Tow Truck Ripped Frame

[bvs999]

Hi All, I will save the long backstory, but I had to have my 2022 Yukon towed in with a failed lifter. In the process, the tow driver ripped through my frame on both sides from hooking up the rear of the truck on a flatbed and then tightening them too much on the winch. GM roadside, which is not run by GM, is a nightmare to deal with so I went to two body shops to get the prices started. The first said it should not affect frame integrity and could just be cleaned up for looks. Another body shop said the entire frame needed to be replaced. Any current or former body shop guys with an opinion?

It’s going to be a fun new year sorting this out with GM roadside.

 

[texasdriver]

Holy shit!!!

 

[bvs999]

Holy shit!!!

Tell me about it, I was already bummed about the lifters on a car with 7k miles! If the frame actually has to be replaced, I would just lose all faith in the car, that is basically rebuilding a car outside of a factory setting!

 

[B-train]

I would get replacement quote, have them write you a check, and then have a shop fix it and make it look good. Use the money to pay down the vehicle or use towards a replacement.

Definitely don't let them get away with that kind of negligence. What a clown that hauled it....

 

[wjburken]

At the end of the day, I don’t care if it has affected the structural integrity of the vehicle or not. Their actions caused your vehicle to be damaged. They should have insurance as well as should be bonded to be able to operate as a towing company.

 

[swathdiver]

Hi All, I will save the long backstory, but I had to have my 2022 Yukon towed in with a failed lifter. In the process, the tow driver ripped through my frame on both sides from hooking up the rear of the truck on a flatbed and then tightening them too much on the winch. GM roadside, which is not run by GM, is a nightmare to deal with so I went to two body shops to get the prices started. The first said it should not affect frame integrity and could just be cleaned up for looks. Another body shop said the entire frame needed to be replaced. Any current or former body shop guys with an opinion?

It’s going to be a fun new year sorting this out with GM roadside.

The towing company ought to pay to have that fixed. I would not say that the frame is compromised but would put it on a machine to be measured on their dime just to be sure. The guy who did that did it deliberate, jerk.

 

[bvs999]

The towing company ought to pay to have that fixed. I would not say that the frame is compromised but would put it on a machine to be measured on their dime just to be sure. The guy who did that did it deliberate, jerk.

Thanks! The issue is the tow truck was sent by GMC Roadside that is not actually run by GM, and everything has to go through them. To put it nicely they are not great to deal with.

 

[swathdiver]

Thanks! The issue is the tow truck was sent by GMC and everything Shad to go through them. To put it nicely they are not great to deal with.

That's them trying to shift blame. I guess you have to read the contract or agreement signed when the vehicle was towed to see who is liable, especially if you weren't technically the customer or paying them.

 

[bvs999]

That's them trying to shift blame. I guess you have to read the contract or agreement signed when the vehicle was towed to see who is liable, especially if you weren't technically the customer or paying them.

I am trying to get my hands on that now. Literally just called GM roadside they showed up and towed without any documentation. It will be a fun first week of 2023!

 

[Doubeleive]

Thanks! The issue is the tow truck was sent by GMC Roadside that is not actually run by GM, and everything has to go through them. To put it nicely they are not great to deal with.

1st thing I would do is file a claim with my insurance company and let it go from there. It's there decision and responsibility if they need to go after GMC or the tow company so be it.

 

[Alex_M]

This is not a question for your average body shop IMO. I would be wanting to hear from someone who does frame repair, a body shop with a frame rack.

By my eye, given that it is in a bend on the frame, that is already a natural weak point. I would not say it were intentional on the part of the rollback driver... those winches have a lot of pulling power and it's easy to go too far on accident. Certainly negligence, though.

To me, the frame is torn. The tear needs to be cut out, the end of the tear radiused, and a plate welded over the section to reinforce. A lot of shops won't weld on frames anymore, would rather get you (or someone) to pay them for a frame replacement, but this is a pretty simple repair. Look for a welding fab shop to do the structural repair and then take it to whoever the dealer recommends to get the factory undercoating re-done in the repaired area. That, or have the whole undercarriage re-coated.

 

[Alex_M]

1st thing I would do is file a claim with my insurance company and let it go from there. It's there decision and responsibility if they need to go after GMC or the tow company so be it.

I would be concerned about my insurance premiums increasing if this were reported.

 

[Tahoe14]

It may also show up as frame damage on a carfax report if the insurance company is involved and more than likely diminish the value.

 

[OR VietVet]

Back in the day, I did my fair share of towing. I wonder if the driver used the J hooks or the T hooks, but either way, when you set tension, you just need to hunker down the suspension as little as 1" and all is good and that may well be the thinnest frame gauge I have ever seen. Bet the guy was high. Idiot.

 

[Toasty]

I would be concerned about my insurance premiums increasing if this were reported.

shouldn't be. Insurance will go after the party that caused the damage.

 

[Alex_M]

shouldn't be. Insurance will go after the party that caused the damage.

Premiums go up when someone hits you and you're not at fault, don't see this being different.

 

[Doubeleive]

I would be concerned about my insurance premiums increasing if this were reported.

there are 3 options
1. hand it over to insurance
2. cut and weld then paint/coat
3 get a lawyer

 

[Doubeleive]

I would be concerned about my insurance premiums increasing if this were reported.

that would be a pretty shady insurance, it should not raise any rate but it would be a claim on the record

 

[509Yukon]

I've seen a fairly similar situation first hand with another brand. In the case of this vehicle, two front of frame brackets which housed an electronic component were bent while at the dealer. The repair was fairly straight forward, unbolt the brackets and bolt on new ones. These brackets are in fact a frame component, listed as such on the parts database and repair time guide. You see where this is going...

The body shop made this very simple fix with the repair order written as a repair of "frame damage" which was then picked up by CARFAX and it will be forever reported as frame damage. Another question then becomes is "frame damage" a trigger for a branded title in your state? Lastly, is a frame damage disclosure by owner specifically called out in the boiler plate when you sign your trade-in paperwork at a dealer?....and many smart dealers have such clauses because this is a common issue affecting a vehicle's value.

In the case which I'm referring to, the customer successfully sued the responsible dealer under a claim of "Diminution in Value" as the vehicle was now forever plagued by the term "frame damage" within the resale market, no matter how minor or how easily the repair was made.

In your case, you now have a vehicle with life long frame damage, repaired or not, no matter how insignificant. I'd gather a full frame replacement would mitigate any future disclosure but I would assume the CARFAX reporting of that repair would still haunt the vehicle which would possibly create diminution in value within the resale market.

While I'm not an attorney and just play one on TV, I would suggest a documented disclosure by you to any future buyer to hopefully protect you from a future claim by the new buyer of your failure to disclose frame damage. Regardless of the merits to any claim they may have, you will have time and cost expended to deal with it.

Best solution, get a lawyer.

 

[Blackcar]

As I stated in other post OP has this is Dealer GM problem, they sent roll back to retrieve vehicle it's their problem needs to demand new vehicle or buy back those holes and slots are used to straighten frame that are racked from collisions I would bet frame is tweaked with that much pull put on frame. Bad situation but need to get with service manager to get GM regional manager involved.