Saturday night in Milwaukee we had severe rain, flooding and other assorted weather issues.

I was driving home from helping out some friends with a flooring project. The road was covered with standing water about 3 inches deep. Manhole covers had been popping up all over town and I even ventured out and placed several of them back on with a crowbar to prevent anyone from getting hurt.

I knew where most of them were because I always avoided them because they were lower than the road and I hated the bumps. Well, apparently there was one that was one that I forgot the location of and I ran the passenger side front tire right into it. It must have been dislodged but not completely off the manhole because the front tire fell into the manhole and kicked the cover up under the truck.

The manhole dented the floorboard, actually tore part of the frame away under the passenger side rear door and exited right in front of the rear wheel taking the inner & outer wheel well, the back of the running board, and the tire and a chunk of rim with it. It also crushed the rear AC and heater lines that run under the body in that area.

With all the damage throughout the state, the adjuster has not gotten out to look at it yet, but he will decide on the spot if they will total it or have it towed to a shop for a true estimate.

Of course I only had 2 more payments on it until it was all mine!

I will post pictures as soon as I have the courage to look underneath it again



Doug

 

Oh man that sucks!! What kind of suspension damage do you have where the tire dropped into the hole?

At least there are some real deals out there now if they do total it. Saw a 2000 XLT with leather, V-10, with 117k miles, this morning on eBay for $4950 buy it now. And it is pretty clean!!

 

WoW, thats a real bummer.

 

Wow.....that really sucks! Good luck!

 

that is a real bummer only 2 payments. did you walk to one of the corner bars and wait for a ride. where did this happen downtown or out in the burbs. I drive through the area about every other month on the way up to west bend.

 

Your luck sounds like mine, but just be thankful that no one was hurt. The X can be repaired or replaced.

 

Man you did a good deed by replacing some and that's the thanks you got. What a bummer. Hey! Maybe your new one will be even better than the one you have now!

 

Damn...that sucks... but could have been much worse.

In my area we have had 2 freak accidents that stick in my mind. One was when a loaded dump truck went over a loose manhole cover and popped it out like a tiddly-wink. It shot out the back and went through the windshield of a car behind it, decapitating the driver. Another one was when a Fiero ran over a 45 degree tire iron that was laying in the road. The front tire flipped it up and it came through the floorboard, impaling and killing the driver.

Here's to driving a truck that is high off the ground!

 

I heard from the adjuster. He thinks it is repairable so he going to have it towed to my favorite shop and have them do a complete estimate.

We'll see. These Excursions are tough, but I'm not sure I want to trust a truck that may be twisted. AFter I get the estimate, I may buy take the money after paying it off and put it towards another one.

Doug

 

I don't know. It is probably a fair amount since the steering wheel is cocked pretty far off.

 

I changed the tire in the rain and drove it about a mile home with the hazards on at about 10 MPH.

It happened on W. Greeves, down along the river in Menomonee valley. Right near Badger Truck on St. Paul Ave.

 

Oh that has just been the start of my week. My (ex) wife is (as I write this) moving my most loved posessions out of the house, I have to work Friday night and Saturday, and my only other running car seized up the idler pulley and has no alternator, power steering or A/C, My basement is still drying out from the water last weekend. I just hope I can make it through this week without my dog dying as well

 

If they total it, be sure to get your grill and lights first!!

 

Where are the pics??

 

Keep your chin up. Sorry you're having a rough time of it.
Sure sounds like it sucks right now. Better times are ahead.

Bob