Post: #1

And wrecked my truck into a tree. Fishtailed on the off ramp. Didn't hit the brake and tried to power through it. Then I was perpendicular to the road and then I smashed my brake. Hopped the curb, went down into the ditch and smashed a couple of trees. I was able to get out, so I went to the titty bar.

I used my hamster to rationalize my shitty driving by blaming my old, worn out tires.

Here's the damage:









I don't know why that shit is sideways, but whatever.

The worst part is that the bumper is now touching my tire slightly.

Here are my options in my mind:

Fix the lights on my own and pay out of pocket for the rest of the damage. I am probably looking at 2k minimum, I am guessing.

Buy a used car for a couple grand.

Hammer the fucking bumper until it isn't touching the tire and leave it like that, or whatever the fuck I need to do to. Maybe remove the bumper entirely? I dunno, I'm not a fucking mechanic. I barely know how to operate a vehicle, obviously.


File an insurance claim and have my rate go up. I haven't had a wreck since 2006 so I might be ok.


Suggestions?

Post: #2

You're lucky to be alive, you know. Maybe someone has advice for fixing it yourself, but my advice would be to go to the insurance. In the long term (when you do a simple discounting analysis), it will probably cost you less than paying for repairs yourself, but that's just a guess.

Post: #3

Well I am a lucky man, man.

Post: #4

Renotime, that doesn't look so bad. Don't go to a mechanic! Same thing happened to my buddy years ago when he was driving home drunk from the bars and rear ended some chick. The bumper was all the way against his tire. Get a chain or a tow strap, wrap it around the bumper and carefully use another truck (or car if it has a tow hook) to pull it out. Just go slow and you can get that bumper almost exactly back where it needs to be.

Go to a junkyard and find some lights, minimal tools required. Look it up on google if you need to. It's a Ranger? or an F150? Either way, there's plenty of parts out there, that damage looks easy to repair.

Glad you're ok!

Post: #5

Yes sir, Ford Ranger. She's my baby.

I might have to search some youtube vids to figure out how to do that.

Thanks painter!

Post: #6

Almost all of the parts needed for a proper repair are available from Rock Auto. Headlights are $25, turn signal is about $7, and the front bumper mounting brackets are $6 and $7. You can even get a new bumper from them. Don't bother with the junk yard, they can be a rip off. And try to avoid pulling out damage by tying your truck to stationary objects.

You're not going to power out of a slide in a Ford Ranger. Basic driver's ed: when the rear end loses traction and the vehicle wants to spin, turn your wheels into the spin. In other words, if the back steps out while you're making a right turn, turn the wheels to the left. If it steps out in a left turn, turn the wheels right. Try to avoid standing on the brakes as it can make the spin even worse.