Well, they totaled my truck
 

They told me late yesterday. I'm looking to buy it back at rebuild it myself. The adjuster mentioned a kit for rear frame repair. Anyone have any idea where one would go about finding something like that?
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Oh man that is awful. It looks like she hit the hitch which caused the frame bend. Do you think it would've bent if the hitch had not been on the truck?

I don't think it would have been as bad.

I've always left mine on thinking it would be some protection but I think you have proof that it can make the damage worse depending on the strike. I would be devastated if mine got hit like that. . . I'll keep an eye out for a bed around here.

How bad is the frame bent? I think it looks worse in the pic than what it is

bummer

How dang heavy was that top soil?!?! Note to self never buy that brand.

:lol:

Basically, it's bent from the shackles back.

I've never seen someone replace a portion of the frame from that year range. If you tow, sectioning the frame to weld in a new portion the frame will not be as strong anymore. Seen that brought up a few times, but nobody seems to know what exactly it lowers the capacity to. I'd talk to a frame shop about it and get a quote on what it'll cost. I'd probably let it go and buy another truck.

I'd buy it back.

Not that much of an undertaking.

Replace bed, bumper, and tailgate and get a frame shop to straighten the rear end. There may be some ancillary parts that need replacing - you'll find that out when you're into it deeper.

I bought it back today. It was my mom's truck before she passed so I have an attachment to it. Plus I've got a lot of time/money in it. My uncle ran a body shop for 35 years and he's gonna come look at it this weekend for me. The insurance payout was generous, so I think I will come out ahead.

Sorry to hear about your mom. Will make it that much more meaningful when you've completed the resto.

Nice! how much they charge you to buy it back out there if you don't mind me asking? less then 500? idk if it's a standard number or goes by actual make and model
that happened to me once , i didn't mind it. it was like selling it twice almost. they paid me out, then i got it back for $200, fixed it for $300 and sold it, salvage, for a grand cheaper then they paid me out already. it worked out for that ride..
should work the same if you are keeping it for a while too. you should be able to fix it right and have some money left over to do some extra stuff to it.

Buy back was around $2200.

Wow thats a lot for buy back . Once its totaled then its forever a salvage . I think I would part it out. Then invest in another truck . Theres a lot of high valve parts left on that I don't think you can collect on an insurance claim if its in another accident.
A used engine goes for 2500 .Doesn't pay to get attached to vehicles. Some one would take that cab and move vin over. Fenders doors etc ,axle 4wd parts should be worth your while .

You can find a bed and full frame fairly reasonably priced if you have the means to swap everything over.

As mentioned once insurance totals it , it will have salvage on the title permanently and you’ll never get your money out of it . But if you can find a good Frame and Wheel place that’s updated with todays equipment they can usually straighten any frame for rebuild . There is such a place in Midland Texas that’s located on Wall St that does such work . You can contact them and see if they can fix your truck and and maybe get a quote . But if i were you I’d just take payoff and get another truck .

http://midlandframeandwheel.com/index.php

Good luck. It'll NEVER drive the same no matter how good the frame repair. I would've taken the insurance payout, parting it out to make a profit at over $2k is a losing proposition.

Although that statement is entirely untrue, the OP now has the proverbial unwanted step-child. It's a salvage title so it'll be nearly impossible to re-sell in the future and he paid WAY too much for the buyback. $2200 must've been close to half the total value.

Payout was 10,600.

Salvage title usually drops the value to 50%.
My father in law bought a 1995 Explorer that has a salvage title, it just rolled over 200k never had a single problem with it. And again, he paid half of what one without a salvage title would have cost.

As the OP mentioned it's all sentimental value, he's not gonna part it out. He'll fix it and drive the wheels off it and enjoy it. I think that's pretty cool.

Bingo. With the medical settlement, plus the auto payout, I'll come out ahead. Even if I were to lose my ass, I wouldn't care. I don't ever plan on selling.
This just gives me an excuse to give my wife for buying a ton of aftermarket parts and turning it into exactly what I want.

Is it? I’ve yet to meet a structural repair either on a vehicle or on a boat that I couldn’t feel within minutes. A thousandth on a jig makes a world of difference.

To me, sentimental value is worth about as much as the cup of coffee needed to look over the paperwork.

OP, good luck in your endeavor. Hopefully Perry can hook you up with a frame repair shop.

Man, your opinion isn't the end all be all. Opinions are like... Well, you know. To you it is the end of the world. That is fine, but when you keep ramming YOUR opinion down peoples throats they tend to stop taking anything you say with any amount weight. We get it, you like to have the BEST opinion.

The dollars and cents is a decision left to the owner, I was primarily addressing the part about "It'll never drive the same".
For 15 years I worked for a 3 line dealer and we had a state-of-the-art the body shop with a frame rack that used laser/optic measurement. I was one of its clients after I piled up my '90 K1500. I put a nice diamond in the frame and that rack straightened it perfectly. Upon completion all survey points were well within range, and the alignment cams were surprisingly well centered too. It probably came off the rack straighter than it came off the assy line, at least based off how well centered the cams were. Torsion bar cranks were even too. I was quite impressed.

Well, I finally got around to getting it to the shop for repair. I miss driving it. I bought an old envoy to get around in while its being worked on.

Now I need some recommendations on a rollpan w/ hidden hitch. I'm also not sure about putting the "FX2" back on the new bed.

I bought a roll pan yesterday. They don't seem to make a hidden hitch for it anymore, so I'm still brainstorming on that. Ordered the taillights today along with some interior pieces I've needed for awhile. I can't wait to get it back and get some pics up.

I'd leave off the bed stickers, not a fan of any, 4x4, fx4, etc stickers.

I think that's what I'm going to do. I think it will look cleaner without them.

I caught a wild hair and ordered a Super Snake hood. I figured, why not since I'm already having part of it painted anyway.

That may be a good way to go, Around here I see entire trucks priced at a couple thousand when they are in need of an engine.

Is that not part of the frame?

The hitch? It bolts onto the frame.

I snapped a couple quick pics while I was at the shop dropping off the taillights yesterday. Hoping to get it back today.
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Looks nice, glad it's coming along!

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Just got it back. The Super Snake hood should be here next Thursday.

Keep updating. Let’s see this thing on the road again.

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I put a new lip on to replace the one I melted during a firework mishap during my wedding...

Looks great buddy! I love it when someone has an emotional attachment to their truck and refuse to let them go. First of all its financially smart and second the stories that go with them are great.