2010 is not a virgin anymore...

[Beast2B]

Well, I guess there's good news and bad news for me in this. I got rear-ended Monday on my way home from work. No physical injury (emotionally I got lots of scars to add this to). I was stopped at a normal 4-way stop intersection on a 35mph street and a Toyota Sequoia hit me from behind. I heard brakes for a fraction of a second and the impact was hard enough to knock me halfway through the intersection. Luckily no one else was driving through right then! Probably 25mph impact right on my big drop hitch. Factory hitch and bumper are toast and the bumper ends hit the bed corners a little bit. I thought it was only those issues until we swapped info and I drove the final two blocks to my house. Over 15mph there's a nasty vibration, so he either bent the axle or driveshaft or ? It's at the shop and insurance is handling it, but I'm gonna make some mods while it's apart.

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The good news is I'm getting a Reunel rear bumper with the Class V hitch built in and I should have enough credit left with the shop to paint the tonneau cover and add some Bushwacker flares! Now, I need some input on color because I want to paint the bumpers, flares and below the crease in the body (like a Laramie) another color to complement the white. Tan/gold and gray/silver are too much like stock colors and I don't want anything too bright, so what do y'all think would look good? Inferno Red? Electric blue? Copper? Here's a pic to start with, I do plan to add the FabFours front bumper soon as well.



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[Wertles]

This must be the month. Just got nailed Tuesday with just about the same story. Need a new tailgate, bumper and receiver. The tailgate might be fixable however I think I'm going to push for a new one. Glad everyone is OK. Have fun with the upgrades. I'm thinking of a few myself. These trucks are pretty stout. As you can see from the first pic of her vehicle, I didn't think I had anything left of the rear of the truck when I looked into the mirror. I was pleasantly suprised when I looked back at my truck and had to go searching for the damage.

 

[JFought]

Wert
it doesnt look like any one even hit you!
lol

 

[Simplysmn]

Ram tough ?

 

[Beast2B]

Hey Wertles, sucks to be the focus of the week, huh? I would have expected the same damage to my truck and the offending Sequoia if I didn't have the 10" drop hitch acting like a lever on the stock receiver!

 

[Wertles]

I usually have my ball on the receiver for just such a potential incident. I took it off while we went camping so that as we were all running around the campsite we could keep our shins. I didn't believe the stock bumper survived as well as it did. Amazing how many thoughts go through your head in the 8 seconds following the hit. I was thinking about taking the money and getting a DOR rear bumper, a stock reciever and a 5th wheel tailgate but those tailgates won't work too well in the winter. I have a few weeks to figure out what exactly what I'm going to do. Looks like I'm going to get around 2500 from her insurance, not quite enough for a Reunel and the rest of the repairs.

I feel your pain about the emothional scars. I think therapy is in the cards for us both to get over these tragedies.

 

[Beast2B]

After looking at both incidents, I'd say you're better off without the hitch to allow the bumper to do its job. Although I'm OK with a new Reunel!

 

[MChrist]

I was just told that starting June (or July) 1, it will be illegal to leave your hitch connected while not towing. Insurance companies are complaining that too much damage gets transferred to the frame since the bumper isn't doing it's job.

I haven't verified this yet, but was told by a reasonably good source.

 

[BGlidewell]

i'd like to see a 25mph bumper. My hitch stays on. Toyota, it's whats for dinner, moron.

 

[Beast2B]

I don't know. Look at the two incidents, looks like the Chevy absorbed more of the impact than the Toyota that hit mine with the hitch. Unless you want replace the wimpy factory receiver anyway...

 

[Superglide]

I was just told that starting June (or July) 1, it will be illegal to leave your hitch connected while not towing. Insurance companies are complaining that too much damage gets transferred to the frame since the bumper isn't doing it's job.



I haven't verified this yet, but was told by a reasonably good source.

Up here in Canada, I'm told it's illegal in Saskatchewan to leave your hitch connected when not towing. Maybe someone there can verify this.

 

[Beast2B]

I guess I should have inserted a pic of the Toyota that hit me... You can see where the hitch made contact on the lower fascia right on a good sized crossmember. I'd say more of the force transferred to my truck!

 

[DJW]

Not sure if it makes any difference, but each time I have reinsured a new vehicle the form also has to include the Vin number, perhaps that's how they rate the insurance cost. Have read if in a collision to take photos of as much as you can, tires, size, wear, tread style and size. Any after market alterations, lifts etc, the list goes on and on. Anything other than vin could be questioned.

 

[BGlidewell]

what was the driver in the yota doing? Texting?

 

[HBarlow]

I was just told that starting June (or July) 1, it will be illegal to leave your hitch connected while not towing. Insurance companies are complaining that too much damage gets transferred to the frame since the bumper isn't doing it's job.

I haven't verified this yet, but was told by a reasonably good source.

Illegal where?

 

[Beast2B]

what was the driver in the yota doing? Texting?

The guy just got back from a two week vacation overseas. Said he was jet-lagged and should have taken a nap at work before driving home... I agreed! I told the CHP officer the story for the report, but it's 100% his fault anyway.

 

[Beast2B]

Not sure if it makes any difference, but each time I have reinsured a new vehicle the form also has to include the Vin number, perhaps that's how they rate the insurance cost. Have read if in a collision to take photos of as much as you can, tires, size, wear, tread style and size. Any after market alterations, lifts etc, the list goes on and on. Anything other than vin could be questioned.

Do you mean in the context of getting stuff repaired/replaced? I doubt you could get insurance without a VIN#!

I drive a lot for work and we have corporate booklets in every vehicle with diagrams, questions and driver/vehicle details. Every vehicle also has a disposable camera in the glove box for accident pics. My wife works for an attorney's office that deals with defending trucking companies and their insurance and one of the biggest issues is no pics or just close ups. Get pics of the damage as well as scene pics that show where vehicles ended up in relation to the roadway and other vehicles. He said she said goes out the window (not to mention inaccurate info in police reports)

 

[BGlidewell]

here's an interesting story for you with a similar situation.
A buddy of mine bought a used jimmy for a REALLY good deal. It had a weird problem with stalling from launch. We pull out from a stop and it stalls. WHAM!!!!! My seat is bent backwards. Almost knocked the breath out of me. Ambulance was called as I was stunned but did not take the ride.

Both my buddy and the other guy had insurance and PIP. Both me and my buddy went to doctors to get checked out. My medical bills were paid by medical insurance through my employer. 2,000. 00. My buddy raked up 10,000. 00 and worked for the same company.

A few months later The at fault sent me a check for 2,000. 00. The my buddies insurance called and asked where to send the 2,000. 00. I said the at-fault had already paid. He said by law they have to pay me too.

My buddy paid 2k for a 4k truck. He got 4k, plus 20,000. 00 in repaid medical expenses. WOW.

 

[DJW]

Beast2B I was never informed of the need of the Vin, but I do have full coverage if it comes to cost of repairs if involved in a collision. (unsure about acts of God) (would God do such a thing?) (I doubt it). I understand depending on the coverage many private vehicles are not covered if pulling a trailer, or adding anything above Vin equipment.

 

[HBarlow]

A motor vehicle that is "insured" without the insurance company having a VIN is very unlikely. No VIN is equivalent to no coverage.