Think I’m lucky...

...that the airbag didn’t go off.

Hit a deer Saturday night, first one in 40 years driving. Saw the first one, the second stepped out of a shadow with no time to slow down. Hit it and it went down and under the truck. Daughter and son-in-law come out, he looks it over and says if it didn’t catch anything in the driveshaft and bent it, it’ll probably be ok to get home. Says it’s a mess underneath, why it smelled. No shaking or vibration, and all lights worked, so I did. The hood is under the edge of the grille on that side, though. It goes in tomorrow for estimate.

 

Dang. Glad nobody was hurt....except for the deer but I assume it died doing what it loved.

 

Well that certainly sucks! I hope all turns out well for you.

 

Playing in traffic?

 

A deer likely isn’t going to deploy the front air bag. Inertia isn’t enough with a Tacoma. They aren’t impact sensors.

Maybe if you were in a smart car and hit a good sized buck and came to a complete stop. LOL

 

I always imagined if I were a wild animal, i would lay in the road and play dead until some car came by and before it got to me I’d jump up and laugh as the car went swerving everywhere.

One day it’d kill me though.

 

You don't need to be a wild animal to do that.

 

Haha no. Id just give people a heart attack when they run out of their car thinking I’m dead and I jump up.

OMG sir are you OK?!?!

OMG this guy just came out of nowhere and hit me. And I had this horrible dream Donald Trump was president.

 

Fixed it for you!

 

F-ing A, funniest post today

Glad nobody was hurt OP. Good luck w the fix.

 

The estimator showed me the sensor for the airbag, and you’re right, it is a good distance in towards the radiator.

Mostly plastic damage, getting a new grille, headlight (multiple mounts broken, but still worked and mostly correct in aim), bumper cover (front bumper getting repair but wasn’t badly damaged), and other miscellaneous to the tune of $992, plus another $800 plus in repair and r&i labor. $1813 total.

He also checked the underside from front to back and no damage to any parts or systems from sifting the carcass back and bumping over it. Had the skid plates, gas tank, running boards, gas tank, spare tire, rear bumper, and trailer hitch checked, all were clear. It’s was a good-sized doe, about 160+ lbs, it was a big bump when the back end went over.

 

Hope OP makes his bumper great again

 

Time for an aftermarket bumper....

 

The airbag sensor is an inertia sensor. Your truck has to stop fast enough to set it off. Not that it has to be hit.

 

Forgot that part, thanks

 

Not trying to one up you OP, but here's my deer damage from yesterday morning. $3600 damage.

 

Wow, you really tagged that one! I readily admit I got lucky, damage-wise. Still amazed that I manage to go 40 years without getting one.

 

OUCH.... I like your other truck next to the damaged one.