$20,000 in Damage??!!

Hi all,

I recently packed the front tires/suspension into a washed out road (it was covered in snow and couldn't see it) going about 3-5 mph. The front left drop bracket for the sway bar is bent down, and apparently I've bent the frame there slightly (I really can't see the bend but the tire is def rubbing now when turned to the left)

So two different body shops are telling me it's a $15-20,000 job to fix (my insurance will handle) Does this figure sound right to you all?? I've never bent a frame before.

There is possibility that my poor truck will be "totaled" even tho you can't even tell its damaged except for all the dents and scratches on my roof and hood, yeah that happened when my rack ripped from it's metal mounts and flew forward skating the top of my truck. So I'm being told that I would get the value of my truck before it was damaged (I'm thinking $30-35,000) less the amount a salvage yard would pay for my truck. Anyone know what salvage yards would pay for my truck??


Thanks all for your input...

 

wow. 3-5? or 35?

 

Totaled is my guess.
They are going to tell you your truck is worth ~$25,000.

*vvvvv @Skrain is correct. 75% of $25k is $18,750...

 

Most "Totals" have damage estimates that are at least 75% of the book value of the vehicle, Bent frame? More then likely it's toast.

 

Really. 3-5mph to an abrupt stop.

So Tokyo Joe your saying I would get a check for $18,50? If its totaled?

Thanks guys

 

Not necessarily. What my point was is that if a damage estimate is over 75% of the book of the vehicle, it will more then likely be totaled. You might get retail from your insurance company, but that depends on them and your policy.

 

A 2012 Tacoma ... 30-35K full retail? I think that's high.

 

If you have an extensive amount of prior damage it will negatively effect the amount of money the insurance company says your truck is worth. They take every option you have as well as the condition of of everything interior exterior etc. It is usually graded on a 1-5 basis. Rust is a huge factor if you have any of that.

But yes, frame damage adds up very quickly. It may be possible that a portion of your frame needs replacement in the area of damage, which is a costly operation.

 

Agreed, and most insurance companies are only going to compensate you for the features that came on the truck. So if it gets to the point where they tell you its totaled I would go take off everything aftermarket you put onto it so you can use it on your next one or sell it to recover some of the loss incurred.

 

In a totaled situation you get for example:

25,000 - 500 - 0 = 24,500 check
Book value - Deductible - Buy back from salvage = check from insurance
^^^^ you also don't get to keep your truck

-- from the sounds of it you also tweaked your cab causing extensive repair costs... your cab is not a simple bolt on part.

 

So I can add some insight here as Ive been dealing with this exact problem for the last few months.

October 2016, I get hit by a BMW directly iny front right wheel while making a left hand turn. (my fault turned on a flashing yellow)
Everything gets checked out insurance is gonna cover it. They order replacement parts (aftermarket stuff takes awhile), it all arrives they go to install and oh the mounts on the frame are bent. Frames bent~total loss and they arent willing to give any extra for the aftermarket stuff even with my receipts.
offer 26667 for the truck

So fast forward to today. I bought it back, got 7 grand from insurance plus payoff (13k) I replace lower control arm, bend the mounts (tabs) back maybe a half inch. Take it to a shop and have them check the frame. Shop says frame is "straight and true" but my spindle is bent and my steering gear is rough. They see no other problems at all and even tell me I definitely made the right choice to buy it back.
There is a small dent in the cab but hardly noticeable.
So what im getting at is just do some homework and maybe get a second opinion
I think somebody at the shop saw my parts and my truck and thought oh we'll get them to total it and buy it ourselves for a nice truck. Dont trust your estimator or shop.

 

Btw insurance would not let me do this. Replace or take any of the parts that were on the vehicle.
When I bitched about it and said I have receipts less than 3 months old they offered an extra 1000 dollars or what my deductible is.

 

I'm withholding judgement.

There is a lot of cheap parts that bend before the frame gets bent. A tire rubbing does not mean a bent frame. A arms and tie rods are designed to fail before the frame and they are cheap.

Without pictures, we are all wasting our time.

 

No way it's totalled unless the other side is smoked.

I buy wrecked Toyota trucks, I'd buy this one in a second!

 

Me too! That green though.....

 

Thanks for sharing your story YotaLife. I think I might be good if they total it. Another buddy says it's not too badly bent, maybe an inch up as you can maybe on the front hood shot above. And I Think koditten may be right. I can maybe have it fixed back pretty close.

 

That spruce is pretty sweet......but I am biased

Hope it works out and lives to see another day OP!

 

Well the body shop guys are saying it needs a new frame installed to have it back to "perfect". They have to put a new frame on it to back their work and make sure it's straight and drives right. HOWEVER....I'm also being told I can have it straightened and then get the body work done and it will look close to perfect. So hopefully a win for me if they total it

but yeah koditten I was like really?? When the talk of totaling it came up from body shop dudes. So we will see, I'll update when I know what they're gonna do