2021 was off to a great start lol

[gbritt89]

Thanks again everyone for the advice and input! My most major point of concern is that I use it like a truck more than the average user in my opinion. I don't honestly care how good the new and obviously much better shop swears by their workmanship... it will never be pieced back together the way it was at the factory with multiple layers of quality control and people checking the previous persons work. I am 100% certain that this is an easier task on f-150's especially ones a few years old that certain techs know like the back of their hands. But even for an above average shop in Fort Worth Texas I am concerned that this would be a lot more in depth on a platform they aren't entirely familiar with.

USAA covered the initial line-x reapplication when the first body shop replaced the tailgate assembly only requiring a receipt showing the date of application. If they total the truck but try and short me on permanently affixed items... I will be ready to fight back as they have already established a pattern of covering me for aftermarket items on my policy as far as I am concerned.

-Slapping on the 5 BFG AT's cost me 1376.64 would need to contact discount tire, but with lack of driving due to covid I would say this was easily less then 10-12K miles ago. They have 0 signs of wear as of my last tire rotation under a thousand miles ago according to local discount tire...
-Trailer brake controller... can't find my receipt but know its floating around but I paid MSRP for it which is currently listed as $339
-Full size spare I thought I paid with my ford points was actually paid out of pocket, it came from their "take off room" from a new vehicle and they charged me $220 even for it. (my ford pass points were used towards labor for them to hardwire in my trailer brake controller because I went through the XL without tow pack missing wires debacle of 2019)
-weathertech hood deflector was 59.95 delivered... Not worried about it lol
-which leaves me with my last item of concern. The linex job cost me 479$ pre-tax will have to either find my receipt or have the linex dealer send me a copy of it which will be no issue as they've already done it once for insurance purposes.
-weathertech floor liners which are going to go missing in about 5 seconds the next time I see my truck to "unload tools and work supplies cost 129.95 with shipping. glad I kept the factory floor coverings.
-carhartt seat covers which are going to go missing in under 2 minutes on the next visit too cost me $223 delivered

So if totalled I am going to have to battle for $2474.59 in upgrades as an unoffial late night math total not factoring in the items I intend to make disappear the next time I get some things out of it.

I will post back in the next week hopefully when I am provided a copy of the supplement repair order, talk to USAA about diminished value aspect of the claim if they don't intend to total it and figure out their timeframe if they do intend to total it.

Also intend to call around some local attorneys and see if any of them would put a pricetag on influencing USAA to just total it out based on the timeline of events and the amount of damages uncovered and further time away from a truck that I pay over $500 monthly for. I am sooooo glad I pay extra every month so i'm not entirely upside down if its deemed a total loss.

From the few searches I have done this early on, it seems a replacement XL supercab ranger is not in the cards for $23,500 anywhere in the country lmao

Sponsored

 

[ivotuk]

Thanks again everyone for the advice and input! My most major point of concern is that I use it like a truck more than the average user in my opinion. I don't honestly care how good the new and obviously much better shop swears by their workmanship... it will never be pieced back together the way it was at the factory with multiple layers of quality control and people checking the previous persons work. I am 100% certain that this is an easier task on f-150's especially ones a few years old that certain techs know like the back of their hands. But even for an above average shop in Fort Worth Texas I am concerned that this would be a lot more in depth on a platform they aren't entirely familiar with.

USAA covered the initial line-x reapplication when the first body shop replaced the tailgate assembly only requiring a receipt showing the date of application. If they total the truck but try and short me on permanently affixed items... I will be ready to fight back as they have already established a pattern of covering me for aftermarket items on my policy as far as I am concerned.

-Slapping on the 5 BFG AT's cost me 1376.64 would need to contact discount tire, but with lack of driving due to covid I would say this was easily less then 10-12K miles ago. They have 0 signs of wear as of my last tire rotation under a thousand miles ago according to local discount tire...
-Trailer brake controller... can't find my receipt but know its floating around but I paid MSRP for it which is currently listed as $339
-Full size spare I thought I paid with my ford points was actually paid out of pocket, it came from their "take off room" from a new vehicle and they charged me $220 even for it. (my ford pass points were used towards labor for them to hardwire in my trailer brake controller because I went through the XL without tow pack missing wires debacle of 2019)
-weathertech hood deflector was 59.95 delivered... Not worried about it lol
-which leaves me with my last item of concern. The linex job cost me 479$ pre-tax will have to either find my receipt or have the linex dealer send me a copy of it which will be no issue as they've already done it once for insurance purposes.
-weathertech floor liners which are going to go missing in about 5 seconds the next time I see my truck to "unload tools and work supplies cost 129.95 with shipping. glad I kept the factory floor coverings.
-carhartt seat covers which are going to go missing in under 2 minutes on the next visit too cost me $223 delivered

So if totalled I am going to have to battle for $2474.59 in upgrades as an unoffial late night math total not factoring in the items I intend to make disappear the next time I get some things out of it.

I will post back in the next week hopefully when I am provided a copy of the supplement repair order, talk to USAA about diminished value aspect of the claim if they don't intend to total it and figure out their timeframe if they do intend to total it.

Also intend to call around some local attorneys and see if any of them would put a pricetag on influencing USAA to just total it out based on the timeline of events and the amount of damages uncovered and further time away from a truck that I pay over $500 monthly for. I am sooooo glad I pay extra every month so i'm not entirely upside down if its deemed a total loss.

From the few searches I have done this early on, it seems a replacement XL supercab ranger is not in the cards for $23,500 anywhere in the country lmao

 

[ivotuk]

I have USAA and absolutely LOVE them! I had an 07 Ford Fusion, 115k miles on it, never gave me any trouble. But I was eyeing the new Rangers enviously as they drove around my town. Then one snowy day I'm in the left lane of a 2 lane, one way street with a couple of inches of packed/slushy snow. A brand new Ford Escape was in the right lane, slightly ahead of me, and I figured there was nothing to worry about because it had to have BLISS right? Wrong. She turned left right in front of me and I tried to stop, but the snow was having none of it. No air bags deployed, so State Troopers office told me to get info and be on my merry way.

I used the USAA app and sent all the pictures (lots of them) and my description of how it all went down. My adjuster (like suggested earlier, make sure your adjuster is also not their adjuster) treated me like royalty. Fortunately the other driver had State Farm or Allstate or something.
2 days later my adjuster calls me and she's not happy (with the other driver). "The other driver is saying it's your fault Ray, that you jumped a snow bank and she was trying to avoid you." I laughed! It was painfully obvious from the pictures that no such thing happened. A. There was no "snow bank." and B. There was no snow packed in the front of my car anywhere.

USAA gives me a list of repair companies to choose from, and I head over to Fix Auto to get an estimate. They give one of about $4,500. (The car is only worth $5,100. They pull the front clip off, and more damage... I get a call from USAA and they are going to total the car. Fine with me. My dream of owning a Ford Ranger just got closer.

USAA told me I could get whatever I wanted out of my car, which wasn't much because I had cleaned it out before I drove it over to Fix Auto. But I went out and got my personalized plates and other small items.

Then my adjuster calls me and says "After arbitration, it was determined that you are NOT at fault. I knew that. "We're going to total the car so the question is, do you want to keep it or turn it over to us?" I always had this idea of taking my AWD Fusion, torching off the fenders, putting large tires on it, and turning it in to a Baja Bug. So I said I'll keep it. To which she responded "You get quite a bit less if you keep it." Really? "Yes." How much less? "We'll give you a check for $5,000 if you keep it, and a couple grand more if you turn it over to us." Gee! I said, I'm going to miss that car!

Needless to say, I went right to the Ford dealer and took a new Ranger for a spin. Those B&O speakers rattled the door panels and sounded terrible! And they wouldn't budge off of their website price. Luckily for me, the Chevy dealer had a 2019 Lariat with 10k miles for a few thousand less.

Thank you USAA for helping me get the vehicle I've been dreaming of for a year and a half.

So as you can imagine, I LOVE USAA, and always will. Our relationship has lasted waayyyy longer than my marriage did.

P.S. This wasn't my first time I had to turn in damage on my car to USAA. I left it at Fairbanks International one January, and when I came back, a front end loader had creamed the right side. Then drove off and never mentioned it to their boss. USAA picked up the bill and again, treated me like royalty the whole time.

 

[ryyck]

I hate these horror stories about claims and total losses. I mentioned before about a BMW Z3 that I once owned. I also was rear ended at a stop light. The insurance adjuster offered 7k, it cost more then 26k plus a rental car for 6 months. The book value was 17k or so. Because the insurance wouldn't total the car, the cost nearly doubled for them to fix it. I did get the diminished value from the insurance, but I could not take parts off while we were arguing the fix or total decision. And upgraded parts that were damaged had to be replaced with the identical mod part that was installed on the car. But, when I finally got the car back - it seemed to be fine, I just didn't trust it.

 

[Cape Cruiser]

Hi Bret,

I am so happy to hear of quality shops like you have. You friend makes a good case in point about fast assembly at the plant, but tons of special tools at the plant not available to the normal aftermarket. It appears this shop has it figured out. Curious how they will do the evac and fill of the cooling system and the brake system...I bet with 50 some odd stalls they have the equipment to duplicate the evac and fill processes! Hope OP can find equivalent or close. Our reframes on prototypes include innocuous frame hole movements and new clips and new fuel lines to support the clips etc for example. Prototype parts can be scarcer than hen's teeth...

There are two areas of headaches at Ford Engineering Design. Frames and Exhaust. As the prototypes mature and problems are found and fixed. These two areas are faced with changes from head to toe of the vehicle. I am heartened there aftermarket folks that can make a vehicle whole again with no "come backs".

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

Yes Phil, this dealer is has been with Ford for lots of years, and they do all makes and models. I believe the owner (Holman Ford)was long time buddy with Henry Ford . The shop has zero dust and has people riding around on sweepers and all air sanders have dust collectors . I cant say that all shops would have the ability to do these types of repairs without causing other issues. Hopefully the OP has a good outcome ! Bret

 

[NeptuneRanger]

I wish you all the luck in the world on this one, no one likes to spend money each month on something never quite the same after an accident. I think everyone on this forum agrees.

Since you are not at fault, the aftermarket parts should be covered even if you didn’t have a customization endorsement because the guilty parties liability is paying out, not your collision coverage.

Now about being upside down if the truck is totaled, unless you bought loan/lease coverage on your policy or through the dealer at the time of purchase you may have to eat the difference. So it will really depend how USAA values your truck, the irony is the repair to total ratio needs to be tight, meaning to make it work the value in the dominator will need to be lower, hence causing you to be more upside down. In some respects, mathematically getting the truck fixed and also getting some diminished value as well may pencil better and you simply trade that bad boy in after it is all said and done. That is what I would do in your situation. Remember it is a math problem, optimize the result and keep your emotions in check . Just my two cents. Best wishes for a favorable outcome.

 

[HenryMac]

You need to give this shop some credit. You're acting like you think the Ranger is built in some special way that no one can possibly fix back to original. Give your head a shake.

The second shop, sure.

But after he dealt with the 1st shop that half assed the repair, being cautious moving forward seems the prudent approach.

 

[gbritt89]

You need to give this shop some credit. You're acting like you think the Ranger is built in some special way that no one can possibly fix back to original. Give your head a shake.

Really not the case, but also not the first thread you've jumped to conclusions or made a douchey comment on. Must be how you got your post count so high on a relatively new forum lol.

I'll go ahead and click that ignore button on your profile like I did with VAMIKE. For the record. It's not that I think the ranger is built some special way. It's that it will never be built back the same it was and I pay entirely too much for my truck to be less than perfect for its age because some woman in an Escalade wanted to text and drive. Have a good one bud.

d

The second shop, sure.

But after he dealt with the 1st shop that half assed the repair, being cautious moving forward seems the prudent approach.

THANK YOU lol

 

[NickTheEnforcer]

I have USAA and absolutely LOVE them! I had an 07 Ford Fusion, 115k miles on it, never gave me any trouble. But I was eyeing the new Rangers enviously as they drove around my town. Then one snowy day I'm in the left lane of a 2 lane, one way street with a couple of inches of packed/slushy snow. A brand new Ford Escape was in the right lane, slightly ahead of me, and I figured there was nothing to worry about because it had to have BLISS right? Wrong. She turned left right in front of me and I tried to stop, but the snow was having none of it. No air bags deployed, so State Troopers office told me to get info and be on my merry way.

I used the USAA app and sent all the pictures (lots of them) and my description of how it all went down. My adjuster (like suggested earlier, make sure your adjuster is also not their adjuster) treated me like royalty. Fortunately the other driver had State Farm or Allstate or something.
2 days later my adjuster calls me and she's not happy (with the other driver). "The other driver is saying it's your fault Ray, that you jumped a snow bank and she was trying to avoid you." I laughed! It was painfully obvious from the pictures that no such thing happened. A. There was no "snow bank." and B. There was no snow packed in the front of my car anywhere.

USAA gives me a list of repair companies to choose from, and I head over to Fix Auto to get an estimate. They give one of about $4,500. (The car is only worth $5,100. They pull the front clip off, and more damage... I get a call from USAA and they are going to total the car. Fine with me. My dream of owning a Ford Ranger just got closer.

USAA told me I could get whatever I wanted out of my car, which wasn't much because I had cleaned it out before I drove it over to Fix Auto. But I went out and got my personalized plates and other small items.

Then my adjuster calls me and says "After arbitration, it was determined that you are NOT at fault. I knew that. "We're going to total the car so the question is, do you want to keep it or turn it over to us?" I always had this idea of taking my AWD Fusion, torching off the fenders, putting large tires on it, and turning it in to a Baja Bug. So I said I'll keep it. To which she responded "You get quite a bit less if you keep it." Really? "Yes." How much less? "We'll give you a check for $5,000 if you keep it, and a couple grand more if you turn it over to us." Gee! I said, I'm going to miss that car!

Needless to say, I went right to the Ford dealer and took a new Ranger for a spin. Those B&O speakers rattled the door panels and sounded terrible! And they wouldn't budge off of their website price. Luckily for me, the Chevy dealer had a 2019 Lariat with 10k miles for a few thousand less.

Thank you USAA for helping me get the vehicle I've been dreaming of for a year and a half.

So as you can imagine, I LOVE USAA, and always will. Our relationship has lasted waayyyy longer than my marriage did.

P.S. This wasn't my first time I had to turn in damage on my car to USAA. I left it at Fairbanks International one January, and when I came back, a front end loader had creamed the right side. Then drove off and never mentioned it to their boss. USAA picked up the bill and again, treated me like royalty the whole time.

Interesting story! Not sur how it is up there or other states b/c I dont profess to know all the in's & out's about coverage etc. But in IL its pretty much no-fault unless someone goes to the ER or an officer writes one a ticket and not the other. In the accident I recalled earlier in this thread it ended up being judged between our carriers the fault was 90% the chick who pulled off a 15mph side road and in front of my wife on a county road with a 55mph limit. She rolled the stop sign and ended up getting the ticket. She was driving a Nissan Rogue and took the impact between A and B pillars. I would post pics but I deleted them all recently b/c looking at them just pisses me off..gotta move on!
We ended up with a 10% fault, not sure how. But my normally passive wife got all fired up when the other girl told the cop, "look she 'hit' me.!" Sure I guess that is true BUT not before you pulled out into her direct path!.. Then I guess the girl told the officer that "She sped up!" At that point I guess my wife got out of her wrecked car still dressed in her hospital scrubs and said really?! I work in a hospital and deal with accident injuries ALL DAY LONG you think I'm really gonna speed up?! At which point the other girl lost ALL credibility with the officer who I guess then told my wife SHE's getting the ticket and he's had enough of her selective story telling. He then ask her about the USAF Veteran plates on her ride ..more credibility to us.

I tried a few times to get with USAA b/c I always hear solid things but I always get a very high premium quote despite all of having great driving records.

 

[TomC]

I tried a few times to get with USAA b/c I always hear solid things but I always get a very high premium quote despite all of having great driving records.

USAA customer for a long time - good group and worth the extra $$ IMO. But the best thing you can do is get a dash camera with 2 channels... solves almost all problems.

 

[Zaph]

You need to give this shop some credit. You're acting like you think the Ranger is built in some special way that no one can possibly fix back to original. Give your head a shake.

Not me... I don't give any shops any credit. I've seen too much stupid crap from shops over the years to expect anything other than the most dismal bare minimum and lowest quality of service possible. It's in everyone's best interest to just cover your ass the best you can right from the start.

I eagerly await for some shop to make me less of the cynic that I currently am... but it's never happened.

 

[gbritt89]

Not me... I don't give any shops any credit. I've seen too much stupid crap from shops over the years to expect anything other than the most dismal bare minimum and lowest quality of service possible. It's in everyone's best interest to just cover your ass the best you can right from the start.

I eagerly await for some shop to make me less of the cynic that I currently am... but it's never happened.

Same. It's all about cutting corners and getting more business. I guess I needed to bust out some colored pencils to add up the math for some people... I paid 23,500$ for a truck they might try and put 19,000-22,000 dollars worth of work into when all is said and done.

 

[NickTheEnforcer]

Like ANY service industry there are good and bad providers. Seemingly some will go out of their way to hide a poor job when doing it right and with integrity is not that difficult. I build residential homes/communities. I could tell you horror stories until the cows come home about the crap I've seen people get away with or caught doing. Before that I ran a good year shop and way before that I spent some time in high school being a grunt in a body shop. I learned a lot about detail there we had a few really good guys who hung metal and shot paint. We saw a lot of work come in that looked like it was done by toddlers with a rattle can.

Bottom line you can't assume a shop is able or willing to do their best work, in many cases their best work is sub-par. Its like when a restaurant advertises 'Voted #1'...by who? Shops say 'certified' & 'factory trained' all the time. I've been to some of those so called training classes. One ASE class I went to the instructor gave us the final test during attendance and allowed us to fill it out through the day. I can't imagine anyone failed that one, so much for vocational integrity...
JMO

 

[Mustang2Ranger]

OP - I can only speak to this part

" Does anyone have experience in removing aftermarket items on a total loss vehicle? If not.. will insurance company factor in everything I have done to truck and have receipts for that is affixed to it?? I probably have 2-3000 put into my truck in decent upgrades (linex spray in bediner, 3m window tint, bfg AT's x5 and full size spare, carhartt seat covers, ford TBC kit and more)"

In my experience, if the vehicle is in the hands of the insurance company, they will not let you take parts off of it. However if you can get the shop to let you come and take/replace parts or you can do it in between while you are moving it around, that might work.

As far as getting aftermarket upgrades covered (also just my experience) the insurance company needs receipts and it had to be within the last year, they were flexible a little. This was AAA

 

[Trigganometry]

And the same can be said for Ford.
They aren't building masterpieces or super highly technical frames and bodies. Even with them setting the bar as high as they can its still a pretty easy bar to reach.

That statement says you don’t know much about normal tolerance stacks, manufacturing variables and constant improvement targets. Validations and 5S. The volume of inspections and sign offs also involved. Automotive, aerospace and medical device manufacturers all live in this world and build quality from embracing it. Thanks for playin ?

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