Rear ended this weekend. Thoughts?

[sperho]

2011 Limited. ~20k miles. Love this truck. :cry2:

Everyone is safe and the truck is back home. It was driveable, but the spare was pushed so far forward that the panhard bar was bent and the suspension was essentially locked up, so we had it hauled the 175 miles back home from where the accident occurred. The tow hitch cross member is wacked and the frame ends are bent inward some. Panhard bar is pushed into the rear transfer case, but the case doesn't look broken.

Any thoughts on whether or not we're going to need a new frame? Of course, the other driver's (at fault) insurance adjuster is going to make the call, but I was curious to see what those with frame experience would have to say? I'm also going to have a shop or two look at it and get their opinions before I meet with the adjuster. I just want this situation to be made whole. Not looking for padding/extra money - just want my truck back and back done right or totaled out.

What say you based on the pics? I have a feeling that it isn't going to be totaled (there is some front damage too, though, because we were knocked into another car). I'm pretty concerned about them just cutting, bending and welding on the frame and I want the frame components to be 100% of OEM strength (it saved our butts!).

This sucks.

 

[bofa]

Holy cow - bad few days to be a 5th gen. I would get independent estimates from 2-3 reputable shops. Do NOT let the other party's adjuster make those kinds of decisions for you and don't agree to anything until you are comfortable with the estimates. In reality I would go through my own company and let them collect from the other person and their company.

 

[DannyLlama]

Holy cow - bad few days to be a 5th gen.

No freaking kidding !

 

[sperho]

Do NOT let the other party's adjuster make those kinds of decisions for you and don't agree to anything until you are comfortable with the estimates.

That's why I want to get a few independent estimates so I can logically work with the adjuster in a data driven way... I'm thinking I want a new frame specified in the appraisal, but it's my first "real" accident in 24 years of driving so I'm not very experienced with this sort of thing.

 

[Hanau]

What kind of vehicle hit you? Truck or car?

 

[mattleegee]

damage in front?
try to get a new one, that is alot of stuff going on

or if they insist on repair and the %%% of damage is not enough make sure you are paid for the trucks value depreciation after the wreck since the rebuilt title value will not be close to the value of the truck (there is a term for it but can think of it, common practice)

injuries take a day or two sometimes also so make sure no one is hurt

 

[Ukie]

Couple links to share

FYI
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/112275-really-6k-miles-really.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/76047-do-you-think-she-may-totaled-pics-2.html

make sure to check inscarguy post:
....
reguarding frames toyota does not have a sectioning procedure on their frames as toyota is one of the few left who use full frames besides a few imports and some domestics(mostly trucks) as most have gone to a unitized construction which means the body and support structure is one piece.
....

 

[sperho]

What kind of vehicle hit you? Truck or car?

Toyota Tundra. A Ram truck pulling a fifth wheel camper couldn't stop and smacked him, who then smacked us.

 

[sperho]

damage in front?
try to get a new one, that is alot of stuff going on

or if they insist on repair and the %%% of damage is not enough make sure you are paid for the trucks value depreciation after the wreck since the rebuilt title value will not be close to the value of the truck (there is a term for it but can think of it, common practice)

injuries take a day or two sometimes also so make sure no one is hurt

Front damage is plastics and support mounts. A few grand at least, I would guess. I would love to get a totaled out estimate, but I'm not so sure that's going to happen. The term you are looking for is diminished value. I will certainly go after that if they insist on a repair...

 

[bofa]

I'd push for totaling it too. If you do go the repair route, in addition to the comments above, I'd insist on a full paint job, esp given the color.

 

[harper7]

2011 Limited. ~20k miles. Love this truck. :cry2:

Everyone is safe and the truck is back home. It was driveable, but the spare was pushed so far forward that the panhard bar was bent and the suspension was essentially locked up, so we had it hauled the 175 miles back home from where the accident occurred. The tow hitch cross member is wacked and the frame ends are bent inward some. Panhard bar is pushed into the rear transfer case, but the case doesn't look broken.

Any thoughts on whether or not we're going to need a new frame? Of course, the other driver's (at fault) insurance adjuster is going to make the call, but I was curious to see what those with frame experience would have to say? I'm also going to have a shop or two look at it and get their opinions before I meet with the adjuster. I just want this situation to be made whole. Not looking for padding/extra money - just want my truck back and back done right or totaled out.

What say you based on the pics? I have a feeling that it isn't going to be totaled (there is some front damage too, though, because we were knocked into another car). I'm pretty concerned about them just cutting, bending and welding on the frame and I want the frame components to be 100% of OEM strength (it saved our butts!).

This sucks.

Wow, glad to hear everyone was OK!You took quite an impact.
IMO.....That's got to be pretty close to totaled with all that frame damage and you say there's front end damage too.
Here's hiker_jon's post after he was hit from behind and I don't think he even had frame damage and it was $16k+...... http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/80037-ouch-my-new-4runner.html#post685336

Here's a link to some totaled ones to show it doesn't take alot..... Search results | EasyExport.US

 

[Hardrunner]

Front damage is plastics and support mounts. A few grand at least, I would guess. I would love to get a totaled out estimate, but I'm not so sure that's going to happen. The term you are looking for is diminished value. I will certainly go after that if they insist on a repair...

Definetely a diminished value claim here. This looks like a possible total IMO.

 

[sperho]

FYI
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/112275-really-6k-miles-really.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/76047-do-you-think-she-may-totaled-pics-2.html

make sure to check inscarguy post:
....
reguarding frames toyota does not have a sectioning procedure on their frames as toyota is one of the few left who use full frames besides a few imports and some domestics(mostly trucks) as most have gone to a unitized construction which means the body and support structure is one piece.
....

I'll have to study those threads tomorrow. Thanks.... What does the "does not have a sectioning procedure" part mean/imply in the above quote?

 

[sperho]

Wow, glad to hear everyone was OK!You took quite an impact.
IMO.....That's got to be pretty close to totaled with all that frame damage and you say there's front end damage too.
Here's hiker_jon's post after he was hit from behind and I don't think he even had frame damage and it was $16k+...... http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/80037-ouch-my-new-4runner.html#post685336

Here's a link to some totaled ones to show it doesn't take alot..... Search results | EasyExport.US

thanks for the links...

 

[sperho]

Definetely a diminished value claim here. This looks like a possible total IMO.

I'm hoping. I think the fact that the airbags didn't deploy and that upon my cursory, nonprofessional inspection of the rear quarter panels not taking much damage (any? beyond a few scratches?), I think it may be hard to be considered a total loss. KBB says about $36k and TN has a 75% blue book rule, so there would have to be about $27k worth of damage, which seems like quite a bit.

 

[MeBe4running]

Toyota Tundra. A Ram truck pulling a fifth wheel camper couldn't stop and smacked him, who then smacked us.

Ah..... sorry to hear but most importanty glad to hear your alright.

Yeah there's quite a fair bit of work needed to be done there. Its doable, but its never the same and your title for resale will be deprecated as a result. I would get a few quotes for certain.

Yes x2 to this:

Do NOT let the other party's adjuster make those kinds of decisions for you and don't agree to anything until you are comfortable with the estimates. In reality I would go through my own company and let them collect from the other person and their company.

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[sperho]

I'd push for totaling it too. If you do go the repair route, in addition to the comments above, I'd insist on a full paint job, esp given the color.

I guess I wouldn't mind a slight color mismatch to keep the OEM paint. No aftermarket job can touch the durability of the e-coat plus factory paint, IMHO.

 

[sperho]

Yes x2 to this:

Good luck and keep us posted!

I'll wait to see what the adjuster says before I go "off protocol". If I have to sign something to approve but I don't approve, I'll hold off on signing and talk to my agent to see what he could do for me, esp. after I get my independent estimates... I want to see how this plays out a bit before I get aggressive (if I even have to). I hate the uncertainty right about now...

 

[bofa]

The reason I'm so assertive is because I've had 2 accidents that were not my fault and they worked out very differently. The first was a low speed rear ending from a dump truck. I worked with the driver's company directly because thats what i thought i was supposed to do and was afraid it would affect my insurance. I was young and didn't know better and got royally screwed the entire way. The second time there wasn't much choice but a total loss (t-boned a red light runner at 45mph) but I was much more hands-on with that process and worked with my agent throughout the process and it ended pretty well IMO.

Good luck and let us know how the estimates go.

And you'd be surprised how good some aftermarket paint jobs can look... But they are pricey, thus my encouraging you to go that route. I would not let a shop try to color match and blend BP and any shop willing to do so without hesitation would raise an eyebrow for me.

 

[sperho]

The reason I'm so assertive is because I've had 2 accidents that were not my fault and they worked out very differently. The first was a low speed rear ending from a dump truck. I worked with the driver's company directly because thats what i thought i was supposed to do and was afraid it would affect my insurance. I was young and didn't know better and got royally screwed the entire way. The second time there wasn't much choice but a total loss (t-boned a red light runner at 45mph) but I was much more hands-on with that process and worked with my agent throughout the process and it ended pretty well IMO.

Good luck and let us know how the estimates go.

And you'd be surprised how good some aftermarket paint jobs can look... But they are pricey, thus my encouraging you to go that route. I would not let a shop try to color match and blend BP and any shop willing to do so without hesitation would raise an eyebrow for me.

thanks... The second I sense a screw job coming, I'm going to be on the horn with my agent after seeing your and other posts suggesting this. I'm going to be vigilant, but also as analytical and rational as possible...