I sent my truck into the body shop last week 06/20/2013 to repair some damage where a lady had backed into my bumper in a parking lot a few months ago.

And then a real miracle happened, she left a note with her phone number, insurance policy number and a note saying how sorry she was for hitting me.



She hit my bumper, left taillight, lens, housing and trim, also broke one of the SMD's off the LED tower and put a crease in the left rear quarter panel.
About $2000.00 damage.

Her insurance company underestimated it by over $1000.00 wanting to install a used bumper, replace only the taillight lens and obviously didn't see the quarter panel.

Detroit Auto Body manager said not going to happen,
So they had to wait for a supplemental report to get the rest of the money.

I will get a new complete taillight assembly and the bumper goes to the chrome shop where it is stripped, re-struck in the factory die and then re-chromed, including a lifetime warranty on the finish.
And then of course the body work.



So then after getting the "You do not have rental coverage" issue taken care of,

They rented me one of these.

A 2013 1500 crew cab with unlimited mileage for as long as the repair takes.



This is going to be nice, cruise around style.

But the first thing I realize is, man I can actually hear myself in here and that my truck must be really loud especially outside, I come home and I can sneak up on my dog, she can usually hear my truck about a half mile away,
also found how many people know me for the sound of my truck, like all of the drive trough's like Jack N Box and McDonald's.

This truck rides better than my truck although not by a lot, the steering and suspension are really tight and the 20" tires make it feel like a road grader.

There are all kind of neat electronics inside like the connections for my ipod and ipad and some annoying ones like the blue tooth that won't release my Droid Maxx when I leave the truck or when the truck starts talking to me asking questions.

But as nice as this truck is, it is putting a big hole in my pocket where it sucks gas by the buckets full.

It has a 4.7 liter engine and that is about all I know about it, the throttle is jumpy but once it is moving, it really scoots, it sounds like a police interceptor under heavy throttle and the AC works surprisingly well even in the rear.



But trying my hardest with with a combination of city and freeway driving I was never able to get good mileage, it actually worse with every tank full.



In 8 days I have drained over $250.00 worth of $4.00/gal gasoline through the gas cap or about $30.00 per day going to work and some play.

It has only been 8 days and I really miss my truck, I even drive by and am able to see it every day.

It is really going to sound nice and feel great when I get it back next week.

How do people afford to drive these?

Do you have to be wealthy or something?

Jim

 

And that is the perfect reason I laugh at people when they tell me I should trade in my old 85 with the 360 for a new truck. Mine gets about the same, and the gearing allows me to haul heavy loads without a huge decrease in fuel mileage. Plus, I prefer a stick.

 

Those pictures are by far the dirtiest I have ever seen you truck by the way! Also does your bumper have the plastic top on it? If so was it damaged?

Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2

 

Jim, where did you get your rear fender extension/flares? I'm in the market for a pair. I lost one of mine in my recent trip to Baja.

 

Well here's your problem. Two thousand eight hundred and twenty eight miles but your average speed is only 26 MPH. You're spending all your time idling in traffic. With all those big, wide interstates you have there in California I can't begin to see how that could happen.

Really sorry to hear you got hit though. At least the lady was honest, that's hard to find these days.

 

Wow, Jim..

Didn't you just have that rear quarter painted about a year or so ago ????

Are you an "old lady Chick magnet " ?????


I bet they're just bumping your truck so they can hook up with you and all of your manliness....


BTW... If she left a note with all that info, she obviously wasn't from CA or NJ...

 

And what's the sticker price on that land yacht?

At the TDR Ralley we got to test drive the 2013 3500. Course they were diesel and 1 tons but they almost broke $70K!

You are lucky the lady left her info, nice to know there are still honest folks out there, I know you've had your share of hoodlums...

 

Only a guy like Jim would have a rental truck that is the same brand and color as his own vehicle.

 

I chuckled at the matching color rental as well.
I would want a Dodge rental truck too!
It is Mopar or NO Car in my garage.

 

Saw a show the other night "What Would You Do?". They set up actors in different scenarios, lost wallet, fishing for coins in the casino fountain to keep gambling, etc. My question was, "how can they not immediately turn it into casino security?".

 

I know, that is probably the dirtiest this truck has ever been, it think it was all of the dust from the sanding and then it rained one night last week with our 100* weather.

Yes it does have the plastic on the top of the bumper but it was not damaged, the bumper had a slight bend on the left side.

The OEM HD bumper is about twice as thick as the aftermarket bumpers they will try to replace it with.

It took out the back side of her 1999 Toyota 4 Runner including the rear window.

Jim

 

The last one that I got was from a member here and the body shop had it shipped all the way from Florida.

Check in the Classifieds.

Jim

 

I got another letter from the local Dodge dealer wanting the 07 Chevy I wrecked 3 1/2 years ago, think I might go in and see if they'll trade straight up for a new hemi like that one.

 

Didn't you just have that rear quarter painted about a year or so ago ????

Oh you must have been thinking of this one,











I heard the crash and came running when this delivery van about 30 miles from where it belongs comes flying down a residential street and plowed off everything on the side of the truck.

I don't think he was going to stop until he saw all of running toward him, I was taking pictures as I was running.

I guess it could have been a lot worse, over a few inches and he would have caught the rear bumper or the duals and messed up my frame.

Then he says he will give me $1000.00 that should be more than enough to cover the damages.
no no no.

This was in front of my parents house where about 8 years ago a drunk driver rear ended my sisters custom painted Chevy Crew Cab Dually and launched it into the neighbors front yard ripping the rear end completely out of the truck. He tried to get away but my brother in law got him and held him until the Sheriff got there.

Are you an "old lady Chick magnet " ?????

This old lady was nice and young and it happened in a parking lot.
I don't mind being a chick magnet,
I just seem to be more of an illegal, unlicensed, uninsured and drunk driver magnet.

She was actually from the next town over from me and had her teenage daughter in the car, guess there are a few of us left out here.

Jim

 

That is the one...
The one wiped out drivers dually flair picture, I was remembering you just got that fixed.