Just got rear ended

Metal fatigue is a Funny term. i used to hear it on marine bases when motors or something like that failed due to misaligned equipment. "Dude it ran fine for like 6 months then it just crapped out, I mean it sounded terrible and shook a little bit".
The frame is drilled to crumple in areas to absorb the blow- so technically Toyota helps your frame with "metal fatigue" off the line.
Take a new frame in the shop put it on the floor and grab a corner and lift, you will get about 4-6" of lift in that corner before the other corners start I lift. There is so much flex and play in these. Stock trucks have frame plates welded for pulling, hauling and towing because Toyota frames a notorious for the ass end sag. I have manipulated metal in industrial applications for a long time, someone who knows what they are doing can identify issues before they become a problem, just use a reputable shop.

you could always total it out, buy it back from the insurance company for 2k and rebuild it and beat the piss out of it on the back roads and woods and mud holes and take the rest and buy another truck.

 

Now you're getting it! Collision centers are supposed to repair your truck back to OEM specs. I work for a dealership owned collision center, much better than indapendantly owned shops. The reason Toyota denies the warranty is just like every other maker, no more money out of their pocket on this guy! When this happens, and I won't say it doesn't because it does all too often. A independent shop has no allies so to speak. They have to eat the entire cost and suppliment to the insurance. This leads you to sub par work being done because they may or may not get paid for this additional work. We have allies in the company and we won't worry as much about the insurance payment on the additional repairs as the dealership is a team and will generate revenue to cover this. If it's accident related the insurance will pay.

It also is kinda a mute point as you can't send your truck back to Toyota to be repaired, it's always going to be a collision center doing the work unless they sublet out the frame replacement to a Toyota dealership. Find me a insurance company willing to pay those labor rates!

As long as the OP is happy that is all that matters! Make sure you know the shops warranty coverage and time frame for warranty cut off. If it's a reputable shop the warranty will be good.

 

I did talk to the shop about warranty coverage. Parts and labor are covered as long as I own the truck. If something was supposed to be fixed under a Toyota warranty, but Toyota says it's accident related then the shop will take care of it

The collision shop is preferred by both my insurance, the other guys insurance and is used by the local Toyota dealership which means any repairs are guaranteed by the shop and backed by my insurance

 

I wouldnt drive that truck anymore...

 

Sub'd for outcome.

 

Get it in writing...

 

Why didn't your dad go complain to the shop? If they did shitty work any self respecting shop would fix it.

 

Dang that suckss

 

Well that sucks I would try to get him to deal with it though. That stuff shouldn't be too complicated to fix.

 

Beavis that is definatly good advice/warning. I hope that is a isolated incident from one shop

So at the moment I have two insurance companies deciding what to do

His insurance is paying for the truck but I am working through mine. My insurance is the one who has determined the truck is repairable even though it will take three months because I have to wait for an oem frame which is on back order

The other insurance is now throwing a fit because I will need a rental for the whole time AND and filing for deminished value

Both insurances are now sending out additional adjusters to determine what needs to be done and I should hopefully hear something early next week

 

It is is my insurance policy, and the shop told me they will provide me with a copy of their guarantee as well

 

OP said he is in PA, When I got broadsided by a guy who blew the light I missed out on being totaled by $1800. I went after a check for diminished Value and was told that I would have to take the insurance company to court and hopefully I would get some money...PA doesn't recognize Diminished Value. Even though I was not at fault and didn't have any frame damage, it was nothing but grief and aggravation fighting with the insurance company on the body shop's part and mine. Hope you get a good resolve with your Tacoma.

 

When did you file for deminished value? Pa is most definatly a dv state and any accident that would be determined as reducing the value if your truck should make you eligible

The problem is value is not a hard and fast number. I did speak with a appraiser/lawyer who will do an estimate and even take them to court of need be, but it is cost prohibitive. Just to do the estimate is about $500 and court costs rocket up from there. I want to avoid that if at all possible

 

The other issue with just demanding they total it is the numbers. The total estimate is somewhere around 16k, and the threshold to total the truck is 22-24k depending on who I talk to.

Even with three months rental and a DV claim that's still not close enough

I have managed to piss off his insurance company, and won't do down without a fight.

We shall see

 

Worse comes to worse, I can trade it in, drive it and deal with any problems that arise, or lift it, and wheel the piss out it

 

Sorry about my statement about PA not being a DV state, but... It was 4 years ago and the his insurance was Allstate...I talked with a lawyer as well as my insurance and they told me that I could file for the DV but it is an expensive and long process to get any money. It wasn't an automatic check from the insurance. I let it drop but still have the Tacoma. Check with your insurance company as well as his and see what response you get from them. Good luck with getting everything taken care of.

 

I keep hearing that DV is a hard process, and without an attorney is even worse. Sounds like it is more for classic and really expensive cars but I will still fight it. Maybe the threat of it, along with just being a pain in the ass will be enough to sway them

 

Good luck....hope it works out for you.

 

I wonder if you can trade it in for a new truck "as is" and let the dealer deal with the bank and insurance co. Until it's paid off it's the banks vehicle...and you're just buying a new truck.

 

TOTALED!!!!!!!!!!

I'm at work and will post some details later, but it is finally done