Sad day today. New winter tires were on order, but had a bit of bad weather going up the canyon this morning with some pretty impressive road glazing. Was driving super conservatively, but a deer showed itself, so I let off the gas and gently steered away. That was enough to get her out from under me, into the ditch and into the tree.

I'm safe and healthy--super grateful it happened where it did, and not a mile back where I would have been over the canyon wall.

I'll be in the market for a new 3rd gen soon. That said, what do I need to do to make sure I get all the salvagable mods off the truck? I've heard horror stories where people were unable to get compensated and unable to get their mods back, want to make sure that doesn't happen here.

Glad to hear you're okay and not over a cliff face
Unfortunately that's just the name of the game with vehicle parts and mods. If you're expecting to be compensated by your insurance provider, know that chances are if they weren't already aware about them, they probably won't care; typically they avoid paying for what they don't have to. Just gotta start inspecting stuff to see what survived and what didn't. What all did you have into it? S/c?
If you hauled it home, might as well part out what you don't need and make as much money as you can. Even if you have some busted parts, you can ask remanufacturers if they're interested if they're not too horrible (I know places like CVJ are always looking for our old, unwanted CV axles)

It looks like the air bags deployed from the picture? Glad they still work on a vehicle old as our 3rd gens. What year is your 4Runner btw? Glad you are ok.

This is my worst nightmare. Glad you're OK. That's a hard one to swallow with the winter tires on order.

Got Blizzaks on mine this year but this is kinda making me wish I would have went with studs.

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Glad you're ok. I fear this everytime I drive up the mountains during the winter. What tires did you have on originally? Almost looks like Duratracs. I dont drive up during winter often, but people tell me my Duratracs are fine when I do. I'm starting to beg to differ.

That IS a tough one to swallow. But given the choice between that and going over the cliff, I'd choose the lesser damage which is what you went through.
That sucks either way you look at it as your out you're beloved 3rd gen.
The awesome thing is you had eyes on your back, and your well enough to search for another 3rd gen if you choose too.
Is your insurance company willing to work with you on establishing true cost of your rig? Did you save maintenance and parts receipts?

I’m glad you’re ok, and sorry you lost such a beautiful 4Runner. Is there any way you can keep it in case you find another that only needs a few parts from this one to be good, such as a door or something? Plus as mentioned before, part out some of it?

Best wishes!

Glad you weren't injured. The rig protected you and that's what it supposed to do. You find another and telling us all about very soon.

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Don't count on the Insurance co to reimburse for the mods.
You can try giving them all of the receipts and see what happens.

As for recovering any useful mods I think you'll need to "buy back" the rig after they total it then strip it.

Boort

Keep in mind with Blizzak tires only about half the tread depth is winter rubber, after that it is just an all-season tire. Now winter tires are supposed to be changed earlier in the tread wear life anyway to keep the depth needed for them to be effective but it still made me lean towards a different tire.

That is what made me go with the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 winter tires. They are phenomenal.

I ran Nokians on my Audi and really liked them. I'm moving south of the Mason-Dixon in the spring so I only need the Blizzaks to get me through one season so I don't anticipate getting through the better compound before then.

Glad you are OK, Roadbull had the same experience and it worked out great with his insurance;
Road Bull's 2002 SR-5 timeline.

Road Bull's 2002 SR5 Changeling Build.

Thanks all for the advice on how to deal with the insurance company, and for the sentiments. I too am super stoked about being unscathed.

To those asking what rubber it was wearing--I indeed had Duratracs on it. I have always been an outspoken proponent of winter tires. Any other tire compound just doesn't cut it. I've done side-by-side comparisons in snowed over empty lots and can tell a massive difference.

I had sold my old set when I went up in tire size, and was just waiting on my new ones to come in. Unfortunately an unanticipated storm blew in as I was headed up to my fire station for a shift. Would winter tires have made a difference? I probably would have still slipped since the road was almost perfectly glazed (I slipped when I was walking on it), but I believe I would have been able to gain control.

Alright I'll get off my soapbox now

I wish I could keep it/buy it back, but I have nowhere to keep it unfortunately.

Again, thanks everyone, and I'll keep you guys updated with the proceedings. I'm looking at both 3rd gens and v8 4th gens. Anyone with experience in the latter know what I need to be looking for? They don't have that excellent buyers guide in their section of the forum like we do.

Wow - sorry to hear about your rig, but glad to hear you are OK!

Truck can be replaced. very glad to hear that you are ok.