She's gonna be written off....

[headbanging]

Well, for those that don't know, Friday i was hit from behind by another car, doing 20 to 30 mph. Luckily (in a way) the fronty is that well built, that the tow ball stopped her in her tracks. Unluckily, it was pushed back a bit, and twisted the cross member.

My bumper was also knocked out of place. Oh, and I have whiplash. Otherwise its all good.

Her car, well, new grill, rad, bonnet, bumper, lights, wings and anything else I couldn't see, you get the idea. Basically new front end.

Anyway, insurance company wanted some estimates for the cost of repairs to my car. So of I went to local accident repair centre, who were very good. They did explain that they can only use brand new parts, and would only change complete parts, not cut and slice anything.

When the quote came through, I wasn't surprised to see that they wanted a new bumper (£260). I was surprised to see that they wanted to change the entire vehicle frame. I was even more surprised to see they could get one!

Anyway, total quote for new bumper, frame, repair tailgate, respray, parts, VAT, labor, tea, coffee and biscuits comes to the grand sum of....................... Well I'll let you guess, but suffice to say, it starts with a 6!

We're not sure what to do yet. May well sell her on, or may keep her as a play thing. If we keep (or sell) if anyone wants to weld in a new cross member for us, get in touch.

[gregster]

If you get stuck and get a crossmember and wanna drive it down here, I can cut out the old one and weld it in for you...

I would have a word with vosa who do the inspection afterwards on write offs to see if they would be happy with a substantial 4x2 steel box section going in instead of the stock cross member though...much cheaper to do and massively stronger than a stock part, and great for rear winch mount or recovery points in the future...
No need to bother with a rear bumper then, unless you really wanted to of course...

and being a 2.3td...a girder in the back will mean that milkfloats can safely push you up hills without damaging your truck!!!

[Trugga]

I guess it is the news you were expecting Drew, but £6...... wow

As mentioned at the weekend, I have a rear bumper here if it is of any use for you (just need to arrange FOF Express)

Lawrence

[fudge]

i am willing to pop along and weld it up, as long as you dont mind paying petrol. or if i am close.

but is it the bar that has the tow bar on, or the one above that what is part of the chassis?

[Gazeddy]

the damage appeared to be just the tow bar itself. but i was looking at it in the field on friday

[headbanging]

[fudge]

well im sure if it is the tow bar, bar that un bolts from the main chassie so it can be replaced when it is dammaged, (like mine is on my swb)

so if it is, go to your local scrappy and get one.