The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Input on Accident Damage

Hello;

While moving from Washington to Arizona I was transporting my 55.2 on a flatbed trailer behind my F-350 on the highway; a guy in Nevada ran a stop and t-boned me. I went off the right shoulder, somehow hooked it and crossed the center line and off the left shoulder; fortunately no significant injuries to anyone. I had four brand new 3300 lb axle tie down straps securing the Chevy to the flatbed; two of the straps on the right side broke, and the truck partially came off the trailer on the left side. The broken straps were found on the right shoulder of the highway.

Question: There is visible damage to the right side of the cab, per the attached photos. Probably other damage as well. Left rear cab corner and left kick panel damage, left rear fender, and bed damage. Seems like the cab damage occurred when the truck came partially off the trailer and the cab hit the trailer fender/tires. Does the cab look repairable? Weld in a new cab corner and kick panel? Considering the tie down straps broke, I'm concerned about frame damage as well.
Let me know your thoughts?

Thanks,

Geoff - What a crying shame! Very glad no significant injuries! You mentioned cab damage on the right (passenger side?) but your pics only show left (drivers) side? Hard to tell on the truck bed if it's other than just fender damage, but I would absolutely say it needs to be inspected by a frame and body (collision) shop to determine extent of the damage for the entire truck. Be sure you document everything as much as you can with pictures.

I really hope this clown had insurance!

Ditto on a thorough frame inspection before beginning any cosmetic repairs. Where were the tiedown straps attached? Enough force to break heavy duty straps has to go somewhere, and the attachment points are the logical places to look for damage. Good luck!
Jerry

That's a bummer. Looks like a nice truck. And in my favorite color, Omaha Orange.

Like Dan and Jerry said, be sure to check closely for frame damage. The sheet metal damage can be fixed, but a bent frame might be something that can't be.

Hope insurance steps up and makes you well, but you may have to fight them for it.

Yes, other party had insurance. Gdads51, oops.. yes left side damage. Definitely will get it to a frame shop for inspection. I know just looking at something is not like a full frame measurement and inspection, but nothing stands out on a visual right now. Can these frames be racked back to factory alignment?

My father's business partner was a US Army rebuilding depot supervisor in Belgium who took wrecked and battle damaged military trucks down to a bare frame, straightened and reassembled them, and sent them back to fight during WW II. After the war, he and Dad spent 20-something years running a general auto shop, where he did the frame and wheel alignment work, and Dd supervised a crew of mechanics who did everything else. That guy could have straightened out a pretzel without changing its flavor or texture. Fixing a slightly tweaked stovebolt frame would have been child's play for him!
Jerry

Tie down straps were wrapped around each axle, just inboard of the springs. Not sure what caused both on right side to break. I'll get it to a frame shop and go from there.

Check with insurance company about a repair estimate ,they usually give you a choice of shops they use that way you are not spending your money and having to battle to get reimbursed.If you take it down yourself make sure you document your expenses ,gas trailer ,by the way your trailer may need to be looked at posible your truck hitch ect .

Got a frame shop that works on older stuff. Good advise on documenting all expenses. Trailer is totalled, frame bent. Here's photo of the hitch, never seen a 10,000 lb hitch bend like this.

With that tiedown method, your frame is likely OK. The springs will have absorbed a lot of the force. But you still should have it checked out.
It's possible the straps contacted a sharp edge on the spring mounts or a u-bolt. That would have compromised their strength.

The welder gets a

Any damage to the F-350?

Unfortunately the F-350 is totaled. Whole rear axle assembly is ripped out, front bumper is twisted even though I didn’t hit anything with it. Bummer, I’ve owned since it was new.

Strangely enough, the strap broke about mid point, near where the axle wrap hooks back onto the strap. Hopefully it’s repairable.

Dang! That sucks! How fast was the guy going?

I hope he has enough liability coverage. He's totaled a trailer, a heavy duty hauler, and seriously damaged a collector vehicle.

I'll be surprised if you don't have to get your own insurance company involved

The frame can be straightened (racked) back to factory specs. A shop that I used in MA said that my ‘55 frame was the third one that that they did year. It looked fine when they finished. The cab sits on the frame quite well but I’m not finished yet, so time will tell.