I realize I'm doing nothing to shed the "mall crawler" stigma, but I was an idiot and backed in to a pole (that I couldn't see) at a parking ramp last weekend. So now my rear bumper and possibly the mounts are a bit messed up. I don't think it's really that bad, but none-the-less the lines are messed up and I'm concerned that part of the sheet metal tore slightly.

Here's my dilemma. Should I file a claim to have the repairs done ($500 deductible) or should I just bite the bullet and look at an aftermarket bumper (ODL, CBI)? This is my daily driver, so I'm heavily leaning toward just sticking with the stock setup. I have two quotes for the repair ($1100/$1300,) but have yet to follow up with my insurance company. I feel quite confident taking everything apart myself, but I'm not sure that I could do much to straighten what I have without getting replacement parts.

Here are some crappy cell pics of the damage:




In this one you can see the left end-piece pushed into the body and the slight tear in the sheet metal on the left rear body panel.




What say you the collective?

Thanks,

Tim

well if you even considering filing it, i'd do it and make the insurance company pay for a new rear steel bumper and maybe have a bit of cash left over, but then again your premiums go up, so if you can afford a cbi or the like out of pocket i'd really just do that, i wouldn't want to pay an increase in premiums for the next 5-7 years for a $500-600 rear bumper.

Call your insurance and talk to them. They can tell you exactly what will happen to you if you make a claim. If your rates go up, then it's not worth it. Sometimes with certain insurance companies and if you have a good enough record, your rates won't increase with a minor accident.

I would call and ask about an "accident waiver" before saying the C word.


Who are you with?

It would be filed as collision which is always treated as a chargeable accident. Regardless of fault. Unless the accident waiver is in place. I do this every day. Most reps are required to tell you to file a claim due company guidelines and for liability reasons. If you called your agent and he told you not to file a claim, there could be potential repercussions for him/her.

Price out a replacement/used bumper. Pull yours off and asses the damage. Maybe just have the body shop do the sheet metal work and do the rest yourself.

I was with Farmer's several years ago when my sister backed into a pole with my truck. My agent told me it wasn't worth it to file anything and to either live with it or pay for it out of pocket.

do yourself a favor and scratch trying to fix that crappy bumper. you are wasting your time. Toyota's only huge screw up was the design of their bumpers on certain years and models. NO corrosion inhibitors at all it seems. mine has a hole in it now. im just looking for a good price on some plate steel to make my own...


and the proudness of Toyota and their parts pricing . . . you'd prob spend more on an OEM than a nice CBI.

well had you been one of these "i can so i will" americans, you could have sued him. so its his "bad" on that. i would NEVER tell a customer that knowing that it could blow up in my face down the road.

just because you can, doesnt make it right.

integrity is disappearing in our society at a rapid rate.

Just got off the phone with State Farm and here's what I'm looking at. Their threshold for payout (excluding my deductible) is $750. So if my claim is less than $1250 total, my premiums shouldn't go up. I'm right around that, so I think I may go with stock replacement. Even if they did go up, I'd be looking at about $90/yr increase for three years (factoring in losing 3 star, surchages, etc.) That on top of my $500 deductible and I'm saving a couple hundred vs. paying for the stock repair out of pocket.

I'd rather not get a plate/tube bumper just for the asthetics. I like the stock look and I don't wheel. However if I did wheel, there would be no question and I'd get a odl/cbi in a heartbeat. This is my DD with 95% on road duty and 5% backroads/offroad when I'm up North. My may change after I take everything apart this weekend and assess the damage myself, but I'll find out soon enough.

Is there anything I'm not thinking about or factoring in to my decision? I appreciate all the comments and suggestions. Thank you.

Tim

96-02 TOYOTA 4RUNNER REAR BUMPER FACE BAR ASSEMBLY NEW | eBay

That would be the route I would go- by the parts cheap, have them painted- you could probably have it all done for the cost of your deductible or close to it. Then you wouldn't have to worry about your insurance going up or being out of a vehicle while its in the shop.

if I were you, I would go online to certifit.com and see if they have a location near you. certifit parts (all that I have dealt with) are as good as OEM but a fraction of the cost