Surf's Down

[IanB]

As some of you may have read, me and my truck were t-boned by a car coming out of a side alley last weekend, causing my truck to roll, and the car that hit me took off. I'm OK considering, I've been going to physio for my neck, back, and wrists, it's really just my writst bothering me at this point. Thankfully I was alone in the truck, my wife had taken the dog home with her earlier in the evening, as I had the back window rolled down, she likely would have been hurt or even thrown from the truck.

Insurance is supposed to be looking at the truck today, I fully expect it will be a total loss. The side that got hit looks repairable, but the passenger side that hit the pavement is pretty bad, and it looks like the cab twisted from the force, as the window won't roll all the way up due to binding on one side.

I gathered the car parts from the scene, and found a sticker on the backside of a bumper fragment, that looks to have the last 8 digits of the VIN from the car that hit me. I provided this to the police, and I don't think they've done a damn thing with it yet. Very frusterating process!

Anyways, here's some pics of what I'm left with. The truck ended up back on the wheels, and after I found that a ground had pulled out of the crimped fitting on the battery harness, I was actually able to drive it home at the end of the night. It kept me safe, and for that I am thankful. This has been my favorite vehicle I've owned, and that's saying something.

 

[IanB]

And a coulple more. The rear axle is bent and is now leaking fluid from the driver's side, the rear hatch won't open, the rear window won't roll all the way up, the roof is buckled under the passenger side roof rail, and the headliner looks bent in the middle of the roof, besides the obvious other damages. I initially thought the front axle was shifted over to the passenger side, but I now think the fender is just flattened creating that illusion. 3 of the wheels are damaged as well.

 

[tylerbaird]

Such a shame man, that thing was a beauty. That's really crappy of the other person for taking off. Karma will come back to bite them.

 

[Hepar]

Noooooooooooo!

Sorry to hear about that, but definitely glad to hear you walked away from it.

 

[rickashay]

Wow dude.... that's brutal! I'm sorry it went down the way it did and the guy took off. I'm glad the Surf did it's job though and you weren't injured. Just remember, the vehicle can be replaced. (Although it still sucks!)

I had a semi pull out directly across my highway lane a couple years ago and my 93 Pickup (that I searched for for nearly a year) was totaled. My truck stopped after getting jammed underneath the trailer - I walked away. No one in traffic stopped to be a "witness" and the truck driver lied and said that I was speeding and caused the accident. I battled insurance for 8 months, and was deemed 50% at fault. Thus my complete lack of faith in insurance companies and law enforcement. I just hope your situation works out better and they actually use that VIN to nail the b****** who did it.

EDIT: let us know what's going to happen with the truck. If it's going to be rebuilt, salvaged, and if your going to buy it back from insurance if it is written off.

 

[theizzardking]

dude, that thing is beast mode! i was expecting it to be in much much worse condition all things considered, i mean it's not great but to be honest you could have probably taken a few more good hits and still been ok, good to see build quality in action! glad your alright and sucks that the cops would rather sit somewhere handing out speeding tickets to soccer moms late getting the kids to school then chase down an actual crime, it maybe kind of cool to just sit on the scrap and build a dedicated trail rig out of it over the next couple of years.

either way, glad your alright man glad your going to stay with us here, and hope they catch the jerk!

 

[Nashvegas34]

That sucks, dude. Glad you're ok and your wife and pup were not there. I know from experience that hit-and-runs are maddening because you have nowhere to vent your anger, and unless you're hurt, the police don't prioritize it very highly. For commiseration, check out the pics in my intro thread. I was run off the road by a drunk who took off. He spun me around and sent me up a curb and through a brick mailbox, landing me on top of a fire hydrant. I didn't roll but easily could have. Good luck with the recovery.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...mber-2000-4runner-pics-including-carnage.html

 

[IanB]

Thanks guys. I'm really not sure what I'm going to do for a replacement, the powertrain is still mint (less the rear axle housing), it would make a great swap into a 4runner. I'm just not sure I'll ever find a 4runner as clean underneath as the Surf was.

I'd buy another Surf but since the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear meltdown and with Sri Lanka's law changes allowing RHD imports, they are apparently selling for 2-3X more at auction than when I bought mine.

I'm also considering HDJ81 Land Cruisers, 4.2L turbo diesel, bigger truck which should pull my ski-doo trailer better. The Surf always felt a bit short pulling that trailer, it was 1" wider on each side than the truck even with the big fender flares.

 

[SantaCruzRunner]

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh my god! no!

 

[ryhi]

sorry to hear that this happened to your surf. hopefully that vin plays a part in catching the person who hit you.

 

[rickashay]

Buy a US 4Runner from Arizona and swap the diesel from the surf into that!

 

[AZ4FNER]

Ian, I am so sorry to hear this horrible news. Glad to hear you are OK.

You a very positive member on this site, wishing you good kharma. Good luck to you with insurance, and finding a replacement vehicle if needed.

Hope you find another Hilux or 4Runner!

 

[blcktpgsr]

Man I feel bad about your Surf but atleast you're fine. Oh I remember when you picked it up here in Vancouver. IIRC you and your better half were in Las Vegas while the Surf was being released from customs..That was awhile back.

By the way, there are 2 Surf's being sold right now in BC..thought you'd like to know.

1996 Toyota Hilux Surf SSR G V6...Gas
1996 Toyota Hilux Surf (4Runner Diesel)

 

[IanB]

Man I feel bad about your Surf but atleast you're fine. Oh I remember when you picked it up here in Vancouver. IIRC you and your better half were in Las Vegas while the Surf was being released from customs..That was awhile back.

By the way, there are 2 Surf's being sold right now in BC..thought you'd like to know.

1996 Toyota Hilux Surf SSR G V6...Gas
1996 Toyota Hilux Surf (4Runner Diesel)

That was last February, just over a year I got to spend with this amazing truck. I've checked out that one diesel Surf being sold (thanks for the links), I'm honestly not sure what I am going to do to replace it yet, weighing my options. I want another Toyota turbo diesel though, no question about that.

 

[IanB]

Buy a US 4Runner from Arizona and swap the diesel from the surf into that!

I don't think I'm up for all the time and work to pull this off at the moment, I need to get something I can drive, not just something I can work on. I have mulled it over extensively though. The cost of getting something nice with a blown engine from the southern US home to do the swap is a factor, and I can't justify the cost to buy something nice with a good motor just to pull it apart and swap it. If I was in a position to have a project like that, fine. I just don't think a swapped 4runner is in my future at this time.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

That diesel one looks like it would make a fine replacement. It almost be like starting over with your truck. The color on that gas one is cool, never seen that before. Does it really have that "Surf" sticker on it though?

 

[fish0281]

Sorry to hear about your truck Ian, that's a huge bummer. I hope you can find another one, stat!

That diesel one looks like it would make a fine replacement. It almost be like starting over with your truck. The color on that gas one is cool, never seen that before. Does it really have that "Surf" sticker on it though?

Those are both nice looking 4Runners... not only does the one have a huge Surf sticker, but the passenger side sticker is on backwards. ()

 

[99SC4Runner]

Ian,

Thank God you are okay.

From your pictures, the passenger side looks like mostly it needs a new front fender, possibly the door that has the window problem, a rear lift gate, and a rear axle. Then some body work, rain deflectors, and fender flares.

Unless we can't see something that is worse from your pics, I'd see about fixing it. Such a cool rig to try and fix it if that is feasible.

 

[brian2sun]

Sorry to see your truck all banged up man. Hope they catch they guy and your wrist feels better too. I agree with 99SC4Runner about fixing it. Maybe you can buy it back from the insurance co for cheap and repair it with the rest of the ins. money?

I like the title too, that made me lol. Still feel bad about the truck though.

 

[IanB]

Insurance just confirmed it will be a total loss. I plan on retaining salvage so long as they aren't WAY out to lunch on prices, and there will be a partout in the future. Hoping someone will snap up the rolling chassis and swap this gem of a motor into a deserving 4runner.

As far as fixing the truck, the cab is twisted and the rear window won't roll all the way up, I really feel this can't be repaired economically, but who knows? To someone who knows how to do that kind of work, anything's possible I guess.