40' DP in accident

[Yonder]

Hey gang ... over Labor Day weekend we were hit by an 18 wheeler. Nobody in either vehicle was injured, praise God. The rear end was pretty ripped off, radiator and engine damage and probably more that we don't yet know. Now the truck center that has had it for nearly two weeks has determined that the frame is bent and they cannot repair it as it's too big a job.

My question: Does anyone have a similar "wreck" experience and, if so, can a frame reasonably be straightened? Anybody know of a shop in the northwest capable of taking on the frame, engine and body repairs?

Every shop I've spoken to and sent pics to is guessing it's a "total" but that's hard for me to grasp when the visible damage is only to the very back end. Engine is out of commission but slides, A/C and all still operate  and no apparent interior damage at all.

I have pics but they're apparently too large to be accepted by this forum.

 

[Isaac-1]

It does not take much total a vehicle, I had a small dent in my car where someone backed into it a couple of years ago, dent the size of the palm of my hand, total repair cost was just over $7,700 which does not count the 6 weeks worth of car rental the insurance company paid.

 

[KandT]

Hey gang ... over Labor Day weekend we were hit by an 18 wheeler. Nobody in either vehicle was injured, praise God. The rear end was pretty ripped off, radiator and engine damage and probably more that we don't yet know. Now the truck center that has had it for nearly two weeks has determined that the frame is bent and they cannot repair it as it's too big a job.

My question: Does anyone have a similar "wreck" experience and, if so, can a frame reasonably be straightened? Anybody know of a shop in the northwest capable of taking on the frame, engine and body repairs?

Every shop I've spoken to and sent pics to is guessing it's a "total" but that's hard for me to grasp when the visible damage is only to the very back end. Engine is out of commission but slides, A/C and all still operate  and no apparent interior damage at all.

I have pics but they're apparently too large to be accepted by this forum.

Will the 18 wheeler insurance cover the damage?  If so and they total your DP could be parted out at least for a pretty good price.  The genset alone is worth a good bit.

 

[John From Detroit]

Personally I believe you have described "TOTAL WASH".. no way to properly repair it.

And in this case. That is MY decision not the "oh that dent the size of a grape totals the car" insurance adjusters.

 

[Rene T]

It does not take much total a vehicle, I had a small dent in my car where someone backed into it a couple of years ago, dent the size of the palm of my hand, total repair cost was just over $7,700 which does not count the 6 weeks worth of car rental the insurance company paid.

You got ripped off if the dent was only the size of your palm and it took them nearly 6 weeks.  They saw you coming.

 

[Hfx_Cdn]

      Check with heavy truck dealers in your area. i had a customer who sold heavy trucks and I know they did major repairs to trucks, so they should also be able t fix the MH.  But at the end of the day, if the insurance claim is attractive, you may be better of taking it and getting a newer unit. 

Ed

 

[Isaac-1]

You got ripped off if the dent was only the size of your palm and it took them nearly 6 weeks.  They saw you coming.

Well there was a little more to it than that, but not much, the hit was on the back left corner, which also dinged the wheel (thumbnail size ding in the wheel).  Since the other partie's insurance was paying  I did not argue about the need to replace the wheel, given they are $900 each (limited edition color 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT-8).  They also had to replace the factory vinyl pinstripe kit, this was a large part of the delay, as it was a no longer available pattern/color (fake carbon fiber weave), they were eventually able to get a hood stripe kit from a dealer 300 miles away that happened to have one in stock, and get a local sign shop to cut it down to replicate the original stripe.  The hood stripe kit was $550 plus $200 to local sign shop to cut it down to replicate the no longer available stripe, which had to be custom approved by the insurance company, but given the alternative was to completely re-stripe the entire car with an available fake carbon fiber weave pattern they approved it.  Then after I picked the left rear wheel position sensor went out within 20 miles of driving, so it must have taken a blow or a zap from the welding so insurance covered that, ...

 

[Yonder]

Updates for those who have responded: We are still working out fault so other driver insurance may not apply. Have called several big truck shops but no one wants to touch it. They refer me to RV repair shops and one has said liability to take coach apart to get to frame is just too great. I understand  that. Still waiting for independent appraiser to announce final word. Insurance company has advised me to keep looking for repair shop incase appraiser says it can be fixed.

 

[Yonder]

... and thanks to those who have provided relevant information and opinions.

 

[NY_Dutch]

My former truck shop handles frame straightening on Class 7 & 8 trucks, but complete body and running gear removal is almost always required. We wouldn't touch an RV for that reason...

 

[Rene T]

Well there was a little more to it than that, but not much, the hit was on the back left corner, which also dinged the wheel (thumbnail size ding in the wheel).  Since the other partie's insurance was paying  I did not argue about the need to replace the wheel, given they are $900 each (limited edition color 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT-8).  They also had to replace the factory vinyl pinstripe kit, this was a large part of the delay, as it was a no longer available pattern/color (fake carbon fiber weave), they were eventually able to get a hood stripe kit from a dealer 300 miles away that happened to have one in stock, and get a local sign shop to cut it down to replicate the original stripe.  The hood stripe kit was $550 plus $200 to local sign shop to cut it down to replicate the no longer available stripe, which had to be custom approved by the insurance company, but given the alternative was to completely re-stripe the entire car with an available fake carbon fiber weave pattern they approved it.  Then after I picked the left rear wheel position sensor went out within 20 miles of driving, so it must have taken a blow or a zap from the welding so insurance covered that, ...

That makes a huge difference compared to what you originally said. Makes sense now. Thanks for expanding.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

At 12 years of age, there isn't much hope that it's not totaled.  We went through a major accident (front end) when our coach was 6 years old and came close.  Re-painting alone can easily top $15,000.    And even if a shop is willing to try the frame repair, the price is going to be high enough that the insurance will decide to total loss it anyway.  It's simple arithmetic for the insurer.  If they can get enough salvage value to offset a good chunk of the market value, the net payout is less on a total than a repair. As already mentioned, the diesel engine, Allison tranny, diesel generator, etc are all valuable as salvage. Plus the body front end components are always in demand.


  The only difference between the other guys insurance and yours will be the deductible on yours, so not really a factor.  You could always use the settlement to buy the coach back at its salvage value and pay for the repairs yourself, but with frame damage the risk is rather high.

 

[A Traveler]

Whether or not a vehicle is ?totaled? is a very easy calculation. If the cost of repair exceeds the value of the vehicle, it is ?totaled? as far as your insurance is concerned.

On an older vehicle, that number could be quite low, so even a seemingly minor amount of damage results in a total loss.

Been there. Done that.

 

[Ernie n Tara]

Actually it's even worse; its totalled when the value of the vehicle less salvage value, less any car rentals or similar costs is less than repair costs.

Ernie

 

[GeorgeandTheBear]

Actually it's even worse; its totalled when the value of the vehicle less salvage value, less any car rentals or similar costs is less than repair costs.

Ernie

What Ernie said.

 

[BruceinFL]

I don't think I would want it after it was "fixed".

 

[irishtom29]

As an aside: in 1994 I bought a new F-150, a totally stripped model with the straight six, stick shift, rubber floor crank windows etc. No radio even. No soccer dad truck. ;-) Anyway a week after I bought I had a wreck that did little body damage but ruined the frame. I thought it would be totaled but the insurance company, State Farm, had it fixed with a brand new frame.

The local Ford dealer did the work. I thought it was an odd thing to do but the fixed truck was great.

 

[Yonder]

Here's the update ... frame bent, bell housing cracked open about 1" ... yep. it's a total.  She has been towed to a salvage yard but I don't have the official, paper declaration of "total" yet.  So .. we are shopping for a new DP! 

 

[SpencerPJ]

Here's the update ... frame bent, bell housing cracked open about 1" ... yep. it's a total.  She has been towed to a salvage yard but I don't have the official, paper declaration of "total" yet.  So .. we are shopping for a new DP! 

Sorry for the loss, it will all work out.  I'd take that decision over a repair and never right again, every-time.  Good luck with settling and happy hunting.  Thanks for letting us know )

 

[Yonder]

It has taken 2 months but the dust has finally settled and the insurance company was more than fair with us in the settlement. Picking up a new (to us) 2015 Itasca Ellipse on Wednesday. Woo hoo ... going tag axle  baby!