i am looking to fix my truck after a minor rollover accident.. the roof and driver side door took most of the damage but need to decide whether salvaging or rebuilding is most profitable.. either way i need to pay out for a car to drive. any suggestions for info regarding the structure supports in the cab and if replacing the cab would make any sense? i really love this truck and would hate to let it go, but i would like to fix it enough to swap it out down the road. sad to see a dying breed vanish..

 

Welcome to FTE!

Sorry to hear about your accident. That you are around to tell the tale is reason to celebrate.

As far as a repair, you do not give the year, mileage and conditon.

Even a newer vehicle with that kind of damage is going to be a total loss.

You say the driver door got it worst, but isn't the other side banged up or sprung? Hood? Fenders? Bed side? And what about the front end and rear axle? Any bent wheels? Air bags?

Millions of Rangers were served, and even though they are discontinued, Ford has incentives on new ones.

Buy another one.

 

Your truck is totaled, scrap it and get another. Rollover damage is not worth fixing.

 

most of the damage was on the roof in the windshield but the rest of the body seems to be alright besides the driver side, where they rolled it back over. I think I am going to punch the roof back up and flatten it best as possible, will have to make sure the support frame (idk the actual term) is sound and not bent too badly. Will try to compromise with it unless I find any other real problems. Its a 98 mazda b2500 se, my apology I created another account on anther forum and thought these were the same cuz of the layout. Guessing it was the same creator. The truck in question, bags did not deploy, there are some dents on the front and rear panels. I'm thinking of getting it running enough to use until I can afford to trade it in. personally I would hang on to her until I could modify it but not knowing mechanics has been a great setback. I'm really looking forward to getting my hands dirty and getting to know a lot more on how an engine operates and more about welding. Some things come later in life, but it should be fun, otherwise like you said may not be worth the $.

 

It doesn't matter, once a vehicle has rolled over you tend to have problems the rest of the vehicles life. Sure you could get another cab, but that really isn't go to save you any money, and the truck will still probably never be the same. And I seriously doubt the vehicle rolled over without sustaining suspension damage too.

Find another used one and either scrap this out, or save it for parts.

 

I wouldn't assume it's totaled. I used to think like that too until a friend of my rolled his 3/4 ton Chevy. After multiple shops and mechanic friends went through the powertrain and drivetrain the only damage was cosmetic.

He still drives the truck and hasn't had any problems.

While 99% of rollovers are total losses, I always recommend thorough inspections to make sure

 

In good condition this thing would be worth what, $3500?

To fix a crushed cab top and windshield, you need to cut the top of the cab off, which means pulling the interior and dash....

Jacking up and hammering on the cab top might work, but your windshield will never seal up correctly.

Not sure if driving a "rolling total" is what you want, but that's where you're headed.....

 

Maybe the OP can post up some pictures. This way we can see his truck before it's condemned??

 

Any idea what you would have to pay a salvage yard for a used cab? Cab, doors and glass should be all that you need. If you are handy with tools, have some time and patience, it might be worth a try.

Let us know what you find out and what decision you come to.

 

$7000 off MSRP on a V6 2011 at the Ford dealer in Duarte CA today.....

 

How about a location of the truck? What area of the United States are you in? I have an extra drivers door off of a 98 ranger you can have if you can pick it up. May be even work out something on a cab that was just invovled in a front end collision on the right side of the truck. Members here will help out if possible. Just give us some pictures and some information and we can run with it.

 

the damage you described is my truck. Happened a week before Christmas. Need a vehicle to get to Doctor's appointments. So should i attempt the fix?

 

Welcome to FTE.

Sorry about the crash. Based on his post, I would say the OPs damage was worse than yours.

That said, the proper repair of this damage, and anything else we don't see (like that LF wheel--suspension damage needs to be checked), is going to cost some decent money.

My son was looking at these in New England. High prices even with rust.

Do you have collision insurance or know a good body shop?

 

you can fix anything. Can you fix it and not be in so far over what its worth is really the question. Making it "look" normal is different than it being fixed such that it doesnt cause problems down the road and is safe (those crumpled areas are now weak).

To pay someone else to do it right will be expensive. Someone who will do it cheap will cut corners. You could do it yourself if you had the skill you could make it worth while, but if you could you wouldnt be asking here.

Take the check from the insurance company, buy a new truck.

sucks, but thats the truth of it.

 

well Im a cabinet maker but my brother does body work. Pretty good too. But being in northern maine, distance between his town an mine is 158 miles. Heck of a tow charge