Hey guys just looking for anyone who may have come across a similar situation. I rolled my truck onto the driver side. Waiting for insurance to look at it. Really love the truck and wanna keep it even if the total it out. My question is will it be worth it? Not too worried about the cosmetics but the guts. I saw some tranny fluid and engine oil but didn't get to investigate before police arrived. What are some things that are absolute no goes or too expensive to repair? Also first time dealing with an adjusteor so any advice will help. Thanks

 

Welcome to FTE, BOvice.

Without pictures it is hard to say what damage you suffered. Was the frame tweaked? Are the axles still in the correct positions? Did the doors open? Is the radiator intact?

 

If you could post some pics that would help us a lot, I guess you are going to have to see what you can buy it back for and make the decision if it is worth that to you to keep it. If the truck was shut off right away I don't see any damage occurring to the engine or the trans..

 

Not any good pics. Damage was not too bad driver mirror, fender, and hood are toast Mostly cosmetic. Frame, axels, and suspension are all good didn't notice any coolant leaking. Going to the lot to look at it soon. Will post pics then. How will they base how much its worth. Scrap value or what it costs to replace?

 

I think usually its just off of book value...

 

I can give some insight into the insurance side of things as I had my truck totaled about a year ago ....The insurance company will either have an adjuster or a body shop work up an estimate to repair your truck. They will then figure out what they think your truck is worth. I say "they" because it will be a lot less than what you think it is worth and what comparable trucks are going for. Just be ready for that part. I just about cried when I found out what they valued mine at and the dispute process sucks and takes forever (at least with State Farm). Spend some time talking to your adjuster since you may be able to increase the value a little bit if you can tell them about upgrades and extras you have added . If their value is even close to the repair value it is totaled. If you want to keep your vehicle the insurance company will deduct the salvage value of the truck and you get the balance of the money and your truck. Your truck will also be given a salvage title. Not a big deal if you plan on keeping it forever but it will forever be black-balled if you try and sell it down the road. I really wanted to keep my truck but after they deducted the salvage value from the already low vehicle value I couldn't risk running into unexpected repair costs (there are always some).
I wish you luck with the process. I will forever have a hate of insurance companies after my experience.....

 

I rolled my 6.9L Heavy Duty years ago. I was pulling too much weight on a tri-axle trailer and did not have the load centered properly (luckily I did not hurt anyone or myself...lesson learned).

The truck flipped hard on the drivers side and slid in this position for about 40 feet. The truck remained on it's side for over an hour while it leaked minimal oil, trans fluid, fuel. The truck was righted and towed to a local garage. Obvious cosmetic damage to the driver side.

I checked the engine oil level and it was maybe a quart or two low. I was able to get her fired after several attempts. It blew lots of white smoke for about a minute and steadily cleared to no smoke and the engine sounded normal. I checked the transmission fluid and radiator fluid...all good. Paid the garage and drove it home. At home I gave it a closer mechanical inspection and found no harm done.

I bought a drivers side door and fender from a junk yard and hung them myself. I bought new wheel caps and brought her to a body shop for bed and cab Bondo, paint and a windshield. Parts cost about $600, paint and body work was about $1,200.

Overall the truck was back to the condition it was before the accident other then the refinished side looked much nicer then the opposite side.

Put another 50K miles on the truck with no issues.

Your truck is newer and nicer than mine so you may not want to go the route I took.

Good Luck!

 

Note that vehicle values, totaling and buying back vary by state. In Alabama, insurers are required to use the NADA local clean retail value of your vehicle using the options installed and the mileage that was on the vehicle.

If a repair estimate exceeds 75% of that value, it is automatically totalled. In Alabama, the original owner cannot buy it back from the insurance company. It apparently has to go to the scrap yard.

 

I take it you made it ok and no one hurt.

Check the battery/batteries to make sure that they did not come loose
and neutralize any leaks if they did. Vented caps can and will leak.
Let it sit on it feet for a few hours to settle any A/C oils down.
You don't want to slug the A/C compressor. (Slug) Means to compress
liquid in a refrigerant system = BAD JUJU.

Sean