Totaled or repairable?

It's not $16k in labor to replace a frame. Your dealership is saying that because they don't want to do frame jobs. The vast majority of frame replacements are between 35-45 hours. Unless the truck is rusty, frame swaps are pretty easy, but they are time consuming and they take up a lot of space. That's why the dealer doesn't want to do it.

 

Recently had an estimate from body shop for a 21. The line that said 'frame' was $8000. Unknown if labor is counted as their billing lines are in another language.

 

List price on a 3rd gen double cab/short frame is $7,827.43. Labor is 43.5 hours for the frame, plus another 6 or 8-ish for other stuff that has to be done that is not included in that 43.5.

 

Exactly. Random day, random item, random people. Placement in the list matters too, towards the end people might be more anxious for example. I could write a tome of all the ones I wanted that didn't happen.

I've noticed in my experience dealers were almost better for competition versus individuals. Sure the dealer has a bigger wallet, but they also know the game and won't overpay because it's not any kind of attachment they have.

I did an auction draft for a baseball league and the other people thought they'd have fun with the new guy. Nope, I knew what i would pay and wouldn't get caught up.

My 2010 single cab was reframed by Toyota in 2021 (see sig for particulars). $12 to $13K, forgot the exact number. Two person job taking roughly 40 hours, though I reckon some can work faster given doing the job enough times.

 

I'm no expert on this but if that was the case then you wouldn't be able to weld sliders onto the frame or do any modifications, however, that seems to be working out for a lot of folks just fine. For example:

https://twstatic.net/attachments/img_9630-jpg.5840723/?res=640

 

I'm just restating what I was told by a local Toyota body shop that did the work on my truck.

 

I did a bunch of frame welding on my’58 Willy’s. Cheap buzz box. Off roared it. None cracked. You have to use the right rod and anneal the area around the weld. Of course modern frames are a different alloy, so YMMV. It probably also depends on where on the frame the welding is done. Different areas, different stresses. I expect areas around suspension mounting points would need very good welds to hold up forever.

 

I am in northern Colorado. Insurance wants $6,000 for a buy back. It has 188,010 miles. Is it even worth keeping at $6,000 I feel like that's alot.

 

I bought my two 2012 Tacos with similar damage for an average of 10K each. 5 years ago for the first one and 3 years ago for the second one. The first one had 67K miles on it and the second one had 72K miles. I'm very satisfied with the value I got in the trucks.

It's your call, of course. Maybe you can make an offer if you are fairly close. I wouldn't be interested at that price as someone buying from you... but as someone with ownership knowledge and direct experience I might. It's the number of miles that would make me hesitate.

Let us know what you decide to do. If you do the repair it would be interesting to people on the forum, especially with pics or video.

 

Yep, especially since you know the history. But that does require you to want it
If you are are just going to buy another truck and use the new one like you would this one, it might not be useful, to you

I’m pretty sure it’s just about the perfect trail rig, and with you in Colorado, I’d personally do it

Research what will happen with the title, if you get a salvage title or not, and what that entails for insuring it, or even if you want to buy it back and just flip it. You can likely sell it for more than 6k in a day

 

What are they offering you before the buyback cost?

 

It has more to do with DOT than the process of forming the frame. DOT frowns on welded frames, some states won't allow it to pass inspection. Metallurgy plays a part too. Places will straighten frames yet...there are fewer of those all of the time, probably due to liability.

 

You cannot properly cut/section a hydroformed frame. That is not the same thing as welding sliders to the frame.

 

It has nothing to do with the DOT and everything to do with the way a hydroformed frame is made. GM has used hydroforming for years. There is not and has never been a way to properly and safely section a hydroformed frame, which is why the manufacturers tell you not to do it. That doesn't necessarily mean they can't be pulled and repaired, but it definitely means they cannot be sectioned.

 

It does have a lot to do with DOT. The safety of sectioning any frame is all in the welder. That's why DOT is against welding frames and why some states will not pass welded frames in an inspection. Hydroforming is not new, it allows you to make bends that otherwise couldn't be mechanically made safely.

 

Lots of states don't even have DOT/vehicle inspections. But sure, I have no doubt that you are correct that there are states that have DOT inspections in which they would fail a vehicle for that. PA is undoubtedly one.

Oregon is one of the few states with extensive laws related to collision repair, what can/cannot be done. For the most part, states are silent on this topic

https://oregon.public.law/rules/oar_735-024-0050

 

These frames are full of welds and cutting and splicing can be done very nicely with any amount of skill. People on these fora do it to modify their rigs all the time and if well done they are stronger than the original. And that's what a lot of the mods are intended to do.

 

Just like building codes, many of the laws are in place to force money from private pockets and into businesses and contractor's bank accounts. It's hard to find a real body shop anymore because it's easier to be a parts replacer and the insurance companies are making money by totaling easy repairs so who cares if the consumer takes it in the... shorts.

 

I owe you and @OldSchlPunk an apology. While enjoying my dinner, it popped into my head that what I said initially only applies to frames/structural parts that are hydroformed and adhesive bonded, not hydroformed and welded. You are both correct, no idea why I didn't realize that when reading what you both wrote.

 

Thank you I will do some research on it.