So on Thursday I was traveling through the "S" Curves south bound on I-131 in Grand Rapids, MI....
80F and sunny about 4:30 pm. Stop and go traffic... Car in front of me panic stopped, I tried to stop and was successful until the lady behind me hit me hard from behind, then she was rear ended, and the car behind them was rear ended. My Truck ended up on top of the ladies car behind me with my H2 rear end and H2 springs giving me about a 3" or slightly higher lift. The Frame in the rear was bent at a 90 degree angle at the first cross member. Basically the frame folded at the front of the class 5 hitch I have on the truck.
The front was smashed a bit as well. Everyone walked away with no injuries other than probably whatever aches and pains they have the next day or two. I ended up with neck and back pain. After a visit to my Chiropractor yesterday I think I am back to where I was before the accident.
If my truck is totalled I will not be buying it back and will let it go. I am putting it back to "stock" for now as I get ready for the news. I expect the truck to get totalled with its rusted out rockers and 290k+ miles on the speedo. If that happens I likely will be leaving the site and not come back. I will monitor until I find my next truck in the fall though. I have seen what looks like a mint Avy 1500 for $8500, and I saw a 2500 that needs some work, saw a cracked frame at the rear wheel well so I doubt I would pick that one up. The fact I plan to get a 5th wheel eventually I expect I will be looking for a non-avy 2500 or higher and will likely not be looking for another avy.
I have been a part of this community for about 13 years, at times more active than others. Both support other members and been given great help when I have needed it. It will be a sad day if they do total the Avy and by the looks of the truck I will be surprised if they don't. I will be sorry to see it go, but it has served me very well and protected me well in the time of an accident.
Note when you look at these pictures, the rear is a 3/4 ton rear end with 8lugs and the front has adapters to give it 8 lugs as well. I may stay on here a little longer because I have some components left over that I will likely want to try to sell off but I don't see a point in buying back this truck if they do total it.
The biggest thing I have is this nice built Lq4 engine I was going to put into this truck. Not sure if I will hold onto it or try to sell it at this point. Just got it from the engine shop about a week ago. I have about $8k into the rebuild on this engine.
Here you can see the car I hit in front of me... And my truck still sitting on top of the car that hit me with wheels off the ground. Notice no body panel damage on the rear. The strangest part of this whole ordeal.
Here you can see the side of the car that hit me and the other 2 cars that ran into the back of her.
The two lighter colored vehicles were towed off on flat beds. both lost their radiators.
The jeep, the car in front of me and I all drove home. The tow truck used his winch to pull the fender forward so the inner fender stopped rubbing against my front tire. I drove about 45 miles home from that location. Truck pulled slightly to the right but ran and otherwise drove fine. Hoping not a tweaked frame past the obvious bent frame and that its just the front got knocked out of alignment.
Here is how the rear looked. The tailgate skin popped off when the tow truck was pulling me off the car that was holding me in the air. Since this H2 rear has 4.10 gears I had the front diff removed and had bought one with 4.10 gears. Was waiting to install it until I got the lift kit installed. Planned on Engine, lift kit, rims/tires, rust repair, 4l80e (Or 6l90e if possible) then blower upgrade. (Was going to have eaton M122 blower on the engine when installed. )
Side view from other side of the rear. You can see the rust damage. I have the cladding for both sides. Took it off before loosing it.
Front end damage. (Which is what will likely total it since the rear is an easy fix and the Adjuster told me the rear was not a problem since there didn't appear to be any other damage. )
80F and sunny about 4:30 pm. Stop and go traffic... Car in front of me panic stopped, I tried to stop and was successful until the lady behind me hit me hard from behind, then she was rear ended, and the car behind them was rear ended. My Truck ended up on top of the ladies car behind me with my H2 rear end and H2 springs giving me about a 3" or slightly higher lift. The Frame in the rear was bent at a 90 degree angle at the first cross member. Basically the frame folded at the front of the class 5 hitch I have on the truck.
The front was smashed a bit as well. Everyone walked away with no injuries other than probably whatever aches and pains they have the next day or two. I ended up with neck and back pain. After a visit to my Chiropractor yesterday I think I am back to where I was before the accident.
If my truck is totalled I will not be buying it back and will let it go. I am putting it back to "stock" for now as I get ready for the news. I expect the truck to get totalled with its rusted out rockers and 290k+ miles on the speedo. If that happens I likely will be leaving the site and not come back. I will monitor until I find my next truck in the fall though. I have seen what looks like a mint Avy 1500 for $8500, and I saw a 2500 that needs some work, saw a cracked frame at the rear wheel well so I doubt I would pick that one up. The fact I plan to get a 5th wheel eventually I expect I will be looking for a non-avy 2500 or higher and will likely not be looking for another avy.
I have been a part of this community for about 13 years, at times more active than others. Both support other members and been given great help when I have needed it. It will be a sad day if they do total the Avy and by the looks of the truck I will be surprised if they don't. I will be sorry to see it go, but it has served me very well and protected me well in the time of an accident.
Note when you look at these pictures, the rear is a 3/4 ton rear end with 8lugs and the front has adapters to give it 8 lugs as well. I may stay on here a little longer because I have some components left over that I will likely want to try to sell off but I don't see a point in buying back this truck if they do total it.
The biggest thing I have is this nice built Lq4 engine I was going to put into this truck. Not sure if I will hold onto it or try to sell it at this point. Just got it from the engine shop about a week ago. I have about $8k into the rebuild on this engine.
Here you can see the car I hit in front of me... And my truck still sitting on top of the car that hit me with wheels off the ground. Notice no body panel damage on the rear. The strangest part of this whole ordeal.
Here you can see the side of the car that hit me and the other 2 cars that ran into the back of her.
The two lighter colored vehicles were towed off on flat beds. both lost their radiators.
The jeep, the car in front of me and I all drove home. The tow truck used his winch to pull the fender forward so the inner fender stopped rubbing against my front tire. I drove about 45 miles home from that location. Truck pulled slightly to the right but ran and otherwise drove fine. Hoping not a tweaked frame past the obvious bent frame and that its just the front got knocked out of alignment.
Here is how the rear looked. The tailgate skin popped off when the tow truck was pulling me off the car that was holding me in the air. Since this H2 rear has 4.10 gears I had the front diff removed and had bought one with 4.10 gears. Was waiting to install it until I got the lift kit installed. Planned on Engine, lift kit, rims/tires, rust repair, 4l80e (Or 6l90e if possible) then blower upgrade. (Was going to have eaton M122 blower on the engine when installed. )
Side view from other side of the rear. You can see the rust damage. I have the cladding for both sides. Took it off before loosing it.
Front end damage. (Which is what will likely total it since the rear is an easy fix and the Adjuster told me the rear was not a problem since there didn't appear to be any other damage. )
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