Minor Collission - Bent Frame 2017 Tacoma

Bought a used Tacoma for my son in January. Base level SR 4x4 long bed access cab utility version. He got rear ended in Sept by a Mazda 3 or 6 series. Tore the snot out of that car as his aftermarket hitch took the brunt. The car kind of slid up under the hitch a bit. rear Bumper barely touched but it was pushed back and down a smidge. really hard to tell if you didn't know what to look for. State Farm insurance has been awful to deal with - still not settled. Got up under truck and removed hitch and bumper and found the frame is bent. Took pics to bodyshop and they said the truck may be totalled because it's so near to the spring perch mount. Just FYI to those that get rear ended with minimal visual damage. I was really surprised to see how flimsy the frame is in relation to the size and weight of the truck (compared to original Toyota pickups and 1st Gen 4Runners.

 

Why? Why can’t I get a Mazda 3 to run into me? (Get me out of this 14 year prison sentence ) sorry to see

 

The frame did what it was designed to do, it lessened the impact to the occupants of both vehicles. The size and weight shouldn't make it less safe for people. All modern vehicles are designed to absorb the energy instead of transmitting it to the occupants like old cars did.

 

I feel like I’ve heard that the hitch on these trucks is stronger than the frame, and that catches some folks by surprise. Seems like a small bump on the hitch but your truck is totaled from a bent frame.

10 out of 10 insurance companies give the rest a bad name.

I joke around for fun but seriously though all insurance companies suck a$$.

If I had kids and this was my kid’s truck, I’d want it off the road. Get that body shop to put it in writing that the damage is too close to the suspension to repair it. Get your adjuster back out to inspect. I wouldn’t send my kid out on a compromised frame.

Count your lucky stars, hug your kid, take the check, and move on!

 

The hitch assembly is very strong, hangs down pretty low bellow the frame and there is a thin/week point in the frame before its reinforced again with the rear springs. That's a lot of leverage perpendicular to the frame. If you search about rear ends on Tacomas, if you have a tow package there is very good chance it will bend the frame.

 

What year Taco? Miles? A new frame is about 6500.00 plus labor for the swap over... If Insurance Co. totals it, may be worth buying back and doing a self swap project with your son.

 

Exactly!
Personal injures and/or deaths are easily 1-3 decimal places over vehicle repair/replacement.

 

I’d secure one before buying the totaled truck, it sounds like they’re hard to find and can take many months to get.

 

Time to sue State Farm. 12 months to address and repair a vehicle is not what you are paying for. Hope they have provided you a rental this whole period as well.

 

Math is hard, huh?

 

10 years ago, this frame would have been pulled straight.

Now, because of our litigious society, the frame needs replaced or the truck is totalled.

This is why our insurance cost keep going up.

I get it, the kids need watching over.

Buy the truck back and sell it outright. Get the kid a car/ truck that lets sleep better.

Guys like me will straighten the frame and drive the thing for another 200k miles. We only care that the air bags and seatbelts are functional.

 

Did the Mazda's airbags deploy? It possibly wasn't a minor collision, and your son might be in a neck brace if the crumple zone wasn't there, just sayin'.

 

Ok, seriously. What’s wrong with fixing it?

Is the safety issue a comprised crumple zone? Because mechanically, that spring mount can be repaired or replaced with a long travel mount and be just as secure to the frame as before.

 

example of said long travel bolt-on leaf spring mount.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...rage-2005-2023-tacoma-shackle-hangers.519625/

 

State Farm is the absolute worst for making you fight for money. Their policy is to deny by default. The likelihood you will need to get a lawyer to collect is probably 8/10. Your insurance should do that for you. Sorry.

Anyone who has State Farm, seriously get anything else, they do it to their own customers constantly.

 

Well, I’ve had State Farm since 1980 and it’s bailed me out every time I’ve done something stupid and costly. Not the cheapest by any measure, but has been good to me.

 

yes, it’s a compromise of the material and the crumple zone.

 

the frame isn’t flimsy. The frame most likely suffered more damage because of the aftermarket hitch that hangs down lower. The lower hitch is a very solid mount and create a leverage on the frame more easily bending it.

that frame area is also the crumple zone. it, absorbs energy, protects the occupants at the sacrifice of the truck.

 

I won on my daughter’s car. I probably could have sold it for around 5k according to kbb before it was totaled to someone but the insurance gave me 9k for it I was amazed and it was only a front bumper and fender it needed. Totaled it.

 

Was she driving a Mazda 3?