School Bus 1 - Truck 0....My poor baby!

[CYauch]

So i'm leaving the police station yesterday to resked a court date (closed due to Ida), and i leave on a road i've never been on. Nevermind the stop sign was faded white, and there wasn't a white stripe in the road. Next thing i know, i see yellow and tire roll over the front bumper.



I really hope its not totaled. Should hear something today from the adjuster. What do you guys think? Ram Tough is an understatement. After the officer wrote up the paperwork, and after i was able to finally pri the drivers door open, i stuck the key in and it fired right up (fluid was blowing all over the place though) then backed it up abotu 30 feet. No noise coming from engine run (LOTS of noise from tire rub ) Truck only has 14,100 miles, 07. 5. I used NADA last night, and going by the 70% rule, i'm figuring around $20,000 worth of work to total. Doesn't look like 20,000. Anyone provide more info on total and how that works?

I need to go get another beer and mourn.



Btw, i should get extra points for nailing the storage compartment on the bus dead center ANd there were NO kids on the bus

 

[Mishkaya]

Ouch!!! :{

Good luck with your insurance. Glad to hear no one was hurt.

 

[DaveHess]

I'll admit it. I would have cried like a little girl.

 

[R.Taylor]

Bummer 1000%! Lucky the bus was empty. I doubt it's a total... Mostly sheetmetal. . Perhaps a radiator, intercooler and trans cooler needed, Luckily the front end isn't unibody construction... . You can unbolt all the bent sheet metal. I'd go after the city or county for the bill since they did not maintain the stop sign. Take some pictures of the sign and call them up.

 

[TimothyLong]

Like my 2 yr. old granddaughter would say, "You got an ouchie!" Glad to hear that no one was hurt. That is heartbreaking though! I'd be depressed for weeks. Probably have to be medicated and go to therapy... :{

 

[R.Taylor]

I'll donate my old pair of headlights since I installed the black SRT10 lights on my new 06. PM me if you need them... CYauch only.

 

[R.Taylor]

I have a black grill as well if needed!

 

[CYauch]

Yea, i've been self medicating with Miller Lite Haven't gotten to the point where i need the Jack yet, but the more i look at my empty driveway, the more it hurts LOL.



As for the headlights, will 06 lights fit on on 07. 5? I thought the design was changed? If they fit, yes, i would be more than willing to consider.

 

[Jefff929]

It always amazed me when I worked for the school bus contractor, turning wrenches, how someone could hit a vehicle 10. 5' high and 35ish' long, painted yellow, in the center and claim they didn't see it. BTW the cargo compartments are a poor place to hit, they are pretty sturdy, the skirting will give a lot more and cause less damage.

That said, I mourn your loss. I would have a very hard time if my baby were damaged.

 

[ata]

Bummer 1000%! I'd go after the city or county for the bill since they did not maintain the stop sign. Take some pictures of the sign and call them up.

I hope he does not live in Tillamook County, Oregon. Our County Commissioners said with the currant economy we can not maintain our roads. So they voted that the county can not be held responsible for any damage or accidents caused by poor maintenance. Struck their LITTLE GAVEL and thats that. Must be nice to have that kind of POWER.

 

[EricBu12]

BOY. . The generosity of TDR members. . a headlight and grille here and there. . almost have this thing rebuilt!!.

How about a bumper from someone that has a new buck-stop or other style?. . I feel for ya on the low miles but good thing it starts and runs without trouble. .

 

[HBarlow]

Sorry for your problem.

You mentioned "prying a door open" in your first post. Jammed doors usually suggests frame damage. If the gap between front of doors and hood/front fenders has closed or parts overlapped and if the gap at tha back side of the front doors has closed I would assume some frame damage.

I just threw an '08 chromed Laramie grille away two weeks ago. An idiot kid with a mobile wash rig blasted a couple of small pieces of chrome off with the pressure set too high on his pressure washer.

 

[CYauch]

Thanks HB. Collision place told me i should hear something today. Its killing me having to wait.

When opening the doors, the passenger side (front and rear) open ok. On the driver's side, the rear door is ok, but the driver's door wouldn't open all the way because of the front fender. I posted a pic of the right side. I could only get the driver door open maybe a foot and a half (unless i really pushed the hell out of it). Other than that, all body lines looked ok, and all other gaps between doors, roof, and bed looked normal.

 

[CYauch]

Dunno if its good news or bad news, but shop called this evening. Yes, the passenger side frame rail is bent towards the driver side a tick, but isn't buckled. Told me he's about 80% thru the estimate, and is just a little under $9,000. Still waiting on a few prices because a couple of brackets (and other small stuff) are needed, but isn't showing on his computer. Whatever that means.

Anyway, told me that even replacing the whole frame rail, he's not going to be able to get another $9k - $10k to total the truck out. Told me that from the windshield back, nothing is out of spec. As for the frame rail, its only out of spec forward of the suspension. Told me next time to go a little faster to get in front of the bus. That way he would have been able to probably get the extra amount :lol4:



So, looks like my baby is fixable. Still, it will be the end of the month before i get it back. SUCKS having to drive a car. :banghead:

 

[CurtLee]

Its good to hear that its fixable. One of my friends and an old coworker had the left front frame rail pulled five inches after wrecking his '03(?). He also said he's put 90,000 miles on it with no extra problems.

 

[Jeepr]

From the pics, I assume the airbags didn't go off? That would have cost more $$$$. Did you get a ticket for running that barely visible stop sign?

 

[CYauch]

Correct, neither airbag went off. And, yes, i did get a ticket. The cop did mention to go to court and bring that up. He said at best, the judge may waive the ticket and just make me pay court costs. But it would force the city to do something about it.



Ironically, there was an accident today (no, it wasn't me) involving another school bus at the same location where i had mine