Frame damage

kdm101 · March 3, 2007

Back in December, my truck was hit on the rear and it sustained damage to the bumper and hitch. At least that's what I thought and so did 2 repair shops. Given the cost, I decided to do the repairs myself since I could get the parts cheaper than their estimates. This morning, I finally had some nice relatively warm weather to do the work.

I was upleasantly surprised to find that the hitch support brackets bent the frame! Have any of you out there had similar collision damage and have it repaired successfully? I have towed with this truck and still need it for the occasional towing duties and have some worries about whether the frame will retain its strength after being straightened out. Do I need to worry that my truck's towing career is over?

cambo · March 3, 2007

You have got to be kidding me. I got rear ended on December 18th while towing a trailer. The trailer was dinged up, but also the hitch bent my frame and even bent my receiver where the ball sits. Mine actaully was a hit and run, and they just now found the lady. My truck goes in the shop on March 12th and they expect it to be there for a week on the frame machine.

Pictures:

kdm101 · March 3, 2007

You have got to be kidding me.

Kidding about what? How similar the pictures? tell me about it. I suppose as long as the process to straighten it out doesn't weaken the metal or if they reinforce it afterwards, I'll stop worrying. It's just that the left side rail is actually buckled on the sidewall and not just the bottom lip.

I wasn't towing, so the kid hit me square on the bumper and hitch.

asilverblazer · March 3, 2007

Mine tweaked in exactly the same area after being rear ended, I just noticed it today (whole 'nother story). Although luckily for me not nearly as bad. I have already signed off on the reapirs done which apparently did not include this little problem .However the insurance company supposedly gaurauntees the repair's for life, so I might be able to get them to try and fix this, but certainly am not holding my breath.

and am I the only one who after getting out expected to see a lot more damage?

kdm101 · March 4, 2007

and am I the only one who after getting out expected to see a lot more damage?

Actually, I didn't expect to see as much. I had been hit several other times by inattentive drivers and this one didn't feel that bad. I figure the ball mount on my hitch caused the most damage when the car hit it - pushing it down like a lever. I think I may leave it off from now on.

cambo · March 4, 2007

You have got to be kidding me.

Kidding about what?

No about how we both got rear ended in december and had the same type of damage. And at first wasn't told that the frame was bent after the inspection. At first they said that it was just the bracing.

and am I the only one who after getting out expected to see a lot more damage?

I expected for my trailer and fourwheeler to be in a mangled wreck. I knew my truck wasn't that bad, but I also figured that even with a bent frame that it would cost more than $428 parts and labor.

asilverblazer · March 4, 2007

and am I the only one who after getting out expected to see a lot more damage?

Actually, I didn't expect to see as much. I had been hit several other times by inattentive drivers and this one didn't feel that bad. I figure the ball mount on my hitch caused the most damage when the car hit it - pushing it down like a lever. I think I may leave it off from now on.

My ball was on, the truck that hit me rode over the ball and hit more on my bumper, the lower structural portion. I suppose that is why my frame isn't bent as bad.

rgamache · March 8, 2009

Firstly I trust your trucks are all repaired now and looking good!

I am new to this site and have just purchased (few days ago) a 2002 GMC Sierra 1500, my first truck, so i'm as green as they come.

My truck was run by a trusted local mechanic, she runs very well and was carfax clear apart from a rear end collision which the mechanic told me about. The truck looked fine and a new bumper and towing hitch was replaced.

Its only now after spending hours polishing it (its mine & i'll polish it as much as I like) that I have noticed the rear bed body is at a different angle with the cab and looks like its bent up at the rear, is this normal for these vehicles or should I suspect a bent frame and get it checked out?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Zembonez · March 8, 2009

Firstly I trust your trucks are all repaired now and looking good!

I am new to this site and have just purchased (few days ago) a 2002 GMC Sierra 1500, my first truck, so i'm as green as they come.

My truck was run by a trusted local mechanic, she runs very well and was carfax clear apart from a rear end collision which the mechanic told me about. The truck looked fine and a new bumper and towing hitch was replaced.

Its only now after spending hours polishing it (its mine & i'll polish it as much as I like) that I have noticed the rear bed body is at a different angle with the cab and looks like its bent up at the rear, is this normal for these vehicles or should I suspect a bent frame and get it checked out?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Pictures would really help. No bed matches up with the cab perfectly but it's impossible to know if yours is damage or normal without pics.

svensk · March 8, 2009

If that ever happens to my truck they better total it out... I'm not going through that crap again with a 9 year old truck.

tobias · March 8, 2009

If that ever happens to my truck they better total it out... I'm not going through that crap again with a 9 year old truck.

I hope the bear doesn't get hurt.

svensk · March 8, 2009

If that ever happens to my truck they better total it out... I'm not going through that crap again with a 9 year old truck.

I hope the bear doesn't get hurt.

I had to install overload springs just for that fat bastard

Jester_0128 · May 27, 2009

i just got rear ended 2 days ago in my truck and it did some substantial damage to it. The bed is completely smashed up and when it flexed during impact the corner of the bed hit the cab and dented it some. My hitch bent down which in turn bent the last 2 feet of the frame. i was pushed into the car in front of me so i will have to get the full front replaced as well. My worry is the insurance wont total it. Has anyone had something similar. i don't want to get it fixed because it will never be the same and the reason im arguing this is because it is only 5 months old. Also if the back part of the frame is straightened out does the metal weaken and will that lower the tow capacity? im working on pics

ColoradoSkiCountry · May 28, 2009

i don't want to get it fixed because it will never be the same and the reason im arguing this is because it is only 5 months old. Also if the back part of the frame is straightened out does the metal weaken and will that lower the tow capacity? im working on pics

You would be amazed at how well repairs are done now a days. This is not the 60s, 70s, and 80s, where it was bound to be the case of the vehicle never being the same. After being side-swipped by someone running from the police, I had over $6000 worth of damage, but was $1000 short of the insurance company totaling the vehicle. I had my concerns, however the GM Body Shop did an AWESOME job of the repairs and she drove just as good, if not better then before the accident.