Cross memeber damage found after accident.

I called them to see if this could be investigated under the same claim vs trying to make a new one because it was in direct cause and effect of said accident. And they told me no. Unless I had flat out proof or admittance from the shoo.

 

Did you say the frame was pulled by a shop? Or did I read that wrong?

 

Yes they put it on a rack because of the impact. Not sure what they did beyond that.

 

Ok. That explains everything.

Yes, that cross member was bent when the frame was straightened. They had to tie the truck down so it could not move.

Secondly, that is nothing that is going sacrifice the structural integrity of the truck.

All my Toyota trucks in the last 25 years were insurance auction purchases.

They all needed the frames straightened. They all were fixed and they all had similar deformed structural members. All these vehicles drove fine for 300,000 miles.

That damage is nothing to worry about. You can rest assured that your truck is fine.

One thing that sticks in my mind.

My 1st Tacoma I had " pulled" by the frame shop: the tech said "the frame on this thing pulled harder than a 3/4 ton Chevy!"

Now I know why these trucks always had chain witness marks when I got them back.

 

You can make a claim against your insurance all you want. I’d think a year later, they’ll be considering it a new claim, not a lack of repairs from the from the previous. I’m merely pointing out what Mr. Insurance man most likely will,,,,,,

GL

 

My issue is that they damaged that and need to be held accountable. Also my alignments are awful. Which is eating my tires. Why should I get a half ass job truck when I'm paying full price. That doesn't make any sense. I'd I was buying my truck at auction sure.... but I bought it brand new. And paid for a service and they actually didn't make anything better.

 

BTW. That is not a forged iron cross member. It's just stamped steel with some tempering.

 

Then it sounds like the truck should have been totaled.

There is no reason that truck can not be aligned. Are sure there isn't a bent spindle?

 

Dually noted. But when I have an adjuster that claims it was done by me or someone else driving it without even looking at it. Is ridiculous

 

Does Toyota sell that crossmember by itself?

Hard enough to get frames, let alone parts of frames.

Regardless of if it's "safe to drive" as some folks are suggesting, that would never ever fly with me.

It was probably bent on the frame rack unfortunately.

Good thing in Colorado there are lots of good Toyota shops, Mountain Yotas, Runnin4Tacos, Tru Automotive. One of those shops can cut that out and and fab you something that will definitely be stronger than stock.

Basically cut it out, plate the sides of the frame, bend up some tube and metal plates.

 

Insightful…..learning a lot here about frames.
Last time I saw crossmember smashed like that it was from a chain in a snatch rope

 

I thought the same, looks like it was "hooked" and pulled/recovered there.
This is why you always request a copy of the estimate because the original body shop may have gotten paid to fix that (and didn't).

 

Not going to bend that by simply winching a truck up on a rollback. Even if all 4 tires were locked up, it's going to drag first before that crossmember bends.

Most frame pullers have 10 tons of pulling force, and they will strap your truck down in place, that's exactly what happened here.

 

my thoughts would be down in a ditch and pulled over a stump or something. Possibly pulled over some large rocks base for your recovery situation, not just a drag it up on the flatbed from the pavement

 

I hope you can reach an agreement with the ins company, but, it's gonna take some work.

 

No offroading has occurred with this vehicle. we have class 6 roads but I'm not dumb enough nor do I have the balls to wheel a DD. We have jeeps, atvs and utvs for that. With the occasional golf cart in the mix

 

Do i have any techs or machinists that have seen this before? My insurance is trying to wipe its hands clean of this. It was a pain just to get them to approve a new claim for it. And the dummy I spoke to said oh yeah you definitely hit something.... which is infuriating. He wouldn't even entertain the idea that it could have been from the Frame rack.

 

It's not forged. Just mild steel, not that it's not a very strong hunk.

 

Thanks for the clarification

 

i woulde file a new one , also dont ask for permission theyre not your friends .Remember who they work for