My Truck was crashed into replace or repair ?

[IROCZman15]

Saturday 3/10/18 at 9:30 pm I had just come from visiting with my parents, my brother and his wife and his two young daughters in New Providence. My brotehr is getting deployed to Iraq this week, so that weekend he flew up to visit with family for a few days prior to deployment (USMC 9 yrs). So, I was traveling westbound on RT 10 in Parsippany in the right hand lane at the normal speed along with traffic. In an instant there was a car that pulled out right into the lane I was traveling in. They were unable to see me (and I had been unable to see them) because there was a 4 foot tall snowbank at the area where they were to merge into traffic. They had pulled out from the exit driveway of the Hilton Hotel, onto Rt 10 westbound. There were other vehicles in the lanes nearby me, so if I had swerved fully around this vehicle, I probably would have caused a multi-car wreck and that would have been worse. I did my best to brake and squeeze past the vehicle that just jumped out into the road, but the truck is so wide that my front passenger side hit their rear drivers side. It was inescapable. Nobody was injured and I was not at fault for the accident. However the damage was more than just a fender-bender, and now I am stuck sadly with a busted up truck and an array of options to more forward with.

After looking the truck over, aside from the obvious body damage (core support, hood, passenger and driver side fender, passenger front door, blend paint on both sides, bumper, grill, lower valence, headlight) the steering knuckle was snapped off at the lower mount. you can see it in the wheel photos. the upper mount ball joint looks to have simply popped out as the wheel assembly disconnected. The A-arm is still attached to the frame and although it was probably ground down from the blacktop, does not look twisted or tweaked. I happen to have brand new EBC rotors and pads, as well as brand new bilstein shocks sitting in my garage($800 total)....that I had just freaking ordered 4 days prior to the fateful crash. . The wheel and tire is trashed. The front wheel hub/bearing I had just installed in early February actually too.

State farm initially quoted me $10,200 payout for the truck. I almost passed out when I saw that. For two days I found better comparable vehicles than the ones they used and listed all the things on the truck that were upgrades. they finally stated $12,939.47 and I accepted that as a "locked in value"

My options are, to take the $12,939.47 payout from State Farm and buy a "replacement" truck of the same caliber, while totaling mine and sending it off to the car graveyard (a very sad thought for me)

or perhaps to buy it back from them, have it repaired using the money paid tome by State Farm, and have a salvage title....with a hopefullyfully fixed truck.

I have had a difficult time making this decision since I was really really attached to that truck. I was hoping to have it towed to a trusted body shop for an evaluation (at my own cost) to help me use their expert advice to make my final decision. However, They suggested to send them a few photos of the damage first.


Attached is a link to an album of all of the related truck crash photos.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/123927...57692930075421



I have spent countless hours over the last 8 days looking at trucks for sale to "match" my truck. I am stuck in my ways and want to get soemthing very similar. 2002-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 in black with a crew cab and short bed. 2wheel drive is what I was used to, but 4 wheel is a bonus. I have driven to test drive and see many trucks in the past few days, some of them I immediately crossed off my list and some I am still considering.. but I am on a time crunch.

My top choice is this one in North jersey:
https://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto...535341906.html
I looked at it for 90 minutes yesterday and it is very very clean (inside, outside, underside) 36,000 miles since 2005. I will have to remove all the "chrome" dress up pieces he put on it, but that should not be a big deal. 2wheel drive is fin. interior is clean but does nothave all sorts of modern features (and I am ok with that). the guy also had a 68 camaro project car in the garage. he is selling this because his wife convinced him to get a brand new chevy equinox instead since he is getting older (+65). it is truly mint, with only one small body damage are in the drivers side bed by the tail light. truck was only posted for sale sunday 3/18/18 and I called within hours of the posting to get first shot at it.
https://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto...535341906.html


https://www.carfax.com/vehicle/1D7HU18278S509642
My second choice is this one, which I also saw and drove yesterday. It ha 100,000 iles on it, but is 4x4. The interior is pretty good, some expected cosmetic stuff. It has some extra interior features, including the power sliding rear window that I like. Underside has some rust, and this one has the begining of the typical "dodge rot" which is that the inside lip of the rear wheel wells begins to rust. engine ran strong and 4wheel drive works. will need all 4 tires asap. has been on hte sale lot for 5 months.
https://www.carfax.com/vehicle/1D7HU18278S509642



otherwise, these were some of the others on my list:

. 2006 SLT black 48,000 miles $17,500 connecticut (overpriced)
http://www.roadreadyusedcars.com/200...9/Details.aspx

. 2007 1500 slt 108,000 $13.9k Lakewood nj SALE PENDING
https://www.carfax.com/vehicle/1D7HA18267S248866

. 2007 1500 slt 101,000 $13.9 hatboro PA
https://www.carfax.com/vehicle/1D7HU18277S168743

. 2008 1500 SLT no photos RWD 54,000 $13.5k connecticut
https://www.carfax.com/vehicle/1D7HA16228J197800


. 2008 silverado Z71 extended cab $14,900 83,000 miles Kenvil (cab too small)
https://www.autoconnectmotors.net/in...tails/38108170

. 2010 SLT $16,900 68,000 miles woodbridge
https://philadelphia.craigslist.org/...520387448.html

. 2008 SLT blue 61,000 $16000 ct
https://www.carfax.com/vehicle/1D7HU18268J126023

. 2006 Laramie Blue 82,000 $13,000 New york state
https://www.affordableimport.net/200...Y_14837240.veh

. 2009 Silverado Z71 black 99,000 miles $16,9000 allentown
https://www.carfax.com/vehicle/2GCEK23M891127297


. 2008 1500 black 108,000 $7,000 Chester NJ (SOLD)
https://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto...528417483.html

[unstable bob gable]

Sucks man. Good luck in your search for a replacement

[TaKid455]

Your truck moved. fight with them for conditioning of vehicle for greater pay. Take the $ and start over.

[MDSheds_SS]

A truck that was hit will never be the same. Fight for top dollar and start over.

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

1. I'm glad you're OK.
2. If it sustained that damage, it won't be the same again. It's not a unique vehicle that would justify attempting to repair.
3. What everyone else said, fight for top dollar.

[sweetbmxrider]

There is a significant amount of damage to repair and I think it isn't cost effective for you to do it. I'm worried there is more damage with how the door is tweaked that you won't see till you are far into repair. It seems best to move on.

[IROCZman15]

thanks for the replies guys. i was pretty attached to that truck even thought it was nothing special. it never failed me not once and always was more than well taken care of. thats what the hard part is. for guys like us that enjoy vehicles, it was more than just a mode of transportation to me, especially as a daily driver


I left the guy with the 2005 ram $100 as a "deposit" and asked him to hold off for a few days with potential other buyers while all of the insurance paperwork is finalized. He was very cool and understood. I told him if things don't change by the end of the week I will be back with the balance of the $.. and if things do change, he can keep the $100 for his troubles and for waiting. That truck WILL sell quick if I don't buy it.

I checked and my 4 EBC brake pads and 4 rotors as well as the 4 bilstein shocks will bolt right up to the 2005. I'll have to see if this truck "needs" them yet or if I'll keep them to install in the future. wouldn't make much sense to ship them all back and pay a 25% restocking fee additionally.

I pulled the subwoofer and amplifier out of the truck already.I also took out the K&N air filter and misc dress up items, HEMI and RAM badges, etc. I asked State Farm about my $700 magnaflow cat back exhaust (bought from CTW) and they said I can NOT take it unless I replace it with another exhaust.... so I'll order another Magnaflow setup from Paul at CTW in a month or so.

I also reinstalled thefactory tune with my Diablo InTune so that I can unlock and use the Diablo on the next truck.


man, that truck was so damn nice, such a mint truck. it had too short of a life. heartbroken about it still.. probably will be for a LONG time

I'll probably be moving forward with that 2005 soon. If i buy it, I will have to spend a good amount of time taking off the dress-up chrome pieces on it, Aside from goof-off what is another good product to use to spray behind the chrome pieces (on the lower part of the cab) to loosen up the glue/adhesive on the backside of those?
Also, I am not a huge fan of those style wheels. I really liked the style wheels my truck had, so maybe I should plan on a swap. Wondering if I'd even have any luck selling those style wheels though. it would have to be locally, as shipping would be too expensive.
https://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto...535341906.html


thats all for my update.
https://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto...535341906.html

[wretched73]

You can remove the glue with a rubber eraser wheel. Works really well, just go slow so you don't burn the paint.

[sweetbmxrider]

I'd try a heat gun. Hand steamers work well on old vinyl, might help with the adhesive left behind.

[ThoR294]

Glad you're ok! and wow that's a big hit.

Originally Posted by IROCZman15

I asked State Farm about my $700 magnaflow cat back exhaust (bought from CTW) and they said I can NOT take it unless I replace it with another exhaust.... so I'll order another Magnaflow setup from Paul at CTW in a month or so.

find a junk exhaust on craigslist real quick or take it from your new truck. That's a big chunk of change. Surprised they won't let you take it. Ridiculous.

[sweetbmxrider]

I'd show a receipt and they can add it into the payout.

[TaKid455]

Rims are roughly 20-30 each to ship. Tires will add a little more

[IROCZman15]

I did, I added 5 different receipts and thats one of the few things that helped increase the payout from $10,200 to $12,939.47. I'll buy a brand new one from CTW Paul soon enough.

Thx for all the input thus far fellas

[Joey D]

Sorry for loss. Rip. Buy the 05. It has u written all over it.

[Paul Huryk]

Dave,

Sorry to hear about the truck.

Yes we can certainly order a new Magnaflow system for whatever you get - we do have other brand options these days too.

[JL8Jeff]

Wow, can't believe the same thing happened to you. At least nobody was hurt. I thought briefly about buying my Silverado back but I know it would have turned my house into a junk yard so I took the payout. I'm going on almost 4 weeks without a vehicle which is getting old. But I should be getting my 2013 Tacoma in the next day or 2. Take the payout and then take the time to find the right replacement vehicle.

[JSPERFORMANCE]

Anyone got Cliff's notes? I don't have an hour to kill to read this thread and cross reference the links.

[Joey D]

Originally Posted by JSPERFORMANCE

Anyone got Cliff's notes? I don't have an hour to kill to read this thread and cross reference the links.

Someone pulled out in front of dave and totaled his truck. He's attached to it and upset. Hes getting a new (used) truck with low miles and one owner that he will put his personal touches on and be meticulous about maintaining it like his camaro.

[JSPERFORMANCE]

Fantastic.. I give this thread two thumbs up!