Hit from behind, now totaled...

[Flingarrows]

In October I finally fixed all of the nagging issues on my 99 ranger. New heads, fuel pump and various sensors.

My son was stopped for a car turning left on a 2 lane road. A guy not paying attention rear ended the truck. My son is fine, but the bumper bed and tail gate were crunched.

The rear frame rail had a bend in it as well. It does track straight, and tires track over each other if you drive through water.

The adjuster came out and looked it over, and a few days later heard that it is a total.

I ended up getting a fair payout, and bought the truck back for $1100. I still don't know if that was a good decision, but I didn't want to try to buy a different truck 2 weeks before Christmas.

I may end up putting a flatbed on it and keeping it, but not sure yet. I'm just venting because I finally got the truck where I wanted it

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[wildbill23c]

Yep time for a flatbed conversion. If the rest of the truck is still pretty descent that would be what I would do. That's the problem with older vehicles though, it don't take much to total one of them out.

 

[ab_slack]

Yep it doesn't take much to total them.

My Daughter's 97 Nissan Altima was rear-ended 3 years ago. Damage was not that significant, nothing structural, but the trunk latch and trunk lid were messed up. But repair cost exceeded the vehicle value and it got totaled. I think they paid out like $1900, bought it back for like $1100 (very similar to your case) paid $200 to get trunk lid and latch bent out. Not pretty but after the work latched even if it didn't seal well.

Vehicle wasn't a great one, but more than good enough for a teen. Bugs had been worked out of it and I saw no point paying money to replace it with a vehicle with someone else's problems.

 

[koda6966]

I'd keep an eye out for a used bed. Should be able to throw on just about anything 93+ if I'm not mistaken, minor drilling required of course and it wont match your lines unless you get a 1998-2000 bed.

 

[adsm08]

Looking at that and your description of how it drives I would bet the bed pan tore rather than the frame bending. I would take the bed off (needs to come off anyway) and check to make sure everything is square. If the frame is still square you can just drop a bed on it. If it is off a bit do a flat-bed.

 

[Andy D]

I'm glad your son is OK. That is the main deal. 1100$ buyback ? Most I ever paid was 2-300$ OH, well That was then, this is now. My cars are stripped and scrapped when I'm done with them.So I dont care about a salvage title. I would do the same thing you're doing. A fixed up and driven car is less of a mystery than starting all over on another used car.
I'm not too worried about appearance, So I would try taking off the bed and hammering it out or even some shade tree dent removal with some 2xs and bars and stuff. Then cut some big washers out of plate to re-attach. Or a new bed, A good one runs about 300$, Plenty on Craigslist, You could prolly get one that matches paint. Please post a follow up what ever you do.

 

[97RangerXLT]

That doesn't look bad at all. I agree with the others, pull the bed and look the frame over. chances are the bumper horns are bent, and that might be the only issue you will have frame wise. Even if it is tweaked a little bit, you can probably have a frame shop straighten it fairly easily.

Drop a new bed on it and you should be good to go, or if the old one isn't too crinkled up and the tailgate works, pound it out.

AJ

 

[Mark_88]

Yeah, easy fix as long as the frame is straight...spray your bed bolts and nuts with PB Blaster and they should fly out of there...may need to replace a few of the clip nuts on the frame but probably not even that...

 

[Flingarrows]

It has a bend in the frame on the passenger side, even with the axle. The bed is sitting a little cocked. I may just pound it back on shape a little and drive it, or maybe a flatbed.

I'm with you Andy. The salvage title doesn't matter, ill part it out in the end


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