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Trashed My 2009 Duramax Last Sunday

shunter2005

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Have you ever done anything so stupid that you just can't believe you did it? Happened to me last Sunday. They say bad thing happen in 3's. I believe them now. First, a little thing. A week or so back my wife spilled a giant glass of water on her computer keyboard. You could almost hear it frying. New keyboard - $45. Second, last Sunday a little bigger thing. Got up and tried to turn the tv on. Nothing. Dead as hell. Off to Sam's to get a new one. New TV w/ 4 yr protection plan - $800. Third, I hauled that tv out and loaded the tv into the bed of my truck to head home. As I turned to head to the exit, after checking there was traffic coming, I turned to head out. All of the sudden I hear and feel a crash. My truck stops instantly and the hood is now about 8 inches higher than it was 2 seconds before. I sat there for a few seconds dumbfounded waiting for my pea brain to process what just happened. I then got out and walked around to the front, only to find the front end of my truck wrapped around a 6" steel post with a stop sign and a concete base. I never saw it. Guess as I was looking for traffic, I just scanned right by it and never saw it.
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Everyone that showed up, cops, citizens and wrecker driver all said it would be totaled. I wanted to cry. That truck is/was my baby. Had her for 10 years and she was still almost perfect. Long story, short. Truck may still get totaled out if there is frame damage that can't be straightened on the frame machine. I am still surprised that a hit at 5-7 mph could/would do enough damage to total out a 3/4 ton truck. Airbag didn't even deploy, thank God, or it would already be totaled.
 

Dan Lorenze

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Hopefully your insurance will be able to help you.. I dunno
 

pronstar

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No totally surprising, with the exception of frame rails (if they were hit at all) , everything that crushed inward is cosmetic and not really structural. Plus you have a very small point of impact that took the load.

Cars have bumpers designed to withstand a 5 mph bump into another car, or 2.5 mph into a fixed barrier, with no damage.

Trucks and SUV’s are exempt from this requirement.

Wouldn’t have prevented this damage, but would have mitigated it a bit.

If it’s a good truck, I’d fix the damage even if totaled.

Even with the depreciation hit of a salvage title, it’s cheaper than buying another truck and you know the extent of the damage.


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Marios Metalworks

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Thats an unfortunate turn of events!

If the insurance totals it ask what they value the buy back at. You might be surprised...
 

84miller

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From what I am seeing, hood, grill, bumper, plus what's behind. May not be totaled. Hang in there, I have been there....I had a new Nissan 4X4, with 5K that I ran under a flatbed, totaled, $$$ did not work in my favor.. my fault...it happens...that is why it is called a accident. Now I am more concerned about the keyboard, are you sure that was a accident? small joke....
 

pronstar

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If your truck is anything like my 2015...there’s a ton of empty space in the area that was damaged.

Let’s hope it’s just cosmetics and a couple heat exchangers.


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RitcheyRch

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Sorry to read this. Hopefully it doesn't get totaled since appears to be in great shape.
 

shunter2005

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No totally surprising, with the exception of frame rails (if they were hit at all) , everything that crushed inward is cosmetic and not really structural. Plus you have a very small point of impact that took the load.

Cars have bumpers designed to withstand a 5 mph bump into another car, or 2.5 mph into a fixed barrier, with no damage.

Trucks and SUV’s are exempt from this requirement.

Wouldn’t have prevented this damage, but would have mitigated it a bit.

If it’s a good truck, I’d fix the damage even if totaled.

Even with the depreciation hit of a salvage title, it’s cheaper than buying another truck and you know the extent of the damage.


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Did not know that trucks were exempt from the bumper rule. I agree that most is all cosmetic. Only thing that leaked was the transmission cooler.

Insurance is all about the frame and the ability to straighten it, if damaged. Insurance is going to have them strip it all off and put it on the frame machine before they decide to total or not. The body shop guy said that he should be able to get it right.

However, to be on the safe side I started checking around for other vehicles. I was looking at 2009's and early (before 1/1/10) 2010's. Also, looked at 2017-18 models. No 2011-2016's for me. After searching for an hour or so, I happened onto a 2009 GMC 2500 Duramax right here in my area that had been traded in recently. It is almost identical to mine, except it has huge tow mirrors on it. Vehicle looks primo in pictures (don't they all, though) and only has 50K mi. on it. Best thing is, it is that GM Silver Birch in color where mine is white. It would match my newly powdercoated silver trailer. Pretty sweet... I go to extremes to color match my shit. Lol.. Should know something certain by Monday one way or the other.

Also, the body guy said, In Texas, no salvage title would be issued, unless damage is 100% or more of the vehicle value. It's just a waiting game now.
 

Maestro

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Should be fixable, we see this all the time on our ram RA's. The frame might have tucked in a bit but that's not an issue for the frame guys.
 

shunter2005

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Should be fixable, we see this all the time on our ram RA's. The frame might have tucked in a bit but that's not an issue for the frame guys.
That's what I think as well, but who knows with insurance anymore.
 

STV_Keith

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That sucks, but I know what you mean about those dang poles. About 15 years ago I was driving my work truck (95 Dodge Ram diesel) and stopped at Home Depot. The parking lot is virtually empty at about 8pm on Dec 20th. I go to leave and start making a u-turn. Again, no other cars in the parking lot. Then BAM! Same dumbfounded look on my face once the airbag cleared. I was like, WTF did I hit? I get out and find a 3' tall concrete base to one of the BLACK painted lamp posts in the parking lot. It was short enough that I didn't see it over the hood. It hit the bumper right on the passenger side frame rail and buckled the frame. Totaled.

Best of luck.
 

gottaminute?

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Did the same to my dodge at the bluewater casino beach.

My FRIENDS kept telling me "not enough Dodge and too much RAM":)

Only Killed the bumper and a/c condenser. The pole was short enough it never touched the hood or grill.
 

Beerme

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Similar bad luck story with my dad. Valet at a hotel toasted the driver's side of his ram truck when they pulled it up for him. Yes, they paid. Went to pick it up at Moss Brothers Dodge who did the body work. I had drove him and i'm waiting for them to pull it up. The lot boy comes up with manager and apologizes stating that when he pulled it up, he took out the rear passenger side on a pole. Needless to say my dad was smoking hot because that Dodge was his baby. It all got fixed. It's a 1997 3/4 ram diesel that he still has to this day. No paint left on the top of the bed, however he loves it. He did buy a 2019 Ford F150 as he is 76 and wanted one more new truck😁
 

DILLIGAF

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I know the pain somewhat. Sorry to see that.

I was at the HD store I think in Henderson or Vegas and hit some temporary sign sitting in the middle of the parking lot. It scraped all the way down my enclosed trailer. I got out picked that fucking pole/sign up and threw it as far as I could. I was pissed. An employee saw all this and I looked at him like WTF...he just quickly turned and went the other direction.
 

shunter2005

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Sad to say, but last rites were performed on my truck today. They told me that the frame was not fixable. The vehicle was being totaled as a safety issue. Frame was twisted and generally screwed up. I am not a engineer type, but I just don't see it. Guess that is why they do what they do.

I still can not believe that a 5 mph crash into a pole could do enough damage to total out my truck. I am still dumbfounded.

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Off to look at other trucks. Among other things, I am now debating going gas instead of diesel. How does the 3/4 ton pull with gas as compared to diesel? Want good and bad. I don't tow very far except on certain occasions if we travel.
 

rivermobster

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Sad to say, but last rites were performed on my truck today. They told me that the frame was not fixable. The vehicle was being totaled as a safety issue. Frame was twisted and generally screwed up. I am not a engineer type, but I just don't see it. Guess that is why they do what they do.

I still can not believe that a 5 mph crash into a pole could do enough damage to total out my truck. I am still dumbfounded.

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Off to look at other trucks. Among other things, I am now debating going gas instead of diesel. How does the 3/4 ton pull with gas as compared to diesel? Want good and bad. I don't tow very far except on certain occasions if we travel.

Man that's awful.

Ive owned the exact same trucks. One was gas. The other diesel. Biggest difference is fuel mileage. It was beyond terrible with the gas truck.

Oh and the major lack of torque to get up a real hill. I had to drop my gas truck in low range to get up to Kenedy Meadows one year. Good thing it was 4x4!
 
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NicPaus

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The transmission is a big difference between the 2. My 12k pound Duramax the transmission is solid. Park on a hill with brake on and it goes into drive easily. The gas 2500 it clanks and bangs on same hill going into drive no matter how hard you set the parking brske. Transmission just went out at 30k on the gasser driving like a grandpa not towing. It was just rebuilt and still feels like a slush box as it always has. Nothing like my old 06 gasser same truck. I am disappointed with it.
 

shunter2005

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The transmission is a big difference between the 2. My 12k pound Duramax the transmission is solid. Park on a hill with brake on and it goes into drive easily. The gas 2500 it clanks and bangs on same hill going into drive no matter how hard you set the parking brske. Transmission just went out at 30k on the gasser driving like a grandpa not towing. It was just rebuilt and still feels like a slush box as it always has. Nothing like my old 06 gasser same truck. I am disappointed with it.
And that is one of my major concerns with gas. Can't beat the Allison...
 

shunter2005

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Man that's awful.

Ive owned the exact same trucks. One was gas. The other diesel. Biggest difference is fuel mileage. It was beyond terrible with the gas truck.

Oh and the major lack of torque to get up a real hill. I had to drop my gas truck in low range to get up to Kenedy Meadows one year. Good thing it was 4x4!
I remember how bad the the 6.1 gas was back when I bought mine. Nobody liked them. Is the newer 6.6 gas any better?
 

J.P.

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Hey Pat,
When I saw the new Denali 2500 Diesel in your driveway last weekend I figured they had totaled your 09, what a good looking truck,
 

shunter2005

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Hey Pat,
When I saw the new Denali 2500 Diesel in your driveway last weekend I figured they had totaled your 09, what a good looking truck,
Thanks. We need to get out on the lake, SOON!!!
 

J.P.

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I plan to take mine to the storage facility this morning.
 

shunter2005

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2019 GMC 2500HD Denali w/ Duramax. 9950 mi. Spent a few hours yesterday getting it clean up. Not quite up to my standards yet, but it's getting there. Have a few add-ons coming. Lower Bumper Grille, Tonneau cover, Console vault and a few other goodies.
Oh, and it matches my new trailer color. Priceless.
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FreeBird236

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