totaled the 3rd gen

offroad_ENThusiast

offroad_ENThusiast

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I need some opions folks I recently hit a deer doing about 50 the insurance totaled the 4runner and is writing me a check for about 4k. I'm wondering if itd be worth it to spend some of that for repairs (mostly cosmetic) and have about 3 or 4k for a build on it. It would really be for me since it would have a salvage title and I would never see a profit on selling it but I don't know it seems like a have a sweet build waiting for me right around the corner. On the other hand I could buy another vehicle with a clean title. Anybodies thoughts are welcome.

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Leave it as is, just take the antlers off the deer and mount them to your hood. Let that be a warning to other deer who think they can defeat the Mighty T4R of Utah!
 
Thats pretty much how mine was before repaired and after I purchased. Mine didnt have salvage title but the hood, front bumper, headlights, grill and one fender was replaced.

Its been a good vehicle ever since only thing is the after market parts kind of suck and paint is never done well at most body shops. So hood got hail damage, fender got hail damage, the one non oem headlight is filled with dirt, grill is chipping its chrome and repainted parts are all peeling away.

I would keep for parts car and purchase another if it was me. Too much work to do unless you find clean OEM front end you can get parts from.
 
I guess the question is what is your financial situation? Can you afford to buy another vehicle and use this one for parts? How many miles on your current truck? Does it still run well? If it runs well then I'd keep it and fix it but only replace the parts with OEM from salvage yards. In my opinion its just worth spending a little extra on a car you know well than buying another car you don't. This obviously is based around whether or not the financial aspect of it makes sense.

And I just drove through Cedar City last week on my way to Vegas and swear I saw at least 7 dead deer on the roadside within the span of only a few miles.
 
See what you can find at junkyards around you, you never know, you may end up finding everything you need for pennies on the dollar.
 
I think you can get your truck fixed for about $1500. Find a fender with the flare.
If you want buy an ARB bumper!
I think your AC system is still good and saw the invoice got AC condenser and other parts included.
Don't let those body shop take your $4000. Get a good set of tools and pull all damaged parts out. You can post picture by picture as you remove it and we can help you whether to buy it or not. DON'T by parts until you got all the parts removed.

What is your color code?
 
offroad_ENThusiast said:
I need some opions folks I recently hit a deer doing about 50 the insurance totaled the 4runner and is writing me a check for about 4k. I'm wondering if itd be worth it to spend some of that for repairs (mostly cosmetic) and have about 3 or 4k for a build on it. It would really be for me since it would have a salvage title and I would never see a profit on selling it but I don't know it seems like a have a sweet build waiting for me right around the corner. On the other hand I could buy another vehicle with a clean title. Anybodies thoughts are welcome.QUOTE]

Happened to me 2 months ago. My take was that I bought an older truck to add to, use, and have fun with for years. I decided to keep it, go salvage title, and fix it. Insurance paid off the loan from the purchase, then I got a much smaller loan to fix it. Now I'm building it out and fixing it. Alignment is fine, mechanical is fine. I had mostly body damage.
Now I have a paid off drive able truck and a small loan to fix. I have all the pics and records if I do decide to sell someday, but I did buy it as a toy, a trail truck.
I say keep it. Doesn't look bad at all!
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Same thing happened to me a couple years ago. Insurance company wanted to total mine for a hood, bumper, grill and headlights. Said it was over $8k in damages. They told me if I got an estimate under $5500 they would let me keep it and cut me a check for $4500. I got the estimate I needed and fixed mine for $1200 and even upgraded to the sport hood with scoop. And still have a clean title. If I let them total it they were only going to give $5000 and I would have to look for another one. I wasn't doing that because it took me 6 months to find the one I have. If it's the truck I wanted I would keep it.
 
I hit a deer at 50 a few years ago and mine looked about the same. I didn't have full coverage so I fixed it myself as best I could. Drove it with damage for several months. Convinced Adam at 4xinnovations they should build front plate bumpers. Mine is the prototype 3rd gen plate bumper. I understand its one of their best selling products. I say fix it. Add an aftermarket bumper and other goodies. Enjoy it
 
One important question.,. Did the deer survive?? loll

I would keep it and search all junk yards for some cheap parts. Pennies on the dollar for sure.

If not, then ill take those wheels off of your hands when you're ready!!
 
Thanks guys for all the input! It's a 98 with just over 193,000 on the 3.4. The deer is dead by the way. Franky_dabbs if I do ever get rid of these trail wheels I will let you know! I'm just kind of torn for over a year now I've been drooling over all these build threads now the ball is in my court and I'm leaning towards fixing it maybe putting a ss lift on it and building me some bumpers! On the other hand the title will be salvaged cause they are giving me what the car is worth. So if I ever sell it I know that will be a big deal to some. This is my one and only driver and I am a high school senior currently working full time. So I think I need to be cost efficient on this, but I also want 35's haha.
 
It would be a fun build and Im sure you could sell it in time with the salvage title.

Im really wanting a set of those trail rims also. Set just showed up on local craigs for $300 obo and almost bit.
 
If you keep a detailed history of what steps you took to repair it, including pictures, the salvage title becomes much less of an issue.
 
Totalled doesn't necessarily mean a salvage title. Check with your state, but here in CO a salvage title is only required if the vehicle is totalled before it is 5 years old. After 5 years, no special title is required. I had to deal with this after my insurance totaled my old motorcycle and I bought it back.
 
If someone is planning on buying a "Done Right Built Truck" chances are a salvage title is not going to be their main concern. One thing to always remember to do things for yourself and not some random person else in the future. Besides, once you put a lift, clearance for 35s and some nice bumpers, salvage title or not, you'll have too much into it to ever sell it.
 
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