Hurricane Harvey....flooded my truck....now what to do?

Where I live as soon as water reaches the doors a car has to be totaled by insurance. No questions asked. I assume it's like that in most jurisdictions?

 

I've had insurance for 10 years 6 months. I've never used my insurance a single time. $15 a month equates to $1,890.

Thats a nice lift kit. Or nearly two deductibles paid if needed. OP has been with USAA for 40 years, I wonder how many comprehensive claims hes made.

If you want to piss hard earned money away on insurance, go right ahead. I can self insure a few things because its much cheaper to do so in the end.

 

My Mitsubishi Lancer got flooded a few years ago in Nashville and I didn't carry full coverage since it was paid off and I didn't give a shit about cosmetics since I could do most repairs myself. Stripped the interior COMPLETELY after disconnecting battery and removing. CRC sprayed every connector inside, aired it for nearly a week and shampooed/antifungal sprayed all carpet and seats and headliner. Chased fucking gremlins like crazy in that sonofabitch for a couple years until they all just went away for some reason. But seriously, driving and the horn randomly starts blaring, lights turn on and go off, dash lights randomly firing up and going off but never throwing a code, the parking brake cable had water in it I think so it would freeze in cold temps and my brakes would be half-engaged while driving, overheat, and scare the fuck out of me when it stopped about ten feet past where I thought it would so I excelled in downshifting that bad boy. If you have insurance to bail out absolutely I would go that route.

 

Lol, there's a lot of difference between an international scout and a 3rd Gen Tacoma. Like, for starters, fuel injection.

OP, let your insurance buy you a new one. Even if you could fix it, flood cars are nightmares.

 

Just got to this.
Super thanks!
I am waiting on USAA to see what they are going to value the truck at.
At that point will make a decision.
It did just get my floor wet...and the water was pretty clean...not muddy etc.
If I go that route will do what you suggested!
Thanks!

 

Yeah....I am getting a Moonroof is open warning....
Thanks for the input....leaning towards totaling it.

 

Yeah...agree at this point.
Thanks!

 

Zero claims on USAA except for a house claim....plumbing flooded.

 

I think my USAA Insurance covers everything plus acts of war...

Come and get some NK!

 

I made three since not everyone reads all the different forum titled threads. And I needed some quick input since the truck was/is wet.

 

Super thanks!

 

yeah...they will total it....its up to me otherwise...
Probably will.
Thanks!

 

Thanks!!

 

USAA did total my Honda Crosstour since water came up over the bottom seats....not the dash/or fuse box.
Sucks since that's my wife's car....she's major attached to it...being Russian and all...some tears.
And yeah I know....could be WAAY worse with all of this no doubt. I work out at NASA....lots of friends and co-workers have lost everything...cars, house with water up to roof line. Really bad.
Also my USAA adjuster who after talking with him...drag races...rebuilds classic cars etc, and with USAA as a car adjuster for 28 years.....said with just 1" of water on floor wetting electronics (my truck had that water covering inside for less than 2 hrs) they will total it.
Waiting to hear back on what they will give me.
Pretty wild.

 

Don't know exactly what you have but dbl cab with basic options on kbb shows 30-32 with 17k?

 

If you elect to repair it yourself, the carpet is 100% nylon and will not rot or mildew if pulled out and allowed to dry in the sun until completely dry.
under that is a cotton fiber lining some times called " Jute lining " it serves as a noise barrier/insulator and should be thrown away, it is not reusable
it will mildew and rot quickly, you cannot mistake the odor of it. It is cheap to buy and comes in big roles. Yes there are wires running under the carpets.
While you have the seats out, turn them upside down, clean and blow dry the seat tracks by hand and re- grease them. Paper towel dry all wiring and connectors,
with generous use of channel tuner cleaner, your Radio Shack salesman will know what you want. This is a labor and time intensive repair. It can be done.
So you got to ask yourself, are you willing to put all this time and effort into it. only to discover other hidden Issues, that may haunt you as long as you own this truck.
Or just take the lump on the deductible and go on with the rest of your life in a new Tacoma. I have 40 years in the service Dept. in a Houston dealership.

 

$15 a month for 40 years is $7,200.

 

do you plan on buying it back if they total it?

 

In the last 12 years I've had them pay out $10k+, tow fees and car rental fees. Didn't cost me a dime at any time out of pocket. So I could buy lift kit or any other accessory I wanted.

 

And I'd offer $1,000.00 more than you...hehe!