I may be loosing my truck (insert country music)

[oldraven]

So that makes three times we've been rearended since we've moved to Edmonton. And that's not all the times we've been hit, either. (and by hit, I mean WE got hit)

She was taking a curved corner lane (merge) on Thursday. There was no traffic coming, so she proceeded, but had to stop anyway. Some dumb **** had pulled out of an alley to turn left just in front of her, but there was a median, so he had to stop, blocking both lanes. While he was backing back into the alley, a mid 90's corrola had taken the same turn she did, and plowed into Ange.

She was in my truck, thank heavens, so the damage is pretty much nil. A bumper and probably the bracket. The other chick, though. Her Toyo will need a lot of work. Fender, hood, grille, h/l's, bumper, rad support, etc. Total wreck. She was pretty upset, since Ange had our infant daughter with her at the time. She didn't hardly even feel it, though.

So here's to big ol' domestic pickups and a free new bumper, which had to be sandblasted and repainted anyway.

As for the typical day driving in Edmonton, I can't wait to be free of it.

Anyway on to the bad news.

Well, we just got our frist quote.

$1800.00

I just put $2500 in that thing, and now the insurance company is going to write it off. I'd be lucky if fair market value was $1500. Two tiny dents, which are covered by the bumper, and the body shop wants to replace the whole box side.

Plus, I'd love to see them match colours with my canadian tire spray can job! "The texture's all wrong! It's all shiney and mirror like!"

They also said they can't do a roll pan because they don't know how to do that sort of thing............ Aren't these guys bodymen? If you can't weld a roll pan on, you have no business being in the auto body industry. I even offered to cover any difference in cost, which turns out to be $5 US for the parts (don't need brackets).

[LUV2XCLR8]

Man does that suck, I have no idea what to say, good luck

[oldraven]

The worst part is, I just put that box on six months ago, and it was mint. I'm pretty pissed at the body shop. If they can't fix two quarter sized dents that you can't even see with the bumper on, they need to get into another business.

[Russell]

Bring it out here, I'll fix it for 1200

Seriously though, don't let the insurance company pull that kind of crap on you. A bumper and some minor dolly / filler work should not be more than a couple hundred bucks. Tell the insurance company to give you the money you deserve, and do it yourself, or sue the insurance company for being stupid :P

By the way, I was out at kar bashers today, and I noticed that there were a LOT of real nice step bumpers out there if you wanted to replace the one on your truck outright (I think it had a step bumper, right?)

[Longhorn Man]

No idea how it works up there, but here, the insurance can just cut you a check and you go to the body man you want to go to. You aren't even required to repair the vehicle if you don't want to (onless you are still paying for it and then you are leagaly obligated to keep the vehicle in good shape)
If you can't do that, Can you go to another body shop?

[68C15]

what I did as advised by a body shop is dug out all my reciepts for parts. then hit the Mitchell labor guide to "pay myself" the book time for all improvements. after I wound up with over $6000 invested they decided to pay ME on the spot. previously they were talking about totaling it. (finding out a '68 GMC grille costs over $500 has a tendancy to do that to an accountant)
DONT TAKE THIS SITTING DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BTW, mention all the members on this board & the possibility that some of us may be customers of them. we are a special interest group with ever increasingly large population.

[curbyk]

Don't know about up there, but. I believe the other insurance company is obligated to make you whole again (if you are not at fault). You probably have a lot more control of the situation than you think. Stand your ground, if they still don't see it your way say the word Attorney. They don't like that word.
Glad no one was hurt.
Good luck!

[oldraven]

Thanks guys. I talked it over with my brother last night, and he said the same thing. If they write it off, take the payout instead, and fix it myself. Seriously, all it needs is a bumper. I can patch up the dent in about an hour. I wanted to get a roll pan anyway, and if they give me the payout, I can do that for under $300.

There's still a chance that they won't write it off, but now I'm hoping they do, so I can take the other route.

Get this, they quoted four hours of labour to fix the dent in the box. Not paint, not clear, just fix the dent. It turns out Angela read the quote wrong, and it's repair, not replace. Still, when you see the pictures, you'll see there's no way it should cost near that much to fix.

He also pointed out that the shop owner probably knew there was more than a 305 under the hood (it's pretty obvious when you pull up). I guess it's common practice around here to overquote, knowing it will be written off, and that it will be at auction soon.

[CHEVYE]

$1800 to fix that . i'm in the wrong business.

[Maximum Overdrive]

The bodyshop might not wanted to even mess with it. Sometimes bodyshops will overprice the bid just not to deal with something that they will not make alot of money on.

Your looking at a hour or more for the bumber.
Probably a hour for the dents. 1/2 for paint.

Even at 4 hours by thier bid I dont know how they come up with 1800 bucks for the bid.

[oldraven]

I know. These guys are out of their gourd.

Here's what they were charging.

Repair:
Pickup Bed Side Panel - 4hrs
Release Siezed Bolts - 2hrs

Refinish:
Bed Outer Panel - 3.7hrs
Rear Face Bar - 0.8hrs

Overhaul:
Rear Bumper Assembly - 0.8hrs

Remove & Replace:
Rear Bumper Step Type Bar - $572.00 GM
R Rear Inr Bumper Brace - $71.70 GM
L Rear Inr Bumper Brace - $71.70 GM
R Rear Inr Bumper Reinforcement - $32.20 GM
L Rear Inr Bumper Reinforcement - $32.20 GM

Additional Costs:
Clear Coat - 1.5hrs (I can see I'll have to repaint it when I get it home)
Paint/Mat'ls - $168.00 ($8.00 spray can)
Shop Mat'ls - $74.80
Hazardous Waste Disposal - $9.00

Cost of the parts is $779.80 plus tax. A roll pan costs under $200 US.

Anyway, I just got a call from her Insurance co. and they asked me to bring it in so the adjuster can take a look while the Auto Body place orders parts. Looks like I'm going to get it fixed after all. ......................... crap.

[jagman]

hey old raven I would love to know how to get a propane unit are they available up there and if so can you put me on the right track to get one?

[68C15]

I smell trouble brewin' on this insurance deal.

[Russell]

I also smell trouble...

I'd seriously take the payout over getting a shop to do the work. You'll wind up with money in your pocket that way. In the end, it is your decision, not theirs, cause you are the victim here....

[dtlilly]

Here is what I think the insurance adjustor will quote you:

parts
Rear bumper assembly, used/reconditioned........ $200
Rear bumper bracket left side, used/reconditioned $ 35
Paint and materials........................................ $135

labor @ $60/hr
R&R Rear bumper assembly............................. 1.5hr
R&R Rear bumper bracket (left)....................... .5hr
Repair left bed rear...................................... 1.5hr
Paint left bed rear....................................... 1.0hr

totals
Parts and materials...................................... $270
Labor..........................................4.5hrX$60 $270
_________________________________________________
..................................................................$540

I might be a couple bucks off, but I'm in the ball park. Lut us know how close I am.

Let's all be glad it wasn't worse and Angela and the little one is fine!

[oldraven]

Originally Posted by dtlilly

Let's all be glad it wasn't worse and Angela and the little one is fine!

Amen to that! It's something I try not to think about.


Anyway, Russell, do you mean I can call up her insurance co. and request the payout without the adjuster taking a look? I'm going to call tomorrow anyway, to setup a time for the adjuster to be at the shop, but if I can go that route instead, I'm going to request that first. It just seems like a waste to have a bunch of brand new parts on my truck that not only cost more than is necesary, but are not parts that I even want.

Because this,

is crap next to this.


As for the propane, I sugest buying an old work truck with a lucky motor. I bought a 3/4tonne with an old 350 and a propane setup. Turns out it was a 383 that was just rebuilt. Otherwise, I think google can set you up.

http://franzh.home.texas.net/engine.html