5 weeks ago yesterday, my wife and I were cruising along the M8 on our way to Glasgow Airport to pick up our daughter and my neice coming back from London after a gig. Just after the Charing Cross jct the traffic started to stack up really quickly. Jumped on the brakes and brung my truck to a sudden halt. BANG !!! Shunted from the rear, into the car in front. Car that hit us then carried on to the outside lane where it hit a Discovery !!! End result ? Massive tailbacks at just after noon on a Saturday !!

Nobody seriously hurt, just a lot of hassle.

Had my Dodge Ram for nearly 7 years now, and its my daily ! No garage queen here ! Every day, despite the weather ! So, front end damaged, and rear twisted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So as you can see, damage was minimal at the front. Broken grille, bumper kinda floppy.

Rear bed was twisted, up at the O/S. The taxi went underneath it ! Taxi was a Skoda Rapide. It came off worse !

Passing group of Harley Bikers stopped and took this pic a wee tadge later on once wee had been moved to the outside lane for safety !!

 

 

That's my truck and the blue Discovery at the front of the Fire Rescue vehicles !!!

 

Taxi came off worse !!

 

 

 

 

 

Alan...

Edited June 26, 20169 yr by bigmincey

Truck was declared a write off a week later !!!! Aint no way I am parting with it, so retained the rights to salvage, settled on a decent payout and bought her back !!

 

Sourced another truck bed, cut off my arches and got too work !!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She was looking really sorry for herself by this stage !!!

 

 

Alan......

Picked the colour and got too work !!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alan....

One broken transformer later, and no fingerprints left !!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alan...

So, a fresh mot. It was a Cat D. Only reason for the new mot was to re-instate the insurance to FC as it drops to 3rd part only after an accident, and here she is !

 

Years ticket, driving 1st class and in my opinion, lookling better than she was in her new coat !!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alan...........

Reading your first post (before seeing the pictures) I thought the car was going to be mangled. Whilst I appreciate the back is/was twisted, on the face of it things don’t look to bad. I suppose that’s the advantage of driving a truck – in particular a ‘big ol’ American Dodge.

 

More importantly, it’s good to hear that no one was hurt!

 

End result looks good. :thumbup1: I much prefer the new colour to the original silver. (Make sure you remember tell the DVLA)

 

How is the claim going? I worked for an insurance company and know that these claims (hit into another car/vehicle) can be a pain in the arse!

Great transformation, well done Alan!

 

Glad yo hear no one was hurt too:)

Reading your first post (before seeing the pictures) I thought the car was going to be mangled. Whilst I appreciate the back is/was twisted, on the face of it things don’t look to bad. I suppose that’s the advantage of driving a truck – in particular a ‘big ol’ American Dodge.

 

More importantly, it’s good to hear that no one was hurt!

 

End result looks good. :thumbup1: I much prefer the new colour to the original silver. (Make sure you remember tell the DVLA)

 

How is the claim going? I worked for an insurance company and know that these claims (hit into another car/vehicle) can be a pain in the arse!

 

Cheers mate.,

New V5 is back already, all altered. Cheque from the insurance was paid into the bank last week.

All done and dusted. My hire car was a brand new Toyota Hilux !! Nearest they could get !

No complaints from me. Looked in the mirror and seen the Taxi coming so pumped the brakes even harder ! Turned out I fractured two bones in my foot through pressing the pedal ! Wasn't till the next day it swelled up. Got it X-Rayed. Wife was pretty shook up, but all in all, we were lucky.

 

Alan.....

Looks the nuts that mate!-nice when you have facilities eh? :yes:

Looks the nuts that mate!-nice when you have facilities eh? :yes:

 

My place of work was very helpful ! You reap what you sow matey !! :wink:

 

Alan...........

My place of work was very helpful ! You reap what you sow matey !! :wink:

 

Alan...........

 

Amen Brother!

Sad to hear you've had all this going on but the truck looks awesome, well done buddy! :)

You are very talented to do this all yourself Alan and to such a high standard. Main thing is that you were both unhurt and alive to tell the tale.

What a transformation. You certainly made the best of a bad situation there my friend. I take it your foot has pretty much healed now?

How are all your sore necks and backs Alan?:whistling: Should be enough from the next payment to go and visit your girl in China mate;) Truck looks fab btw.

Great turnaround, love the colour and the truck. Great workmanship on putting together to the finished standard.

Really wish I had been able to buy back my Bmw when it got stuffed recently, but I guess not all insurance companies offer that option.

Glad your okay mate...... The Truck looks lovely......

 

So when you available to paint my Z??........ lol

What a transformation. You certainly made the best of a bad situation there my friend. I take it your foot has pretty much healed now?

 

Yeah. Still a bit lumpy, but nothing to moan about. Doc said 2 weeks off, but if you don't turn up for work, you don't get paid !! So pair of sannies and get on with it !!

 

Alan........

How are all your sore necks and backs Alan?:whistling: Should be enough from the next payment to go and visit your girl in China mate;) Truck looks fab btw.

Cheers matey,

 

Actually, with me seeing the Taxi coming, I pressed the missus back in her seat and braced, so surprisingly we were actually ok !

Foot was my fault ! 16st on that poor wee toe ! tch tch !!

Had a flying lesson the week after and it involves a lot of footwork. My first take off with passengers on board ! Used the wife and daughter as "volunteers" It was more sore after that !!

Alan......

Great turnaround, love the colour and the truck. Great workmanship on putting together to the finished standard.

Really wish I had been able to buy back my Bmw when it got stuffed recently, but I guess not all insurance companies offer that option.

Cheers mate,

 

I went through a Broker and specified Savlage Retainable in the event ! Well worth it now !!

 

Alan.....

Cheers troops !

 

My mate told me to dump my bungalow on wheels and buy something decent !! :thumbdown:

 

In the 7 years of being my daily, it has never broke down or let me down. Better the devil I know.........

 

Alan.............

Cheers troops !

 

My mate told me to dump my bungalow on wheels and buy something decent !! :thumbdown:

 

In the 7 years of being my daily, it has never broke down or let me down. Better the devil I know.........

 

Alan.............

And a Z fits snuggly in the ashtray too....... lol

Good call! I'll have to make a note of that next time around.

 

By the way, I know I shouldn't ask, but if there is such a thing as fuel economy....what is it. Lol!

Good call! I'll have to make a note of that next time around.

 

By the way, I know I shouldn't ask, but if there is such a thing as fuel economy....what is it. Lol!

 

16 mpg average. 24 on a run, and 11 if you are playing. 38mph for every 1000rpm in topgear. Cruises just nice at nearly 80mph at 2,000rpm !

Max smiles to the miles !!

 

Alan..........

16 mpg average. 24 on a run, and 11 if you are playing. 38mph for every 1000rpm in topgear. Cruises just nice at nearly 80mph at 2,000rpm !

Max smiles to the miles !!

 

Alan..........

 

:punk:

Looking good Alan - and I too am pleased to hear you all walked away unscathed! The advantages of the Ram, I guess.....:clover:

 

Richard:thumbup: