Got rear-ended. Time for a bumper upgrade?—PLOT THICKENS!—

[timo]

On my way home from work today, I go over a bridge on the freeway and guess what?? DEATH WOBBLE!! WTF? 14,500ish miles, get rear ended and now this? How the hell could the two be related?

That's a bummer. Sounds like the collision goes beyond just your bumper. Obviously your hitch is connected directly to your frame which transferred some of that crash energy to components connected to your frame, including the track bars. My guess is your wobble is front track bar related. It may have loosened in the bracket from the collision. As a simply DIY test, you could tighten the front track bar. I'm not sure of the torque spec on the factory track bar, but I remember my Clayton track bar was 110 ft-lb. Hopefully that is all it is, but I think I'd go get it checked out so you don't miss anything that may have been damaged.

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[Sparty]

any chance your alignment got thrown out of whack?

 

[TheSolarWizard]

If you were on your brakes when she hit you that could have damaged the control arm bushings or bent the arms slightly. I got rear ended in an F350 around 2008 and my ball joints got tweaked. Much harder crash than this appears to be though

 

[Higher_Ground]

All this makes me nervous. I was rear ended a month ago at really low speed - no damage to my bumper but the loop on the side of the hitch receiver was bent upwards about 1/2". The square part of the receiver looked undamaged and I couldn't see any damage underneath. I didn't have my foot on the brake so I rolled forward after she hit me.

Similar story, teenager looked more shook up than I did and I was late to work so I told her to be more careful next time.

I don't tow anything but maybe I should have it checked out next time I get the tires rotated. Given that you can't just "bend it back" you would indeed have to replace the entire assembly to have it "good as new" but I can't say I've ever actually used that part of a hitch before. Would the damage be obvious? Cracks at a weld somewhere?

 

[Psycho Squirrel]

Some info: had the steering box replaced a few weeks ago and wasn’t 100% sure about the alignment anyway but the DW only started today. Tire pressure is s hovering around 30-31 PSI due to the recent drop in temps. Gonna grab my torque wrench and look over everything tonight. Her insurance company already contacted me and admitted liability but I want to make sure my T’s and I’s are squared away before going any further with them.

 

[Jdm2985]

Was rear ended last night. 22 yr old girl probably on her phone. 700 miles on my Jeep I wasn’t happy. From what I can see my bumper just got slightly banged up and the metal piece on my hitch bent. Her car was another story.. entire front destroyed. Lucky I was in a slow roll and she wasn’t going very fast so hoping there is no further damage. Waiting on a call from their insurance company. Keep us posted on how you guys make out. Also curious to see where your estimates come in.

 

[Buzzlb]

Love the step, it is high but it works great.

 

[Buzzlb]

No holes for lights, used LED bolt lights off eBay for tag wired to the factory harness. Less glare as they’re down and away from the camera. Details on The Overcon.

 

[Artsifrtsi]

On my way home from work today, I go over a bridge on the freeway and guess what?? DEATH WOBBLE!! WTF? 14,500ish miles, get rear ended and now this? How the hell could the two be related?

Look down the sides of the bed, looking for distortions or waves in the sheet metal. There have been a few JT’s on here that were hit in the rear, and tweaked the frame, showing in the bed sides. You’re checking it like looking at a beautiful black streetrod... at a really severe angle, front to back, and back to front...

 

[Psycho Squirrel]

Look down the sides of the bed, looking for distortions or waves in the sheet metal. There have been a few JT’s on here that were hit in the rear, and tweaked the frame, showing in the bed sides. You’re checking it like looking at a beautiful black streetrod... at a really severe angle, front to back, and back to front...

Excellent idea, thank you!

 

[Psycho Squirrel]

Look down the sides of the bed, looking for distortions or waves in the sheet metal. There have been a few JT’s on here that were hit in the rear, and tweaked the frame, showing in the bed sides. You’re checking it like looking at a beautiful black streetrod... at a really severe angle, front to back, and back to front...

Just looked at the bed and all I noticed is 1) My Jeep really needs a bath. And 2) Very small consistant ripples the look like they were from the manufacturing process.

 

[ALVagabond]

Just looked at the bed and all I noticed is 1) My Jeep really needs a bath. And 2) Very small consistant ripples the look like they were from the manufacturing process.

Check all your door and panel seams to make sure they're uniform-ish.

 

[Renegade]

Something else to consider is that your Jeep is worth less now just because it has been in a crash, although minor. Her insurance company should compensate you for diminished value.

 

[Psycho Squirrel]

Something else to consider is that your Jeep is worth less now just because it has been in a crash, although minor. Her insurance company should compensate you for diminished value.

You know, I was thinking about that last night. How would I go about calculating that amount?

 

[Renegade]

You know, I was thinking about that last night. How would I go about calculating that amount?

I’m not sure other than an appraisal. Your insurance agent might also be able to help you with that. It won’t be a lot, but might afford you another upgrade to compensate for your future loss in value.

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