Forum Discussion

DutchmenSport's avatar
Oct 07, 2014

Hit and run! - Dully owners

Really.... I hit the mailbox and it ran away through the yard!

Yup, my new 2014 now has a bent fat fender. Happened less than 1/2 mile from home Saturday AM. I live in the country and there was no reason for this, except I was too close to the edge, it was dark, the mailbox is right after a fence line, but close to the road, and my mind was just not there. It was still dark.

I heard a "thump" and kept driving to the first intersection and got out and checked what happened. I still did not know, but I suspected it was a mail box.

Turned around and went back and sure enough, there it was, in the middle of someone's yard. I went ahead an left and took care of business and on my way back, (about 8:00 am), I stopped and knocked on their door. Had a nice talk with the lady. Remember, she's a neighbor but we've never met before.

Turns out she's elderly, lives alone, and husband died 7 years ago. She's been on her own since. She also said I was the 3rd person to clobber her mail box. Her story grabbed me pretty hard. I ended up getting her a whole new mail box, and installed it that same afternoon. She was ecstatic! She offered for me to come over again. I volunteered myself to help her with any project she needs "male" muscle for. I think we became friends this day.

So my wife said she wants the fender fixed. Called our insurance today, they suggested getting an estimate first, which I did. Cost is $1200 to fix the dent. The dent is on the passenger side (fat fender) at the front of the fat fender, but lower than the mirror. It completely missed the body, but clipped the fender and left a nice "rounded dent". That part of the fender is all enclosed. I can't even reach up there and tap it out with a hammer.

So, decided not to claim on my insurance, to just pay cash and get it fixed. It's scheduled for repair next Monday now. It will take them 4 days.

Why am I rambling here? Well, I've been driving dullies for years now and never had a problem with those fat fenders. Until now!

So, word of warning! Regardless of your brand of dully, (Ford, Chevy, Ram, other)... those fat fenders are a "gotch-ya!" sooner or later. Hope for everyone here, it's always a "later." When changing from the itty-bitty 4 wheel sedan car to the behemoth, it's better to ride the center of the road than the edge!

FYI, truck only has 4590 miles right now... still brand new! (bummer!)

Never forget your fat fenders!

30 Replies

  • Yeah we all do things like that once in a while.

    I have been driving a dually for many years now and a few years back I bonked one of my hips on a post. Mine had that hard plastic whatever it is that GM used in that year. I shattered it by the taillight. Argh. I was lucky, it only cost me 400 and something to get it fixed.

    Nice job on fixing the old ladys mailbox. Good on ya for that one. Most people would just drive away.
  • X3 Dutch. Roads here are barely 16' in spots...I clipped a mailbox last year with the mirror, but all's it did was flip the mirror back, that mailbox was plastic and just wobbled.
  • Hence the reason I still like the bolt on plastic fenders Ford still uses. You can order a fender, have it painted and install it yourself in your garage so your truck never has to see a body shop and all the over spray that will occur.

    It's very rare not to see a dually with a messed up rear fender.
  • Sorry to hear that you damaged your new truck! I too, try to be extra careful, with a new vehicle.

    I notice quite a few nice DRW trucks in my area, with dinged hips. I think a lot of folks just leave them, figuring it will happen again. Me, I'd have to get it repaired.

    Hope yours looks like new again!

    Jerry
  • Sorry to hear about the fender- but really glad to hear what a nice guy you're being to that old lady.

    You're a peach!
  • Thank you for the reminder. No matter what you drive, or where, you gotta pay attention to things around you. Nice little inspirational story, and kudos to you for standing up like a man and taking your lumps. If even one person pays just a wee bit better attention the next time they are behind the wheel, and miss even one mailbox, (or some pedestrian?) you will have done the human race a service. Thank you.
  • Yeah, I see those fairly often around here. Not mailboxes, the dented/broken fenders.