The frame buckled

[lgibson]

I now have over $6k in damage to my truck and that number is growing. The body guy, who we will call Tom, said it may go up to $8k. I did not think I had that much damage. It looks like other than the frame it needs both fenders, hood and grill, radiator, AC, and the frame that goes around the coolers and the one that the passinger door hinges weld to. The roof is dented, thanks to my canoe comming off and hiting it in about 5 places.



Tom also told me the bumper saved my truck from being totaled. It took most of the impact and without it the frame would have been garbage. The ladies insurance called the dealer and told them to try to find used parts. Tom said they would look but did not think they could find any. And they didn't. The insurance lady asked him if the truck was worth fixing. Tom said that is the nicest truck he has ever seen, and it only has the highest quality aftermarket equipment on it and was very well taken care off. Because it had 142,000 miles she thought is was about gone anyway. But she is being cool about it and told them to fix whatever is wrong. She is also treating me very well also.



I am going to Vegas next week and I now have to take a mini van:{ I really want to take the truck. The van is a Chrsy. Town and Country. It is not too bad but it is not a Cummins. No room for the driver, me, and is not large enough to haul all my friends and their stuff. I have to get one of those roof top storage things now. I have to get used to having a gasser again. I went to two drive thru and both times shut off the engine, I let it cool down before shuting it off, and I wait before starting it. I miss my CTD. It should be done by the time I come back from Vegas, on July 6th.

 

[TPCDrafting]

You drive a Dodge Cummins because you want to and can afford to. The insurance company should rent rent you a Dodge Cummins. A friend of mine had his Corvette rear-ended a few years back and while they were fixing it he rented a Lexus. The person at fault's insurance company threw a fit, said he needed to rent an econo car. He went back to the rental company and traded the Lexus for a Corvette. He told them that's what he was driving before their client rear ended him. There was nothing they could do about it but beg him to go back and get the Lexus again!!!



You are the victim here and you are in charge!! Tell them you have planned a road trip out of town and need a Dodge Cummins to get you, your 'family' and gear there.

(whatever happens, run the crap out of the rental, it always makes me feel better)

 

[homeka45]

Damn IGibson,



I feel for you man. I've got three other vehicles but have only driven my truck since I got it. Don't even want to think of going back to a car let alone a gasser.

Best wishes for a speedy and just resolution to your problem.

 

[Todd T]

this should serve a deterrent to those temped to put on hitches and or winches to the front of these trucks



the front frame horns are no stronger than the ones found on its half ton gasser brother.



Weak to say the least. there is no boxing or cross bracing on them. they just hang out there and the bumper bolts to them. the core support is oblong and provides no support, it curves like a woman on each side. about the strongest thing on the front end, is the fenders. the inner fender is welded to the outer fender and then bolts to the cap, frame and core support quite well. the problem with this setup is the fenders take the impact and pass it right along to the doors.



dont let them take your truck, make them fix and keep fixing it until its right

 

[Whitmore]

Iman, that sounds no good :{ , but the main thing is no one was hurt ,



That heavy bumper you got on there has transfered the shock of the crash directly to the frame so your news does not surprise me, I go to emergency calls for extrication all the time and I can tell you that the new vehicles are designed to absorb the energy of the crash by colapsing, this inturn takes the shock away from the victoms and it does work very well, seams like almost every wreck I go on anymore the first thing I think of is oh no someone was killed !!! but that is not always the case with the new vehicles. So with us bad boys putting big ass bumpers on these Rams we are in a sense hurting ourselves to a point, they help us tons when its a minor or medium crash but on the big crashes the HD bumper could hinder our survival. All wrecks are different and it pends on what we are tangeling with but I think you get my point... ... ... ... ... ... ... ..... Kevin

 

[lgibson]

Kevin

The bumper I have is alum. It took most of the shock. Without that bumper the frame would have had to take the shock. I agree that if I would have had a very stout steel bumper than the frame would also had to absurb the impact. The bumper that I had saved my truck and did just what it was built for. TJM is a very high quality bumpers that is made to protect the vehicles and not just for looks. All of TJM products are of highest quality and made to be used and not for show. You can go to



www.tjmproducts.com.au



and see for yourself. You would need to see the construction of this bumper to see how it is built. The bumper itself is two "C" channels that bolt together instead of one. It is reinforced on top of the bumper. It has thick alum. This is the reasons I bought this bumper. It is made to be used and to protect the truck. It did just that.



One other thing, the way this bumper is mounted is not the same as the stock. It bolts to the frame just like stock and also to the front crossmember. The winch plate, which is steel is sandwiched between the frame and front crossmember. The front of the frame can not cave in.