Sponsored

Smacked in the front ...

BayouKid

Member
First Name
Michael
Joined
Jun 20, 2021
Threads
4
Messages
22
Reaction score
33
Location
Baton Rouge, LA
Vehicle(s)
2021 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon
Occupation
Various and sundry IT stuff
Yesterday a woman at an intersection decided that "red light" meant "proceed into the intersection and turn left." I was (lawfully) in the intersection at the time, and she hit my front bumper.

The bumper is pretty bent, and I'm absolutely certain that it and all of the plastic and such will need to be replaced.

I'm curious how this is going to work with the frame. Does the bumper bolt directly to the frame, or are the front rails that the bumper connects to a separate piece?

It also looks like the hood doesn't quite align with the fenders and grill anymore. I'm thinking that the upper rad support got tweaked.

Just trying to understand what the scope of these repairs will probably be. Obviously I'm going to let the local Mopar-certified shop do the work.

Mike

Jeep Gladiator Smacked in the front ... IMG_2464.JPG
Jeep Gladiator Smacked in the front ... IMG_2463
Sponsored

 

GOCAMPN

Well-Known Member
First Name
Ethan
Joined
May 29, 2021
Threads
18
Messages
577
Reaction score
929
Location
Ocean County, NJ, USA
Vehicle(s)
2020 Jeep Gladiator
Occupation
Disabled Military Retired
I would need to have that looked at before I did anything. I rear ended a small car when I was a teenager and although my car looked mostly fine - the passenger door didnt open all the way, ended up being bent frame totaled, and I even drove it home from the accident. I'm worried that your grille pushed off alignment might be worse that you think.
 
OP
OP
BayouKid

BayouKid

Member
First Name
Michael
Joined
Jun 20, 2021
Threads
4
Messages
22
Reaction score
33
Location
Baton Rouge, LA
Vehicle(s)
2021 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon
Occupation
Various and sundry IT stuff
I would need to have that looked at before I did anything. I rear ended a small car when I was a teenager and although my car looked mostly fine - the passenger door didnt open all the way, ended up being bent frame totaled, and I even drove it home from the accident. I'm worried that your grille pushed off alignment might be worse that you think.
I have that exact concern. And I have no intention of taking this repair on myself ... I was just curious to learn a bit more about how these front ends are put together.

Mike
 

GOCAMPN

Well-Known Member
First Name
Ethan
Joined
May 29, 2021
Threads
18
Messages
577
Reaction score
929
Location
Ocean County, NJ, USA
Vehicle(s)
2020 Jeep Gladiator
Occupation
Disabled Military Retired

gladtohave

Well-Known Member
First Name
Ian
Joined
Feb 4, 2022
Threads
11
Messages
176
Reaction score
296
Location
Sun City , Ca.
Vehicle(s)
2022 JTRD
Occupation
Online sales
She looks pretty tweaked to me . A pro needs to check it out . Watching this so let us know whats up when you find out .
 

Sponsored

kevman65

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2020
Threads
51
Messages
3,879
Reaction score
5,755
Location
H
Vehicle(s)
J
First, don't panic on the grille, could be just a few of the plastic retainers are popped out or broken. There is NOTHING solid holding the grille on.

Jeep is body on frame, so everything of substance is bolted to or through the frame.

The front bumpers bolt to frame horns on the end of each frame rail.

By your picture, the driver side frame is tweaked and the driver side frame horn is disfigured. You're looking at frame straightening, frame horn replacement, new bumper.
Probably new fog lights.
Now, the passenger side recovery hook is out of whack, so possibly frame straightening and frame horn that side.

Just hope that your fenders and lights there didn't get hurt, no one knows when you'll see the LED lights in the fenders.
 
OP
OP
BayouKid

BayouKid

Member
First Name
Michael
Joined
Jun 20, 2021
Threads
4
Messages
22
Reaction score
33
Location
Baton Rouge, LA
Vehicle(s)
2021 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon
Occupation
Various and sundry IT stuff
First, don't panic on the grille, could be just a few of the plastic retainers are popped out or broken. There is NOTHING solid holding the grille on.

Jeep is body on frame, so everything of substance is bolted to or through the frame.

The front bumpers bolt to frame horns on the end of each frame rail.

By your picture, the driver side frame is tweaked and the driver side frame horn is disfigured. You're looking at frame straightening, frame horn replacement, new bumper.
Probably new fog lights.
Now, the passenger side recovery hook is out of whack, so possibly frame straightening and frame horn that side.

Just hope that your fenders and lights there didn't get hurt, no one knows when you'll see the LED lights in the fenders.
Thanks. I had a feeling that this would involve a frame straightening. Given that this is body-on-frame, I'm hoping that this won't have a deleterious effect on the vehicle's reliability.

Mike
 

kevman65

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2020
Threads
51
Messages
3,879
Reaction score
5,755
Location
H
Vehicle(s)
J
Thanks. I had a feeling that this would involve a frame straightening. Given that this is body-on-frame, I'm hoping that this won't have a deleterious effect on the vehicle's reliability.

Mike
If it's just the ends, no, no effect.

I've had frame ends straightened on the back of trucks after getting rear ended. Just a few tugs to get things straightened out so other things can be attached.
 

aqcjeepGlad

Well-Known Member
First Name
Tony
Joined
Jul 1, 2021
Threads
5
Messages
241
Reaction score
199
Location
South
Vehicle(s)
Mojave
Sorry this happened, as mentioned it looks like your frame ends are bent over. There is not much in there to keep these ends in alignment. However, if you mounted a Warn winch place in that space you'd likely only need a new outer shell. The winch plate is SUPER strong and ties the frame together. I figure I don't need a stubby bumper because the winch plate is essentially that. Good Luck to you, let us know how it turns out.
 

Snowcavemike

Well-Known Member
First Name
Mike
Joined
Mar 8, 2021
Threads
4
Messages
131
Reaction score
185
Location
Southern California
Vehicle(s)
2021 Diesel Gladiator Rubicon
Occupation
Retired Engineer
Yesterday a woman at an intersection decided that "red light" meant "proceed into the intersection and turn left." I was (lawfully) in the intersection at the time, and she hit my front bumper.

The bumper is pretty bent, and I'm absolutely certain that it and all of the plastic and such will need to be replaced.

I'm curious how this is going to work with the frame. Does the bumper bolt directly to the frame, or are the front rails that the bumper connects to a separate piece?

It also looks like the hood doesn't quite align with the fenders and grill anymore. I'm thinking that the upper rad support got tweaked.

Just trying to understand what the scope of these repairs will probably be. Obviously I'm going to let the local Mopar-certified shop do the work.

Mike

IMG_2464.JPG
IMG_2463.JPG
Time for an upgraded bumper
 

Sponsored

OP
OP
BayouKid

BayouKid

Member
First Name
Michael
Joined
Jun 20, 2021
Threads
4
Messages
22
Reaction score
33
Location
Baton Rouge, LA
Vehicle(s)
2021 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon
Occupation
Various and sundry IT stuff
Body shop just called. Turns out that the frame has a compound bend behind the front driver's side cross member.

So, now we get to see how long it'll take to get a new frame ...
 

ShadowsPapa

Well-Known Member
First Name
Bill
Joined
Oct 12, 2019
Threads
247
Messages
40,442
Reaction score
53,859
Location
Runnells, Iowa
Vehicle(s)
'25 JTMX, '23 JLU 4xe, '82 SX4, '73 Javelin
Occupation
Retired auto mechanic, frmr gov't ntwrk security admin
Vehicle Showcase
3
Body shop just called. Turns out that the frame has a compound bend behind the front driver's side cross member.

So, now we get to see how long it'll take to get a new frame ...
Just from the pics and how far over that left tow hook was suggested more than just frame horns.

There's a lot of stuff up in there, too - that's really close to that area..........

I feel sorry for the person that hits the front of mine.

Jeep Gladiator Smacked in the front ... 1694742525292


There's lines up in there - I'd wonder about the cooling lines, AC and so on.
Bet it's more than just frame.
 

Blade1668

Well-Known Member
First Name
Darrell
Joined
Jan 7, 2020
Threads
12
Messages
3,263
Reaction score
3,149
Location
N. AL.
Vehicle(s)
90XJ, 91XJ, 91MJ, 05 LJ, 20 JT
Build Thread
Link
Vehicle Showcase
1
I wish you the best with it. Just don't let them go the cheap route.
 

SargeDiesel

Well-Known Member
First Name
michael
Joined
Aug 22, 2021
Threads
25
Messages
1,887
Reaction score
1,449
Location
35173
Vehicle(s)
Jeep Gladiator Rubicon Diesel
Occupation
Retired Military
I always thought if a frame had enough damage, they considered the vehicle totaled.... has technology come that far that they can make a frame bent vehicle new again ?
 

Stitchedupseats

Well-Known Member
First Name
John
Joined
Nov 27, 2020
Threads
14
Messages
363
Reaction score
400
Location
North Carolina
Vehicle(s)
22 JTR
It’s based on value vs damage at the end of the day. We’ve replaced numerous frames as part of insurance repairs. Frame replacement is a ton of labor hours so it can push one over the edge to be totaled.
Sponsored

 
 







Top