Would this be within someone's ability to repair on their own?

Hey guys! First time poster. First time Tacoma Owner.
I was brought to my first Tacoma (2017 Metallic Grey SR5 with extras) after my poor 2010 RAV4 was T-boned in front of Home Depot.
I am really amazed with the community here and i've already done some DIY on my truck. But this post is unrelated to my current Taco.

Bottom Line Up front: I am not a car guy. I've replaced my rear bumper, tail lights, and running boards. I'm running off the DIY high and I might be just biting off more than I can chew by even thinking about this so I wanted to get some advice from those of you that have worked on your Tacos more than I have.

I'll keep this brief. I was on the website Copart and I saw this 2018 Blue Tacoma.
https://www.copart.com/lot/34861622/salvage-2018-toyota-tacoma-double-cab-al-montgomery

I'm not a member and it looks like you have to pay a fee to even bid on these auctions. I also know that auction websites are pretty shifty in general and this one in particular for dressing up salvaged cars, but what do you guys think?

The information says it still runs and is capable of driving. The damage itself looks like the tailgate and the bumper took most of the impact. I've been underneath the rear of my truck enough times to guess that the axel/shaft and transmission probably weren't affected by the crash.

Other than this damage it's a beautiful looking truck. Do you think it would be possible to replace the tailgate and bumper? How much more do you think is hiding? Possible frame damage?

Honestly this is all just wishful thinking and I thought it would make for a fun discussion.

Thanks in advance!
~Ven

 

Should be easy fix. Tie the bumper to an oak tree and floor it. Pull most of that right out.

 

Rough estimates are that a replacement tailgate and bumper would be about 1000-1500 to replace. But honestly it might be better just to replace the entire bed.

 

Hey Ven,

Bumpers and tailgates are easy, as I'm sure you know. But I would imagine that if this truck is being auctioned, it probably has a bent frame. That would have lead the insurance company to total it. Especially if they are advertising that it is drivable AND they are telling the truth, then I would imagine the rear axle/dif/prop shaft might be okay.

Be careful, but have fun

 

Picture #4 looks as if the frame is bent in the rear, unless it's just the bed being buckled.

 

You may want to take a better look at that thing. Box is twisted big time. Probably needs frame. Box crushed into the back of the cab. There is a reason that thing totaled.

 

That Pro is sitting there for a reason. It’s totaled. Frame is bent.

 

The link says salvage that leads me to believe insurance totaled it and there is a hidden issue. They would not total a Tacoma for 2500 in repairs. Run do not walk

 

Way too many miles on the truck for it to make sense money wise to even think about repairing a bent frame truck

 

This, don't get yourself into something more than you can fix.

 

Salvage title, hail damage, bent frame, 117,000 miles. It’s not worth it. I’m sure a used car lot will pick that up, pull frame straight until the body gaps are close to right, wash the title and stick it on the lot for 35k and someone will think they are getting a deal.

 

OP wrote, “ I'm running off the DIY high and might be just biting off more than I can chew …”

The quickest way to come down from a DIY high is to bite off more than you can chew. I would be extremely weary about buying anything with a salvage title. Think about it … If that truck did not have that rear damage and it was being sold on the open market it would probably catch 30 K plus. Why would they total it out if it needed say 3K in repairs? The truck most likely needs somewhere in the double digits of K’s in repairs.

 

I'd be very wary of buying anything from CoPart. Google the reviews, very few I've seen were good.

 

I'd leave it alone.

A beer says that it will bid for way more than a salvage is worth.

 

I agree with everyone on here, there is a reason it's a total. I also noticed it was noted as hail damage so it might not even be worth parting it out. Another thing that happens with these auction cars are people buy them completely wrecked, fix part of them make them look somewhat better and run them though the auction again, So if you ever look at an auction car give the entire car a good look over not just the obvious damage.

 

They didn't total a 30k plus truck for 2k in damage. Insurance companies know what they're doing.

 

I have repaired worse damage, but it was only for a personal car. I never had intentions of selling it. If the price was right, I would have definitely tried in my younger years. These days, the salvage title would not sit well with me... not quite sure why...

 

So one will fix that.

 

Like previously stated, there is a reason it is there in the first place. I don't know what the rules look like where you live but where I live (Alberta, Canada) you need to have a government inspection to put that truck back on the road and they will pick that thing apart (Even items that were not affected by the collision). My father in law had his fail due to a leaking shock absorber so he had to do more work and have it reinspected. I did a Subaru once that had a minor accident and they picked apart the minor body rust to the point we ended up just painting the whole damn car.

 

OP, also keep in mind many insurance companies will NOT insure a salvage title vehicle and again you'll have more money invested than the truck would be worth.