Shadetreemechanic
Full Access Member
I am currently on a family road trip cross country in the 85 benz. All was going well with only minor issues until we tried to go see the Glen Canyon Dam in Page, AZ. Had a rental car full of Chinese tourists pull out in front of me there and the car took a good hit to the front passenger side. This was on the 31st. We had backcountry camping reservations at the bottom of the Grand Canyon that I didn't want to miss, so I slipped the tow truck driver some cash to use his winch to pull the fender back off the tire so it was drivable instead of towing. We made it to the canyon and just hiked out yesterday and now I need to figure out what to do. Car drives straight, but with the steering wheel at 1 oclock rather than centered like it used to be. I had just bought a new set of tires the day before in Cortez Colorado. I think its chewing some on the outer passenger tire but its not terrible. I have put about 300 miles on it since the wreck.
Here is the deal. I have 2 weeks left on this trip. Headed from here (Zion National park) through vegas to King's Canyon and then will work my way down california through Big Sur to San Diego for a wedding on the 12th of August. Then the plan is to drive back to Tennessee via Tuscon, El Paso etc.
I am going to try to have an adjuster in Vegas look at the car and fully expect a total since the whole front end is tweaked. I figure my options then are:
Drive it back as is: At the minimum I need to get it aligned I think, Id consider fixing it and continuing to drive it when home, but I don't know whether the front frame is bent.
Ditch car and rent something for return: Issue with that is we are pulling a pop up camper so I would have to rent something that can carry 5 folks and has a hitch.
Buy another car out here: wife is actually excited about the idea of a rust free west coast benz, but I am not too excited about buying a 31 year old car and immediately heading cross country with it towing a trailer. Might be an adventure though. My tag office in TN told me to just take my tags off my current car and switch them over to anything I might buy.
My questions:
Can I tell whether the whole frame is bent on an alignment machine, or do I need a body shop to check that? Can anyone recommend one or the other or both within a hundred miles or so of my intended route?
Does anyone know of a good benz wagon for sale along the route? I have found two on Craigslist that look tempting: https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/cto/5693767144.html, and https://slo.craigslist.org/cto/5689887100.html
Is there anyone on here I could pay to take a look at one of those or others that might be around before we arrive in Cali?
Any help from you left coasters would be appreciated. Need direction toward good folks (like the tow truck driver in Page) but realize I am a long way from home and you guys are the only folks I know out here.
Thanks
Here is the deal. I have 2 weeks left on this trip. Headed from here (Zion National park) through vegas to King's Canyon and then will work my way down california through Big Sur to San Diego for a wedding on the 12th of August. Then the plan is to drive back to Tennessee via Tuscon, El Paso etc.
I am going to try to have an adjuster in Vegas look at the car and fully expect a total since the whole front end is tweaked. I figure my options then are:
Drive it back as is: At the minimum I need to get it aligned I think, Id consider fixing it and continuing to drive it when home, but I don't know whether the front frame is bent.
Ditch car and rent something for return: Issue with that is we are pulling a pop up camper so I would have to rent something that can carry 5 folks and has a hitch.
Buy another car out here: wife is actually excited about the idea of a rust free west coast benz, but I am not too excited about buying a 31 year old car and immediately heading cross country with it towing a trailer. Might be an adventure though. My tag office in TN told me to just take my tags off my current car and switch them over to anything I might buy.
My questions:
Can I tell whether the whole frame is bent on an alignment machine, or do I need a body shop to check that? Can anyone recommend one or the other or both within a hundred miles or so of my intended route?
Does anyone know of a good benz wagon for sale along the route? I have found two on Craigslist that look tempting: https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/cto/5693767144.html, and https://slo.craigslist.org/cto/5689887100.html
Is there anyone on here I could pay to take a look at one of those or others that might be around before we arrive in Cali?
Any help from you left coasters would be appreciated. Need direction toward good folks (like the tow truck driver in Page) but realize I am a long way from home and you guys are the only folks I know out here.
Thanks