Ok, guys...someone hit my truck today in the mall parking lot. The individual backed into my spare tire and now it is not perfectly vertical anymore. Luckily two good samaritans saw the culprit and took down the license plate number.

The question is how do I fix it, if I chose not to put in an insurance claim?

Is the barn door aluminum?

Can the Spare tire holder be taken off and fixed/replaced?

Do you think the wheel could be bent?


Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

 

You need a new spare tire carrier, remove the tire and have it checked to make sure it is still true.
Then open the cargo door and remove the inner door panel, then remove the spare tire carrier.
Buy a used one.
Put it back on.
Personally I would make a claim and let insurance handle it, you wont have to pay the deductible because it was not your fault.(at least thats how it works in my state)

 

I have had that happen twice, both times I was able to remove and bend the carrier back into shape, once it did take some welding to reinforce it.

 

i'd personally make a claim also. IF the person that hit my car had stopped and left a note, i'd let it slide and not care. but, because they hit it and left, they deserve a little karma pay back. just my 2 cents.
jon

 

No, it wouldn't be your 2 cents but most likely a $200 or $500 deductiable.

 

there won't be a deductible. the other person will be responsible for the repairs. even if they deem it no fault, which with a hit and run they won't, OP can opt out of insurance covering the damage, and no deductible to pay.
i just have a thing against people getting away with damaging other peoples property and leaving without even the decency of a note to apologize and own up to it.
jon

 

Same here.
I had one of my rear view mirrors broken in parking lot, someone hit it with their car.
Called my insurance agent, replaced for free.

 

Thanks Guys, and you are right, I wouldn't be so angry if they had left a note...