Frame damage after towing 12/04/25 UPDATE

[dburks123]

This is under 2019 ram 1500 DT this is behind the axle on the driver side I need some opinions on this My frame was bent in the shop straightened it out and what happened is a crane put its claw down on the front of a trailer I was towing and bent the back half of my box down and separated the top of the box from the back of the cab so the gap was uneven they're straightened it out this is what I found underneath this looks suspicious to me and I'm just curious if anyone else has some insight on this as the adjusters coming today

 

[dburks123]

This is under 2019 ram 1500 DT this is behind the axle on the driver side I need some opinions on this My frame was bent in the shop straightened it out and what happened is a crane put its claw down on the front of a trailer I was towing and bent the back half of my box down and separated the top of the box from the back of the cab so the gap was uneven they're straightened it out this is what I found underneath this looks suspicious to me and I'm just curious if anyone else has some insight on this as the adjusters coming today

 

[HSKR R/T]

Hard to really tell from the pictures exactly what's going on. I would guess those are the points where they applied pressure to straighten the frame. I'm guessing you are worried about possible weakness it may cause for future towing?

 

[dburks123]

Hard to really tell from the pictures exactly what's going on. I would guess those are the points where they applied pressure to straighten the frame. I'm guessing you are worried about possible weakness it may cause for future towing?

Exactly very worried about being able to toll with it and then having more problems down the road and not being in the shop and not being covered I found another picture

 

[dburks123]

Hard to really tell from the pictures exactly what's going on. I would guess those are the points where they applied pressure to straighten the frame. I'm guessing you are worried about possible weakness it may cause for future towing?

I got $110,000 mi on the truck now obviously at first I wanted them to total it out but at this point I just want my truck back it's been in the shop like 60 days but I don't want to take my truck back if I can't tow with it it's not something I do all the time I don't tow all the time but I told enough where it's worrisome but I've also told some really heavy stuff before and I didn't have any issues so I don't know what to do I feel like this is an issue and My towing capacity is definitely limited now

 

[HSKR R/T]

I got $110,000 mi on the truck now obviously at first I wanted them to total it out but at this point I just want my truck back it's been in the shop like 60 days but I don't want to take my truck back if I can't tow with it it's not something I do all the time I don't tow all the time but I told enough where it's worrisome but I've also told some really heavy stuff before and I didn't have any issues so I don't know what to do I feel like this is an issue and My towing capacity is definitely limited now

I would try to find a local shop that specializes in frame repairs and talk to them. The shop that did the work is obviously going to say their repairs are perfectly fine.

 

[jkm312]

The frame has been deformed twice, once when it was damaged and once again when it was straightened. The grain of the metal in the frame was compressed on the inside of the bend and stretched on the outside of the bend. It does not have the same strength as it did before and never will again. If you take a thin piece of metal and bend it back and forth eventually it will tear along the bend line.

Because you are talking about towing heavy, you are right to be concerned.

 

[dburks123]

2019 ram 1500 bent frame after crane put claw down on front of trailer. Fast forward check out this picturesl after they straighten the frame they're trying to give it back to me like this saying that this is pre-existing damage on my box Don't know what I'm going to do at this point

 

[John Kloehr]

Why start a new thread? You already have this on the same topic:

Thread 'Frame damage after towing 12/04/25 UPDATE'

Nov 18, 2025

This is under 2019 ram 1500 DT this is behind the axle on the driver side I need some opinions on this My frame was bent in the shop straightened it out and what happened is a crane put its claw down on the front of a trailer I was towing and bent the back half of my box down and separated the top of the box from the back of the cab so the gap was uneven they're straightened it out this is what I found underneath this looks suspicious to me and I'm just curious if anyone else has some insight on this as the adjusters coming today

• dburks123
• Replies: 15
• Forum: Towing

 

[dburks123]

Why start a new thread? You already have this on the same topic:

Thread 'Frame damage after towing 12/04/25 UPDATE'

Nov 18, 2025

This is under 2019 ram 1500 DT this is behind the axle on the driver side I need some opinions on this My frame was bent in the shop straightened it out and what happened is a crane put its claw down on the front of a trailer I was towing and bent the back half of my box down and separated the top of the box from the back of the cab so the gap was uneven they're straightened it out this is what I found underneath this looks suspicious to me and I'm just curious if anyone else has some insight on this as the adjusters coming today

• dburks123
• Replies: 15
• Forum: Towing

Yeah I thought about that after I did it so I'm going to move it over

 

[Bob.]

I would imagine if the truck loses the front end alignment then you certainly have a problem with the 1/2 ton that was repaired. Maybe tow it more and see how it does moving forward. If it's losing the alignment then trade it away for a stronger 3/4 ton.

 

[dburks123]

So this is what the shop did to my frame when they took my box off wonderful isn't it My box vibrates when I go down the road now obviously the frames damaged I can never toll with it for sure ever again now cuz this is right by the trailer hitch at the rear of the frame so it's completely destroyed I mean as you can see the frame is definitely compromised and that's on top of the crack I already found I'm still going after the original claim with State farm because it seems like that would make the most sense before I go after the shop The shop already admitted fault for this issue but if I can get it covered through the original claim I think that's the way to go unless someone else thinks that I shouldn't I don't know I don't know I just don't know what to do State farmers being completely unfair and it has a lot to do with the shop that's why I almost feel like sticking it to the shop because honestly this is all their fault the whole situation they didn't listen to me from the get-go they tried straightening the frame with the box on and tried giving it back to me with all the damage from the upper pictures oh I'm just so frustrated I know I'm jumping around here a little bit but I don't know what to do this is just the worst case scenario

 

[HSKR R/T]

So this is what the shop did to my frame when they took my box off wonderful isn't it My box vibrates when I go down the road now obviously the frames damaged I can never toll with it for sure ever again now cuz this is right by the trailer hitch at the rear of the frame so it's completely destroyed I mean as you can see the frame is definitely compromised and that's on top of the crack I already found I'm still going after the original claim with State farm because it seems like that would make the most sense before I go after the shop The shop already admitted fault for this issue but if I can get it covered through the original claim I think that's the way to go unless someone else thinks that I shouldn't I don't know I don't know I just don't know what to do State farmers being completely unfair and it has a lot to do with the shop that's why I almost feel like sticking it to the shop because honestly this is all their fault the whole situation they didn't listen to me from the get-go they tried straightening the frame with the box on and tried giving it back to me with all the damage from the upper pictures oh I'm just so frustrated I know I'm jumping around here a little bit but I don't know what to do this is just the worst case scenario

State Farm sucks as an insurance company. Be ready for them to drop you if you keep pushing the issue. Surprised they haven't already.

As for your issues, if shop admitted fault, go that route. Although they were probably pressured by State Farm to just "fix" it.

 

[dburks123]

State Farm sucks as an insurance company. Be ready for them to drop you if you keep pushing the issue. Surprised they haven't already.

As for your issues, if shop admitted fault, go that route. Although they were probably pressured by State Farm to just "fix" it.

The problem I have right now is I'm going to have to file a new claim because State farm wouldn't cover taking the box off to inspect the frame was the problem The adjuster guy came out in at first he said yeah let's take the box off it seems like something's going on with the frame there and then he walked away from me and he was talking to the estimator and I overheard him say wait to take the box off and go get it aligned first or check the alignment first and then call me and then we'll decide what to do from there but he didn't say it to me he had told me he authorized taken off the box but in the end I had to authorize them taking off the box and it had to be paid out of my pocket My question is is can I just file a claim against the shop and for a new damage a new claim saying they ****ed it up when I paid them to take the box off and go to a different shop I have a feeling that's probably what I'm going to have to do it's just and then State farm will just have to go after them for the repairs

 

[John Kloehr]

I would have turned it over to insurance in the first place. Now there is a finger-pointing problem. Still best to contact your insurance company and file a claim. But read all the fine print in your policy before you do so, particularly any section called "exclusions."

Might end up needing an insurance lawyer who will take a percentage.

 

[HSKR R/T]

The problem I have right now is I'm going to have to file a new claim because State farm wouldn't cover taking the box off to inspect the frame was the problem The adjuster guy came out in at first he said yeah let's take the box off it seems like something's going on with the frame there and then he walked away from me and he was talking to the estimator and I overheard him say wait to take the box off and go get it aligned first or check the alignment first and then call me and then we'll decide what to do from there but he didn't say it to me he had told me he authorized taken off the box but in the end I had to authorize them taking off the box and it had to be paid out of my pocket My question is is can I just file a claim against the shop and for a new damage a new claim saying they ****ed it up when I paid them to take the box off and go to a different shop I have a feeling that's probably what I'm going to have to do it's just and then State farm will just have to go after them for the repairs

Usually, the insurance company estimator makes nitial estimate to authorize work at body shop. While shop is working on it, if they find further damage they reach out to insurance for supplement to initial estimate to cover all the damage.