1 Deer too Many!

[97BlackAckCL]

Seems like lighting up the night with a bunch of LED pods would actually make the problem worse. i.e deer in the headlights. Lights are good for spotting a deer but not sure for repelling a deer. Best thing is to drive as little as possible at night on country roads.

Yes, avoiding driving at night is one option, but if this is his normal commute then adding some extra lights is not a bad idea. Lighting up deer may make them stop and look, however you will see them farther out and have time to react. Like I posed earlier, my cheap 6 LED Chinese LED pods have saved me from hitting deer over a dozen times this year alone

 

[Bodie the Dog]

It's the second deer that gets you

Slow down/stop as soon as that first deer runs across the road in front of you. Its been my experience that it is more often true that the deer hits the car, then the other way around. Usually the 2nd deer, who was chasing the first one across the road.

Source: neighbor has been hit three times, plus personal observation.

 

[Bugser]

Thank you for all the great ideas guys!

First driving less on back roads and/or altering drive times are not options. In all the deer collisions except 1, I was able to slam the brakes and just tap the deer, but broke lots of plastic! Had one small fawn run right into the drivers door and scare the s$&t out of me!

Regarding deer whistles, had those on my old sedans 30 years ago and never once hit a deer. However, in this area of the country, west and north west Pennsylvania, the deer population has increased dramatically. There appears to be a mixed bag of whether deer whistles work or not.

Looks like the consensus is a steel bumper and additional lighting. Have stock lighting now.

On the planned build list were LED amber/white light bars and some type of auxiliary relay/fusing like the Shrockworks or Switch Pros brands.

A couple of you gave me the idea to hijack my own thread! There are tons of threads on what I’m going to ask, but have not seen much geared to “deer proofing” the runner!

Therefore, keep in mind that deer proofing is the end result, and this is a 99% street truck (predominantly back roads) and my daily driver, what brand/type/model do you recommend (and why) for:
1. Steel bumper
2. Changing out stock lighting
3. Additional lighting

Thanks!



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[Friggin Idiot]

Best thing is to drive as little as possible at night on country roads.

This is good advice for retired folks living in Florida. Otherwise it sounds like a @#!%$ answer. Not everyone works M-F 9-5. And how else do you get to the campsite after work if not driving back roads in the dark!?

Thank you for all the great ideas guys!
First driving less on back roads and/or altering drive times are not options.

However, in this area of the country, west and north west Pennsylvania, the deer population has increased dramatically.

Do your part, start hunting with a gun instead of your truck!

Therefore, keep in mind that deer proofing is the end result, and this is a 99% street truck (predominantly back roads) and my daily driver, what brand/type/model do you recommend (and why) for:
1. Steel bumper
2. Changing out stock lighting
3. Additional lighting

1) No comment
2) Low Beam H11 - Xenon Depot X-Treme HID Kit (Pay for the Philips 4300k bulbs, they're worth the difference) - Similar Kits available from The RetroFit Source
High Beams 9005 - Any high output LED conversion should work. DDM Tuning 50w Saber Pro's XenonDepot LED Kit
Fog Light Conversion - Baja Designs Squadron-R SPORT (Pro are way too bright to leave on) - Also available from XenonDepot
3) A quality light bar mounted on the aftermarket bumper of your choice. Most bumper manufacturers offer discounts on the bars they can incorporate into their designs.
I'd be strongly against mounting a light bar on the roof rack or above the windshield. Even if you don't get direct glare from the hood, you're unnecessarily illuminating the hood which you're trying to see beyond.
Ditch lights. Get a pair, wire them individually so you can only turn off the one that would blind oncoming traffic. Properly aimed the passenger side light could stay on until you approach an intersection with a car on the right.

 

[thennen]

I have hit 4 deer over the past 2 years and have had enough! Seems as if they pop up out of nowhere. My insurance company is probably wondering why!

Based on driving predominantly 2 lane roads, what recommendations would you give to provide greater visability for both close in and distance sightings of the deer in advance before they become dinner!


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There are a lot of deer near me, and I also drive 2-lane roads with hills and curves. My best two defenses are to be alert and slow down. I’ll drive 45-50 if I think I need to. It gives you quite a bit of cushion, and slow is better than a hit. And as Bodie said, expect one or more deer to follow the first one.

 

[a47chuck]

There is no evidence that deer whistles work.
I wish they did work.
Do Car Deer Whistles Work?

Had ‘em on the x’s car and mine for years. 280 on the SF Peninsula, deer ally. Never hit one. Could be just luck, though. They don’t survive car washes, though. LOL! Almost hit one in daylight. They’re out at all times of day in Central Orygun. ‘Runners got great brakes.

 

[Hadelson]

Properly adjusted lights are a huge help. Also using the Smith Driving system with continuously scanning looking for danger. Too often, drivers become fixated directly to there front and miss the danger to the sides of the road. Putting heavier bumpers up front help minimize damage from the impact.....remember deer strikes also occur from them running into the side of the car.

Guess I've been lucky, but had my share of close calls with one at +100 MPH with a very fast car on a twisty road.

It was a draws filling event.

 

[DougR]

Deer Behavior

A deer's eyes are fully dilated at or near sundown and sunrise. When a headlight beam strikes a deer, it cannot see. What would be its natural instinct? Run while partially or entirely blinded, or freeze until its eyes adjust?

A 4Runner makes more noise than most vehicles as it approaches, so that may encourage a flight response. Are there any studies on vehicle type and tire noise in deer collisions?

There are several symptoms of Chronic Wasting Disease exhibited in deer, such as, decreased social interaction, loss of awareness, and loss of fear of humans. Those symptoms are likely to increase the potential of colliding with a deer as the disease progresses over the long incubation and illness phases.

 

[Akkording]

There is no evidence that deer whistles work.
I wish they did work.
Do Car Deer Whistles Work?

I was going to suggest this. Dang I thought they work

 

[usdashworks]

Just turn them into paste.

ouch LMAO

 

[4runr4eva]

Overkill? Nah. They do things right in the Land of Downunder...

 

[MSRP.]

And do you actually need MT/AT tires?
If not, swapping to pavement oriented tires will save a LOT of feet in panic braking, as will closer-to-stock sized tires.

 

[Bugser]

A deer's eyes are fully dilated at or near sundown and sunrise. When a headlight beam strikes a deer, it cannot see. What would be its natural instinct? Run while partially or entirely blinded, or freeze until its eyes adjust?

A 4Runner makes more noise than most vehicles as it approaches, so that may encourage a flight response. Are there any studies on vehicle type and tire noise in deer collisions?

There are several symptoms of Chronic Wasting Disease exhibited in deer, such as, decreased social interaction, loss of awareness, and loss of fear of humans. Those symptoms are likely to increase the potential of colliding with a deer as the disease progresses over the long incubation and illness phases.

You guys are killing me! My side hurts from LOL so much! Thanks to @FRIGGIN_IDIOT @4RUN4EVA and @ MUTANT138 for making my afternoon!

Thanks for the suggestions @Friggin_Idiot. I like the 2 switch ditch light idea. The road that I hit all of these deer has almost zero opposite direction traffic, which would allow for the ditch lights. I could picture 2 switches and the driver's side automatically cuts off when the high beams are cut for oncoming traffic. The other could be also switched off when desired. Good suggestions Friggin. Looks like I might need more room than the 4 available knockouts and need the Switch Pros or similar add-on panel.

Interesting insights [MENTION=211123]DougR[/MENTION] on your entire post. NW PA does not have the CWD issue, not yet, but it's coming. Having "noisy" tires would be an interesting study. But then again, if deer whistles don't seem to work, would noisy tires? Dunno.

Like Figgin, I wasn't planning on describing a build, but may have to, after all these suggestions! Should be interesting. Especially the bumper!

Keep the ideas flowing since I resemble @Friggin_Idiot! I'm his protege, junior Friggin Idiot!

ROTFL! ound:ound:

 

[CutthroatSlam]

https://www.amazon.com/Ansblue-Vehi...ocphy=9031536&hvtargid=pla-606974146921&psc=1

These undoubtedly work. A friend had an F250 with 6.0 Powerstroke Diesel (his was a lucky one). You could hear the turbo whine from 1/2 mile away. He lives in Idaho and is a hunter/fisherman and never hit a deer with that rig. He swears that the turbo whine was a critical part of that.

I need to get one of these for my wife as she had a deer run into the side of her 4Runner the last trip home from Stevensville, MT. Left a nose dimple in the rear driver's side quarter panel.

 

[WaldoJPL]

....Airbags?

...Howdy!...:cowboy:

...Not lookin to start an argument here....but back in November had my brand new 2018 totaled by a mule deer that blind-sided me by coming from the left where another vehicle was matching my speed at night...so the first I saw the deer was when it was 8-feet in front of my hood...

...The most frustrating thing was 4 days earlier I installed HID low-beam headlights to see deer farther away down the road....

....( the deer was Really BRIGHT when I saw it! )....:wow2:

...I'm NOT saying better lights won't help...I still believe they will....but my 4runner was totaled due to ALL the airbags going off!..

...I considered a steel bumper with rings...but the repair shop told me that defeats the crumple-zone....causing more potential frame damage in a collision...

...Plus...the steel bumper will NOT prevent the airbags from going off anyway...and you most likely will need to beef-up the front suspension due to the extra weight of the bumper?....

...As for the whistles....they are cheap...and 'may' work...so why not add them to the truck?.....cheap insurance?....:noidea:

...The fact that the body-shop manager told me all this adds some truth to what he said...since he could just have easily tried to sell me a bumper and more lights, etc?...and he sees deer-strike collisions on a regular basis...

...I'm not trying to dispute what others have said...but just add a bit more info to consider before making your decisions....

...I have to say....driving at night now makes me a lot more nervous...and I avoid it whenever I can...but sometimes, ya just cant!....

...But one deer caused $23,542.12 damage to my poor truck...but I gotta say...it did it's job and kept me safe and from harm!...

...So now, I have an identical 2019!.....Good Luck!....Cheers!...

 

[Bugser]

...Howdy!...:cowboy:

...Not lookin to start an argument here....but back in November had my brand new 2018 totaled by a mule deer that blind-sided me by coming from the left where another vehicle was matching my speed at night...so the first I saw the deer was when it was 8-feet in front of my hood...

...The most frustrating thing was 4 days earlier I installed HID low-beam headlights to see deer farther away down the road....

....( the deer was Really BRIGHT when I saw it! )....:wow2:

...I'm NOT saying better lights won't help...I still believe they will....but my 4runner was totaled due to ALL the airbags going off!..

...I considered a steel bumper with rings...but the repair shop told me that defeats the crumple-zone....causing more potential frame damage in a collision...

...Plus...the steel bumper will NOT prevent the airbags from going off anyway...and you most likely will need to beef-up the front suspension due to the extra weight of the bumper?....

...As for the whistles....they are cheap...and 'may' work...so why not add them to the truck?.....cheap insurance?....:noidea:

...The fact that the body-shop manager told me all this adds some truth to what he said...since he could just have easily tried to sell me a bumper and more lights, etc?...and he sees deer-strike collisions on a regular basis...

...I'm not trying to dispute what others have said...but just add a bit more info to consider before making your decisions....

...I have to say....driving at night now makes me a lot more nervous...and I avoid it whenever I can...but sometimes, ya just cant!....

...But one deer caused $23,542.12 damage to my poor truck...but I gotta say...it did it's job and kept me safe and from harm!...

...So now, I have an identical 2019!.....Good Luck!....Cheers!...

Wow, that's an amazing story. Glad you're safe, that's all that counts!

I think my goals are to get:
1. Baja or Rigid flood ditch lights pointed slightly off to either side
2. Amber and white LED bars behind the grille
3. HID's
4. Baja fogs
5. Deer whistles, even though there is a possibility it may make 'em crazy and run into me!

At the moment I have decided against the steel bumper due to the comments that the front suspension needs an upgrade. I love the stock ride of the OR with KDSS. I do understand that there are some lifts that keep the ride but I'm "Gun Shy" to do that since I flipped a '94 S10 Blazer down an embankment one time....but that's a different story.

Comments always welcome.....pro and con.

 

[WaldoJPL]

Wow, that's an amazing story. Glad you're safe, that's all that counts!

I think my goals are to get:
1. Baja or Rigid flood ditch lights pointed slightly off to either side
2. Amber and white LED bars behind the grille
3. HID's
4. Baja fogs
5. Deer whistles, even though there is a possibility it may make 'em crazy and run into me!

At the moment I have decided against the steel bumper due to the comments that the front suspension needs an upgrade. I love the stock ride of the OR with KDSS. I do understand that there are some lifts that keep the ride but I'm "Gun Shy" to do that since I flipped a '94 S10 Blazer down an embankment one time....but that's a different story.

Comments always welcome.....pro and con.

..Hey, Thanks!...:cowboy:

...From what I have been told by many others, including the repair shops and insurance company...there are two types of bumpers....

...the first is the bull-bar type that just bolts on...and in a collision...causes more damage to the radiator and motor cos it gets pushed back in and it's metal...so does more harm than a soft-tissue body....

...The 2nd type is more structurally strong...and gets bolted or welded to the frame itself...and in a collision often damages or bends the frame...no bueno!

...But either of these bumpers still will NOT prevent the airbags from deploying..and that cost is Huge!...( it's almost 9K for our 4runners! )...and the main reason the vehicle was totaled instead of repaired...

...It's kinda like a lose-lose situation with the bumpers...which is sad...cos I think some of them look badass cool!...

...The lights still seem to be the best bet....even tho it didn't help me...but I think my situation was an extreme anomaly?!...I still feel a lot safer with the upgraded headlights....cos, let's face it....ya can't avoid what ya can't see, right?....

...Whatever ya decide...Good Luck and safe travels!.......Cheers!...:cheers:

 

[Bugser]

..

The lights still seem to be the best bet....even tho it didn't help me...but I think my situation was an extreme anomaly?!...I still feel a lot safer with the upgraded headlights....cos, let's face it....ya can't avoid what ya can't see, right?....



.:cheers:

Thanks sir for the bumper info....never thought of it.....but your points make a valid argument for not going that route. They are badass as you say!

I agree that if you can’t see the animal in enough time time, a collision will happen.

Trying to put my list together for lights. Starting with an electrical distribution system. I like the AOB switches mounted in the spare slots and shrockworks bracket and Bussmann box. Saw that behind the grill LED lights do take some illumination away so I need more research to find a bracket that reaches through the grill. I saw one but can’t find it again. Then I’ll take @friggen_idiot advice on headlights. Will also add flood ditch lights pointing slightly out to light up the sides more. This should help. Ditch light will have independent switches to turn off drivers side of on coming traffic

Thanks again and be safe!


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[The_Green_Wang]

I definitely think it is all situation base. I drive a lot on back roads at night around 5pm-2am. Having lights definitely help, they're eyes light up at night when hit with lights, making them easy to spot. A bumper all depends, I drive around 60mphs but if I can spot the sucker and slow down to 20ish mph, the deer wont do much against the bumper (should I come into a situation where I cant stop completely/not enough distance to prevent collision). Now if the deer just jumps from out of no where...well lights and bumpers cant do much. As for the whistles, I've seen them everywhere but cant say if they work.


Nick

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[20164runner]

I definitely think it is all situation base. I drive a lot on back roads at night around 5pm-2am. Having lights definitely help, they're eyes light up at night when hit with lights, making them easy to spot. A bumper all depends, I drive around 60mphs but if I can spot the sucker and slow down to 20ish mph, the deer wont do much against the bumper (should I come into a situation where I cant stop completely/not enough distance to prevent collision). Now if the deer just jumps from out of no where...well lights and bumpers cant do much. As for the whistles, I've seen them everywhere but cant say if they work.


Nick

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What bumper is this?