When a crispy Taco becomes a rolled taco... insurance advice needed

Sad news today ladies and gents. My fiancé and I were finally bringing our tacoma out to Colorado from California. We have lived near Donner Summit in Tahoe so know our way around snowy roads.... Roads were nice and dry throughout the trip when the wind picked up with strong crosswinds in WY. I was leading the taco in my shitbox F150 with my fiancé cruising in her Taco when a strong crosswind pushed her toward the median, she tried to steer out of it but hit ice and slid into the median rolling three times before coming to a stop on the other side of the highway. Lucky for us the Taco that has served us well did its final job and she managed to walk away from this with only a few cuts and bruises. Sad day for the Taco as this was the one vehicle we planned to keep into our old age but I feel truly lucky and very happy that she is okay. I hope none of you have to experience watching your loved one roll a vehicle in your rear view mirror - it is the most helpless you will ever feel.

For those who have totaled these old trucks? How has it been with insurance getting actual replacement value? How does insurance account for things like upgraded suspension? Camper shells? etc.

Also be on the lookout for some great suspension parts and wheels at a pick n pull in middle of nowhere WY - I went through and redid the suspension this past summer with mid-travel fox 2.5s resis and JBAs (<1000 miles on them).... I'll be listing some great parts in the near future that I had collected and planned to install including a full set of bud-built skids.

Thank you all for your advice and stay safe out there!

 

Sorry to see this but so glad the old taco kept her safe. Can’t imagine the horror as you put it, watching that unfold in the rear view. Scary AF.

I imagine that unless you had the extras we all have, covered under additional coverage (aftermarket parts coverage), then they’ll just total it at market value of the vehicle. Can’t speak from experience there but do know from a broken camper shell window claim that aftermarket equipment needs to be covered. My comp covered up to 500 of aftermarket and the rep kindly pointed out that I would need to additional coverage for my roof rack, bumper, etc.

What insurance carrier? I believe most in your situation look to buy back the vehicle and then part out.

Glad she’s safe.

 

Wow man, so glad you two are ok. What a situation and just plain ole bummer.

 

I don't think they would pay you out for aftermarket stuff unless you told them about it. When I add a vehicle, they always ask me if it's stock or modified. They will however pay you for market value, not KBB value. When I last had a payout for a totaled car, they gave me a sheet full of market comps that they did based on used car sales of similar cars. They then took the average and deducted or added value for low or high miles. I expected to have to fight them for the value, but it actually came out even to what I paid for it two years prior. Hopefully you have a good company. I was insured through costco's company.

You can also find out its salvage value, and buy it back and part out the good stuff. Plenty of usable parts left in that wreck.

Good luck!

 

Glad she walked away. The Tacoma did it’s job.

Mods don’t mean anything, insurance will give you the value of what options came with the OE truck.

That being said, remove anything you can that you can possible sell before the insurance company takes hold of it.

 

Thanks for the advice and input from previous experiences all. I did my best to strip any usable parts from the vehicle before we left the tow yard - unfortunately the tow yard is 4 hrs from our place in CO so unless I'm buying it back depending on the check and parting it out. I likely will have to make someones day with the wheels and suspension parts. Not too many usable body panels left on the truck - the bumper and grill somehow made it out unscathed.

 

Touch base with @Wulf, @6P4 (a few others just drawing a blank) - might be closer to that area.

 

I'd help if I could, but the tow yard in that picture is 6 1/2 hours from me, and probably still 3-4 from Wulf.

@sandman8108 sorry to hear about all that. It's good to hear that everyone's okay.

I've heard a few stories of folks being pleasantly surprised with the insurance payouts from their totaled 1st gens. I hope that process goes well for you.

 

Glad your wife is okay. That's what matters the most. They recently totaled my 2004 prerunner DC with 325K on it. Crash bent the frame where the tow hook bolts on. They wont fix frames, even minor damage. Geico paid me $8700.00 I bought it back for $2700.00. Mines was still drivable, causing buy back to be higher.

 

Glad she is ok!

I would be curious How much to deliver it to your location.

I would buy that back in a minute unless your very well pleased with the pay out.

Where did that happen I know those cross winds can be brutal i did the same thing back in 1975 East of Elk Mountain on I 80 .

 

So glad she’s okay.

I know airbags are usually triggered by front or rear collisions but it’s unsettling to see they did not deploy in this violent of an accident.

 

It happened just outside of Rock Springs in WY on I80. We had winter camped the night before in the taco just outside Park City. Was a great last night in the truck! Still haven't heard from insurance, we have State Farm which I've heard good things about so hopeful this goes well... not to mention its a California truck registered in California and we all know what the market is like for 1st gens out there $$$

 

I was very surprised to see no airbags when I opened the passenger door and pulled her out of the truck. The only straight body part left on the truck is the bumper and grill. Just wasn't enough impact on the front as it rolled.

 

This is why tacomaworld is amazing - just a good group of people who love these trucks and the community. I'm hopeful the payout process goes well and I can let bygones be bygones. Now the decision becomes, do I seek out another 1st gen or go to the dark side and build out a gx470??

 

What ever the both of you decide to do!

Good luck with your insurance payout

Not enough impact to the front of the vehicle to fire the air bag squibs

Never seeing the schematics of the newer vehicles with all side protection Airbags I can only guess more sensors in side impact locations.

 

Sorry for your accident. Good that nobody was seriously injured. I might be interested in your suspension / wheels, maybe driver's seat, and some other parts. I'd suggest you check to see how much it would cost to retain the salvage versus letting the insurance company take it. I'm in Loveland, about 90 minutes south of I-80. DM me your phone number and we can discuss.

BTW, the photos are an extended cab, not a double cab, right?

 

Still waiting to hear back from insurance but I decided to pull the trigger on another white Toyota. I'll be building out a gx470 to replace the Taco. If only they put these v8s in 1st gens. I'm thinking the blue from some kings will go nicely with the blizzard pearl.

 

Great choice! Welcome to the dark side. Glad your wife is okay, that is all that matters at the end of the day!

 

Oh man, I'm so sorry about the truck, glad everyone is okay though.

 

Wrong.

The correct answer is: depends on your insurance company. You may get nothing; you may get full replacement value + tax.

As mentioned here before, I had a modded Jeep that burned to the ground, and American Family paid me full value on every single mod. All I had to provide was receipts.



EDIT: I had no special riders or additional coverages attached to my policy — Standard comprehensive coverage. Like I still carry on my ‘99 Prerunner.