Wrecked 89 Comanche

[Virginia]

Sadness at my house.  My son wrecked the 89 comanche Saturday.  A car ran a redlight and he couldn't get stopped.  there was a solid steel tow bar across the front that is bend about 2' towards the engine, passenger front quarter panel is buckled in, radiator was pushed into the fan blade.  He was hauling a 900lb clutch punch press which rammed into the front of the bed and into the back of the cab bending both and curving the glass which did not break.

 

It was her fault.  I've contacted insurance about this and my guess is they will total this truck.  My question is do any of you have experience fighting with the insurance companies on the value of these trucks and if so, what info did you use?

Also, at what point is it worth fixing?  I mean, how much damage is too much?

 

Here is a link to the pictures.  I can't get them to show up here.

 

 

 

 

 

[sinkrun]

NADA classic value is somewhere around 3 to 6 thousand also print outs of the ones on ebay that brought good money can help. Also just stick to your guns don't give them a inch. Sorry to see another MJ wrecked glad all is well.

[Virginia]

Thanks and I'm sad too.

[Minuit]

IMHO that looks pretty fixable. As sinkrun said, look for any evidence of MJs being highly valued that you can. NADA values are much more favorable than KBB.

[Virginia]

As long as the tow bar didn't bend the frame.

[yellaheep]

Unfortunately photos just can't show the damage enough to tell, but I've seen worse front hits on XJ's/MJ's get repaired.  It's possible the tow bar mount might have saved the unibody.  Removing the bumper, fender and header panel will reveal the extent of unibody damage.  The bed and cab damage could be corrected to "good enough" status with a large slide hammer and "J" hook.  A creative rigging of a Porta-Power ram inside the cab could push the area under the window back out and possibly save the glass.  You might consider covering the glass with lots of tape for the time being.... it's under lots of stress now and could shatter (explode) just with a change in temperature or a door shutting.

 

Those of us handy with collision repair would likely be able to keep that truck on the road....... but it won't keep the truck from getting a "salvage" designation on the title / VIN by insurance after the claims have been worked out.

 

You need to do what's best for your situation, but if it get's totaled by your Insurance, it'd be great if you could buy it back and offer it up for someone to use for parts or bang it back into usable shape.

[Virginia]

I have every intention of buying it back and will either repair it depending on the cost or offer it up.  I'd really like it to go to someone who will love and fix it.  I just may not have the wherewithall since there's very little I can do myself.

[Keyav8r]

Sorry to hear about your Comanche. I don't know how I'd handle having mine wrecked. For me it's tough to have it sidelined when I'm working on it, even though I know I'll have it back on the road again eventually.

I hope you're able to work something out with the insurance gangsters, uhh, I mean insurance company.

[Eagle]

Unfortunately photos just can't show the damage enough to tell, but I've seen worse front hits on XJ's/MJ's get repaired.  It's possible the tow bar mount might have saved the unibody.  Removing the bumper, fender and header panel will reveal the extent of unibody damage.

 

Heck, there are LOT's of Cherokees in junk yards, and it's really not all that difficult (for a body man who knows his trade) to remove the bent uniframe "ears" and inner fenders, and weld in replacements from a donor vehicle.

[Pete M]

major bummer. :(  at least everyone is alright.

 

fixed the pics for ya. :thumbsup:

[Virginia]

 

Unfortunately photos just can't show the damage enough to tell, but I've seen worse front hits on XJ's/MJ's get repaired.  It's possible the tow bar mount might have saved the unibody.  Removing the bumper, fender and header panel will reveal the extent of unibody damage.

 

Heck, there are LOT's of Cherokees in junk yards, and it's really not all that difficult (for a body man who knows his trade) to remove the bent uniframe "ears" and inner fenders, and weld in replacements from a donor vehicle.

 

The hard part is finding the right body man..

[Virginia]

major bummer. :(  at least everyone is alright.

 

fixed the pics for ya. :thumbsup:

Thank you

[Virginia]

Sorry to hear about your Comanche. I don't know how I'd handle having mine wrecked. For me it's tough to have it sidelined when I'm working on it, even though I know I'll have it back on the road again eventually.

I hope you're able to work something out with the insurance gangsters, uhh, I mean insurance company.

Gonna do everything I can.

[mikekaz1]

rear cab looks like the worst of the damage,  the tow bar definitely saved the nose from worse, the hood is still straight, so theres no lasting frame damage.  will it be totaled... yes... is it fixable... yes.

[Knucklehead97]

Here is one of my Mj's after I hit a deer going about 50. 3 weeks after I bought it. Your front damage doesn't look too much worse and the bed/cab damage could easily be beat out from what I can tell.

 

And there it is after insurance totaled it out for 1800$ :D clean title non-salvaged. Geico is who I have for insurance and they took great care of me. Long story short it was 200$ after the cost of the new radiator and it was back on the road a week later. The damage is very fixable and if you want to drop it off at my house I'll take it off your hands no cost ;)

[Virginia]

I appreciate the offer, Knucklehead, and nice try, but think I won't be just giving it away.

 

Some questions though, did you do the work yourself?  That's sorta my problem, I don't know how to do a lot of this.

[Virginia]

On a positive note, I have blacksmith friends who can straighten the tow bar but let me ask, since it's no longer being towed behind an RV, should I just remove it?

[Knucklehead97]

I did the work myself, yes. My unibody wasn't very damaged. Just had to beat some panels straight and swap the body panels over. From how yours looks I doubt the unibody is that damaged. That tow bar saved the front I believe. I would remove the tow bar personally and replace it with a front hitch so it is more useful than towing from behind an RV.

[Virginia]

OK

[Virginia]

So, the appraiser says it will cost more to repair than it's worth.  We knew that.  

 

If I buy this truck back, what is the interest in anyone here purchasing it?

[Virginia]

Got final settlement on the truck today.  More than I expected.  Not seeing any interest in anyone buy it, I'm gonna let it go.

[Mossmj]

What would u like 2 c outta it pm me if u like

[Eagle]

Got final settlement on the truck today.  More than I expected.  Not seeing any interest in anyone buy it, I'm gonna let it go.

 

I would be interested but you're too far away from me to make it even possible, let alone practical. Somebody wants it, though. As the saying goes, "They ain't makin' 'em like that no more."

[Virginia]

 

Got final settlement on the truck today.  More than I expected.  Not seeing any interest in anyone buy it, I'm gonna let it go.

 

I would be interested but you're too far away from me to make it even possible, let alone practical. Somebody wants it, though. As the saying goes, "They ain't makin' 'em like that no more."

 

Yep....You're a ways away.

[Ωhm]

Eagle
-------
Self-appointed President for Life of the International MJ Preservation Society

 

What's a couple of hundred miles? :)