to fix it right and let TT put a new frame on. Other shops could heat and straighten the bends but would always be thinking about that when towing the boat. Should have had my trailer hitch ball in, might have made a difference.

 

This.

If your state allows diminished value, go for that as well and walk away from this one. My 2013 needed a frame after my accident and while the body shop was willing to reframe it for me and keep the estimate to a point where I could get my truck back as-is, repaired to how it was pre-crash, the second I knew the frame went, I didn't want anything to do with it and that was that.

 

The hitch ball might have made it worse. It would have done more damage to the other car, but probably more damage to your truck's frame also. When it gets hit and it bends down it acts as a level and twist up the frame even more than without it.

 

9 grand won't go a long way toward burying both of those kids or yourself, or toward medical bills when you are injured or killed in a subsequent accident because the crash management has been affected from an improper repair.

Anyone that tells you they can heat the frame and pull it is a retard. That frame is HSS, it's designed to collapse in that exact spot and heating it will only further compromise it.

 

Seriously? You two think that is going to compromise his safety, a bend at the trailer hitch? If something hits him hard enough from the back (there is a TON of frame and real-estate between the slight damage and the far end and the passenger compartment) a slight bend at the rear (which will be fixed anyway so no bend) will cause zero safety issues at that point (think tons and tons of weight at a very high speed) as the middle frame would likely bend at the cab/bed.

The only issue it could have after being repaired is towing a heavier load with it possibly being weakened. There is no safety compromise from minor damage way back there as there is no crumple system in back, come on guys a little common sense here...

Now if the front crumple zone was seriously compromised and you were talking about straightening that or maybe the pillars after a roll over I would think twice. If I knew the truck wasn't going to tow heavy I would do the 3k and pocket the rest. There is so much technology in the auto repair business a reputable shop would have no question about repairing it properly with zero safety liability or issues.

Tyler

 

OP said he tows a bayliner with it. Not a really heavy boat, but when you are pulling out of the water that is a lot of stress on the hitch depending on the incline of the ramp.
I vote proper fix vs. a little extra money.

 

Forgive me my ignorence Tyler, I didn't know you were a Toyota master certified collision repair professional.

 

OP said the damage is to the frame, after the hitch. If it was just the hitch damaged it would not be a problem. And OP stated the quick fix shop was only going to align the bumper and hitch, no repair to the frame.

Sorry I know 9k goes a long way...but doing things half ass to pocket some cash is not my way of doing things.

 

If Toyota has trouble assembling this truck at the factory, do you think your local dealer without quality control can do better? I am in the replace the frame and trade it in camp. You have insurance and hopefully the rearender has proper insurance. I just see allot of stripped/broken and un-torqued bolts with a bunch of zip ties in your future. I hope your repair comes out perfect and everyone is safe, healthy and happy.

 

Thanks guys, I'm going to let Toyota replace the frame because her insurance is paying for the whole thing. I love my SR and I'll wait to see how
she drives after the repair. Here's the pick of the bend in the right frame rail. The white circle is the hitch mount and the arrow shows the bend in the frame. I would never compromise my kids or anyone's safety by not getting it fixed right. Just curious what you guys thought.

 

Make sure they give you a decent rental. It will take awhile for them to get a frame in.

 

Dirty car fax now which sucks

 

Yep 4-6 weeks to get the frame and 2-3 weeks for the repair, hopefully the carfax will show OEM parts for the repair. Thing is she drives just like before the rearender. Blew me away though when Toyota said it would be $12k to replace the frame.