Guy rear ended me, possible frame damage

[crashwave]

I'm not sure if it's technically referred to on the Explorer as the 'frame' or 'unibody' or whatever it is, but apparently I may have a f-ed frame. Guy rear ended me about about 45mph, and when I took it to a autobody, he pointed out all these signs that my frame would be completely f-ed, but then when he lifted it up, and took a look underneath, he noticed a pinch point somewhere in the frame, which I have a picture of (printed out) that he gave me.

Yet, he tells me that my frame is NOT bent, and that my truck shouldn't be totaled. I find this extremely hard to believe since my alignment is all whacked. My driver side door is pinched in the bottom right corner, and all the spacing on the left side of my Sport is extremely tight; the right side (passenger) is pretty wide in comparison in the gaps between the door panels. My passenger side door on the top was bent out. Most noticeably is my rear glass window, on the passenger side there's a giant gap that I can actually fit my finger underneath, and on the driver side, I cant even possibly squeeze my finger underneath.

Now, I've taken pristine condition of this car since I got it. I know the ins and outs of my entire Explorer and this guy told me that the explination for the passenger side door and rear glass is that IT WAS OFF THE FACTORY LIKE THIS! That is complete and utter bulIshit....I have plenty of photos of my explorer when I first got it that prove that the glass was correctly aligned, as well as the passenger side door. I'm NOT going to accept this guy's opinion.

An insurance agent from the guy who hit me is going to be checking my Explorer out in a few days. Basically, what I want to know is, does it sound at least like my Explorer *should* be totalled? It's completely driveable, but driveable and safe are two completely different things.

I'm afraid theres going to be some serious problems down the road if it isn't taken care of. That body shop guy is an asshat.

 

[TarHeel085]

ill take your seats if it is yeah your right that guys sounds like a complete moron! i would take it to another shop for their opinion. if it tweaked your frame and body as bad as you say it did then more than likely its totalled. good luck!

 

[jimbo74]

sounds like it is totalled, however, the body can be all screwed and still the frame can be ok..... my body is thrashed from a roll, but the frame hasnt sustained any damage from that roll.... my truck would be totalled by insurance companies, but since i dont have comp coverage (or any at the moment), it is mine to deal with......

 

[crashwave]

Originally posted by jimabena74
sounds like it is totalled, however, the body can be all screwed and still the frame can be ok..... my body is thrashed from a roll, but the frame hasnt sustained any damage from that roll.... my truck would be totalled by insurance companies, but since i dont have comp coverage (or any at the moment), it is mine to deal with......

Well, what pisses me off is that he listed the damage in the estimate as only $1,400. 1400 my ass!

I'll be sure and completely explain everything to the insurance agent as well, and make sure he understands everything that happened and so forth.

 

[crashwave]

One OTHER huge problem. We still owe Ford Credit $10k in a loan, I've only had this Explorer since last May. My problem is this: If this car is totaled, is someones insurance going to cover the 10k loan? It's complete bullshit if I have to pay $10,000 for a car that I no longer own, and from an accident that wasn't even my fault, clearly.

If someones insurance covers this, than it's no worries as I'll get another car, but if I'm still in the hole for $10k, there's a serious problem!

The loan would be paid off in another 2 years, but the point is clearly made: dumping ten grand into a car that you no longer own is a complete waste of money.

Anyone know anything about that as well?

 

[Doug]

It sounds like your truck is totalled. I was in an accident with my old explorer (96 sport) and the insurance company totalled it. It had front end damage which could have been repaired. I still have the truck and i plan on fixing it and turning it into a trail rig. On another hand I have a friend of mine who wrapped a 99 ranger around a tree about 2 years ago and the insurance company fixed it. The truck was so tweaked only 3 wheels sat on the ground! Ive also heard of auto body shops actually swapping frames if the frame is bady damaged.

 

[crashwave]

Yeah, but swapping a frame is highly expensive.

Also, did you have to pay your insurance company any sort of money to keep the 'totaled' vehicle? If I part out my Explorer, I could get a lot back.

Anyone have a word on the insurance matteR?

 

[jimbo74]

when they total it, you normally dont get to keep it.... a frame swap really isnt too much, provoded you can find a donor.... i was quoted $2k for the body minus the firewall forward..... on my 1994..... when they total it, you normally get blue book on it, hopefully it is still worth 10k or you are screwed..... insurance companies suck, i am only getting liability... hell, with the people i know, i can get it fixed cheaper anyway.... and knowing people will also get anything fixed......

 

[Doug]

frame swaps arent that expensive thats why they do them. Explorer's are referred to being "Body on frame" which means the body and frame are 2 seperate things so its not hard to pull out the frame and replace it. Yeah if explorers where unibody where there is no real frame your truck would definantly be totalled.

 

[crashwave]

Once again the auto body asshat is wrong. As you just pointed out, the Explorer doesnt have a unibody. He told me it is.

 

[james t]

i do know that in Arkansas and Texas both you have first buy-back rights on your totaled vehicle. if you want it, they "sell it back" to you after you have been payed for the total. you pay them average salvage yard value. on an american car/truck, it is rarely over $2k. most people are unaware of this, and the agent usually doesnt offer...

a $1400 dollar estimate? that doesnt sound right AT ALL. my wife dented the hatch on my 96. that was the only damage. went to 3 shops, and the cheapest estimate was $1200... and that was to only replace the hatch. go somewere else.

 

[Doug]

Heh the insurance company didnt even ask me if i wanted to buy the truck back. I called them up to tell them i wanted to and they told me i already had! I guess by having it towed to my house that to them meant i wanted it. The insurance company gave me 9k for my truck and it cost me 1k to buy it back. The truck is def. worth more than 1k and if i ever decide to do something with it, itll be a great project truck.