So I got in an accident last thursday. I was cruising along a mountain road and some lady pulled out of her drive way 20 feet in front of me while I was going about 40 MPH. They accepted fault and I got a decent size check from her insurance company. The truck drove home and I started taking the front of the body apart and then I noticed the bend in the frame.

Its bent just behind the drivers side UCA, the angle is pretty decent too. I was wondering what everybody thinks about how to fix it. I really really want to keep this truck. Frame swap? Cut and and box it back in? Its a 95 single cab, 22-RE, 4x4. Thanks in advance for the advice.

 

If it were mine, I'd fix it. Cut it, bend it, weld it, whatever I'd need to do to make it "straight" again. But I've done it before so I'd know what the hell I'd be doing and I've got all the tools needed to do it. Do you?

If not, save yourself the headache and grab another frame for it. If it's a regular cab there's probably thousands out there with your name on them. Because you can use any 86-95 SWB PU frame or any 86-89 4Runner frame.

Good luck!

SWB = Short Wheel Base
LWB = Long Wheel Base

Hint: I'm basing my advice on my knowledge of how the frame is constructed in that particular area. There's some bends there that are suprisingly tough to duplicate. And more internal bracing than any other area of the entire frame. You would not believe it. There's so much internal bracing in that general area that it's a damn near solid piece of metal. Trust me, you DO NOT want to mess with it if you don't absolutely have to.

 

Perhaps talk to people in your area who have a good frame puller see if it can be pulled back.

The only problem with a bent frame is getting the front end aligned if that is doable your good to go.

I had a chevy k20 years ago that was hit on the front end and the frame was bent able to get it aligned drove if for years after.

 

pics? you'll really need it set up on a frame machine to get it back to spec....if its as bad as you are saying i'd say replace the frame

 

what insurance company settled that quickly? did they have frame damage down on their statement?
cool, just seems fast

 

Frame shop should be able to straighten it no problem.
been there, done that

 

Thanks for the replies guys. @Mudhippy. I have most the tools but its probably going to be a little out of my skill set, I can do some welding but I know where my abilities can get me. Luckily a friend of mine is a damn good welder/fabricator. Hes been in the business for longer than I have been alive. So I'm gonna see what he thinks before looking into another frame.

@ocdropzone: Her insurance company was Geico. I'm still surprised with their level of service. They admitted fault within 10 minutes of the accident, had me in a rental car a couple of hours later, and sent an estimator and mailed a check within 2 days. It was pretty crazy. They also offered to and recommended that I go get my back and neck looked at just to be sure as I was experiencing some soreness but nothing major.

Once again thanks guys. I'm going to fix this truck either way, its been my baby and prized possession for too long to just throw her away once she gets a little beat up. Plus think of how much modding I can do with that leftover dough.