Rear Ended - Frame bent - need advice !!!

Hey,

Figures just had the tailgate and bumper painted.

Looking for some advice if this truck is written off, which i really hope not. Its a 2016 with 200,000kms but in pristine condition.

Can this be repaired properly and if written off, how do i buy it back and repair myself?

Any help much appreciated, Garr

 

I’m not an expert by any means. I don’t think you’ll actually know the answer until a frame shop looks at it to see if it can be straightened enough to get the rear axle aligned properly.

Make sure your insurance is looped in. Let them fight with the other guys insurance company. That’s their job.

 

I think it would be uncommon for insurance to approve a frame repair. Unsure if Canada would be different
It can be bent back but they don’t want the liability

 

If they want to total it just ask you adjuster how much they will deduct if you retain it. It's not rocket science.

 

I am not sure of the current timeline, but new frames were taking months to get and not cheap,, of course that's also a big job. Just something to look in to before/if you buy it back. Rest assured, if they insurance company could save a dollar repairing, they would, so it's highly unlikely you are going to get it done for less, unless of course you want a side project and DIY., but you are still going to pay for it with your time and effort.

 

Rear ended wrecks happens every damn day and they certainly don't total all of them "just because". Minor frame damage does not necessarily mean it is toast. Take it to a reputable body shop and they will tell you what it needs.

 

I cannot comment on the OPs specific question...

But all these rear end hits have made me think...
Why not put a bolted connection in the frame so that the rear end could be easily repaired simply by replacing the rear portion? More crumple zones could be added to this rear section to better protect the forward portion of the frame.

The bolted connection would not be hugely expensive. Yes - it would be an issue for a mass manufacturer since they pinch pennies - but it would save oh, so much grief and repair costs.
And hopefully also insurance premiums, perhaps?

 

Toyota may feel if a frame buckles, customer may have to buy a new Tacoma increasing sales. The Pinto exploding gas tank just shows some manufacturers just don’t care.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/ca...e-engineering-failures-ford-pinto-fuel-tanks/

 

If it’s totaled and you want to keep and repair in some states you can’t register it, some you need an special inspection done after the repair,
You will get a rebuilt title. Not sure about insurance. I do see rebuilt titles on eBay. If you keep it to the end of usability do what you want. Oh, good luck

 

I like your way of thinking.

 

Because collision repair cost isn't Toyota's problem. So they go the other way and make even the tow hitch a permanently welded crossmember on the 4th gen frame, in the name of stiffness.

 

yep

 

If you were paying for this repair yourself, you can go to an off road fabrication shop, chop frame before the bend, and go from there (steel bumper, flatbed, whatever).

With insurance involved, repaired properly means replacing the frame, so the decision to repair or total is purely economics. A 2023 with the same damage may get repaired (e.g. $17k repair deemed worthwhile on a $45k CAD truck). Yours is probably going to be totaled.

If insurance totals it and you buy it back for repair, the truck will get a salvage title.

 

Exactly what I was going to say. They do that in Ohio.

I had a 4Runner with a dented in lift gate from a rear end accident, and they wanted to total it. I took a smaller check, kept the truck, replaced the lift gate (plug and play essentially), but then had to have a state inspection and was issued a "salvaged" title. When I finally went to sell and disclosed this info, everyone thought the thing had been pushed over a cliff and did 35 barrel rolls or something!

 

Are you the original owner? When was the welding done in pic #2
If it is deemed totaled and you buy it back it will come with a "salvaged title"

 

Pic #2 appears to be a stock weld - looks just like my 2021 OR only owner.

 

Bob that bed and you'll have the best departure clearance around.

 

If they do total it and you retain it, you may have trouble finding a shop that will repair a salvaged title vehicle. Im in the collision biz and we dont repair them if thats the case.

 

insurance companies do not care what toyota thinks

that isn't how that works.

also not how it works.

also not how it works.

every state is different regarding total losses and salvage title requirements. in almost every state insurance deciding to total a car does NOT mean it will have a branded/salvage title. i'm sure ontario has it's own set of rules and he should be asking his insurance adjuster this question, not this forum.

ex: in texas you insurance is not allowed to submit the form to the state that requires you to do the salvage title bullshit unless the estimate is over 100% of the ACV of the vehicle. hail is excluded as well.

in oklahoma the percentage is 60% for salvage and 80% for junk titles. junk title means means it cannot ever be driven on the road again and only sold for parts. HOWEVER... the law states the repair estimates for 60/80% are for the vehicle to be driven on the road. so that would exclude everything related to cosmetic damage and paint. so mainly body/frame/suspension.

shitty adjusters can and do submit forms to the state in error that end up with people having to go through this ordeal when they should not have. if i were @BigAirGar i would ask the adjuster to confirm how it is handled where he specifically lived.

 

I believe you are correct. Let me add that in my case, it was a 93 4Runner (California born and raised in near mint condition) and this happened in 2013. Due to the age, the adjusters estimated repairs exceeded what they deemed actual value. Hence the reporting of the 'total loss' and state inspection resulting in salvaged title. Maybe my experience is not apples to apples in the OP's case.