Hit from the rear

[LMP]

At 7:15 AM, in city driving, going uphill...was suddenly hit by the sun right in front of me...could not see where I was going....retarded throttle to reach for a safe place....but the car coming behind could not see anything either....and slammed the TS in the rear without even a trace of braking. Result: One Caravan ....I think "totalled"....one TS....running straight, all doors and rear gate functional, lost a rear bumper and exhaust tail pipe......rear section of "frame" compressed.....and of course a few other things.
WIll look for parts from local junkyards....it is easier to find rear end components than front end. Will report .
http://www.avigex.ca/xport/rear.jpg

[LMP]

...well...hard to find parts.....will figure out .....

[WelmoedJ]

Originally Posted by LMP

...well...hard to find parts.....will figure out .....

That's a lot of work to repair.
Too bad that my TS (the 95-er, the "smooth" rear) and my country are probably too far away.
Makes transportation of those parts a bit expensive.

[500hpgtx]

What is important is that you did not end up in a hospital. Our van was hit at a stoplight with my wife, son, and daughter in the van. I treated them for whiplash injuries.
These vans really take a beating. Hope you find the parts you need for your van.

LMP is one of the very best that helps others with their Transports!

[LMP]

Originally Posted by 500hpgtx

... These vans really take a beating.....!

THe Caravan ..recent model..front end that hit me was totally destroyed! radiator anhinilated, air bags went off, windshield all cracked, of course, ....spectators looking at the TS would not believe it was really the one that was directly impacted....they would think of "colateral" damage....
THe trailer bar understructure attaching from one side of the car to the other was probably instrumental in containing the impact ...

There is some rear underbody deformation that wrinkled the rear fender aft of sliding door...pushing the sliding door maybe 1/8" to 3/16" towards the front passenger door. I think I can push that "frame" crush back in place. BUt both doors open and close without special effort.
If i cannot find one, I think of replacing the underbumper composite "impact" bar with one made of hard wood..and paint it black..of course. . THe cosmetic bumper and right rear fender panel are both in one piece, though not totally intact, but will be reused in case I cannot find replacements.
Will take a few more pictures and come back...
SInce I have another car (KIA Sportage 2000) and my wife also (2011 SX4), I will probably run this project through the coming winter.... I like the TS for its unobstructed floor from tailgate to underdash ..takes 8 feet lumber easily..
(no floor consoles like all equivalent...except Caravan ) and low floor /high tailgate accepting large volumes....nothing that compares with an Equinox....a similar external size with much less interior space...but a car I might cope with...eventually.

[LMP]

Originally Posted by 500hpgtx

What is important is that you did not end up in a hospital. !

Thanks ..indeed....no injury nor any pain at all....

p.s.: I'm unable to send PM at this time...will investigate....

[Jeffrv]

Yes they are a tough vehicle, at the garage that did some work on mine last week had an instrument cluster out of a 94 Chev Lumina APV, 3.8., hanging on the wall. It had 8,000KM shy of 1 million on it when it was scrapped.
As far as the other vehicle, seems a shame that insurance companies will write off cars that are 4 years or older once the air bags deploy. Again, gald no injuries.

[Meridivs]

Sorry to hear about the collison, it has beed some time since I checked this forum, we're glad you are ok. With your help the TS will probably be ok too.

Any pictures of the damage/underframe?

I'm seriously thinking about swapping the TS with a Dodge B-Series full size van for the extra cargo space but we're also consider keeping the TS in the family.

[LMP]

At this time, TS is at rest in my garage as I use my 2000 Kia Sportage and wife's SX4 . A bit busy at other things for now.
Will take pictures of underframe as soon as I start repairs. It will require quite extensive work..like cutting the sheet metal sub frame to allow expansion of the crimpled floor at right rear near the door. Then I plan to install a square 2inch hollow steel tubing and bolt it to the floor and subframe ahead of the cut to make for attaching new bumper strut. Floor has crimpled no more than half an inch forward on the right side only. All doors anad tail gate close "almost" normally. . This will involve skinning the entire right interior , floor and side. .
..more later....