First off sorry about the truck. Second... congrats on getting married.
I used to be a body man. And have seen and repaired many trucks that look just like and worse than yours back to brand new condition. It's a bit unnerving seeing your truck like that but it's not as bad as you would think. Thankfully on trucks they are body on frame and most of that damage will unbolt. The part you circled is the core support. It's job is to give a mounting point to the front of the truck and the frame, and it holds the fenders, grille, and radiators. Easy part to replace. The impact wasn't straight on but a glancing side impact, which is why the bags didn't blow. Good for you but this type of impact can sometimes cause a frame condition called side sway. I can't tell from the pics if there is any side sway but it is the easiest form of frame damage to repair and doesn't compromise frame strength in 90% of cases or so.
Also your concern about parts being welded back to the truck shouldn't be an issue. Spot welds are replaced with either spot welds If the shop has the capability or plug welds which are more common. ICAR does testing regularly on repair methods and has found that plug welds hold up just as well as factory spot welds in future collision situations. And by using proper ICAR approved repair methods the vehicle will be in the same condition as it was before the accident.
Hopefully everything turns out in the end ok for you. Glad you and your buddies were not hurt.
Thanks. Another member in this thread told me that in Oregon it's pretty much enforced by law to total the truck if the frame is compromised. Here is my stand point and leverage on the insurance companies - it was a 2016 Longhorn with 6,500 miles on it, that would have a diminished value if repaired. Now if he wouldn't have made that turn, it wouldn't even have a scratch on it along with a clean history.
And yes, most of the impact was on the passenger side, but as you can see in the attached picture it's in the front too...look at the hood.
Time will tell, I guess. Thanks for you input!
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