Yesterday's commuting carnage, sad times for my 2009

It's a sad cold morning here. For the first time since 2009 when I brought her home my Tacoma isn't out in my driveway waiting for me. Like most places it's been damn cold here. I was on my evening commute home yesterday and it was -14 here. As I was crossing the bridge from Minnesota to Wisconsin I hit black ice on the bridge deck and went into a slide. Anyone who's been to Stillwater knows how narrow the bridge is, luckily there was nobody coming the other way, the truck and myself did our damndest to straighten out. I was able to avoid the north railings and get pointed east for a second but then the spin continued right into a bridge beam on the south side. This beam angles up so the front end lifted as the rear slid sideways before grabbing enough pavement to drop the truck on the driver's side where it slid to a stop.
I was disoriented and with all the air bags over the windows, it took a bit to determine which way was up, I cringed waiting to feel an impact of anyone who may slide into me, thankfully that didn't happen.
Like others on here have noted before, the truck did an amazing job of absorbing the impact and keeping me safe. I was able climb out the passenger door without a single scratch. Even this morning I don't feel soreness.
I'm willing to trade the truck I've babied for 4.5 years for my health but it's still a bummer that I had it minorly modded to suit my needs and fully intended to drive it for another 10 years. I expect it's totalled but should find out more in a day or two.
This site has been a great resource for all my questions. I'll be looking at the old threads to see how others have handled this situation. I welcome any tips for dealing with insurance as they evaluate it, such as do they normally include the value of the topper on the wrecked truck. I loved this truck and it did everything I expected of it and more. Now to figure out what comes next, a slightly newer Taco, a new one or, perish the thought, something else?
A couple looks at the carnage. You can plainly see where the beam took out the front end. A litttle harder to see are all the bumps as scrapes where it landed on the driver's side.
Glad my wife and little ones weren't with me, glad I didn't go through a railing onto the river etc. Generally gratefull today, but still bummed.

 

damn.

you winter drivers are amazing..i would have crashed in the driveway in -14..

sorry..

 

Glad your ok.

Your insurance should be easy to deal with, if not, get a new insurance company for the future. Most insurance companies, the last two I was with and the one I am with now, will cover add-ons and mods up to a certain amount with your standard coverage. My insurance company said they will cover $5k of extras before I need to upgrade my policy. If your have the receipts for any or all that you have on it, it will go that much smoother.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

looks like a fun bridge

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=stil...=i-vCERFWd4C7V26ypFd7kw&cbp=12,80.96,,0,19.22

best of luck with your repairs/replacement

my only advice, calculate what you believe your truck would have been worth had you sold it the day before you crashed it. it they total it, that should be the minimum you should accept (less deductable). if they offer less, fight it, if they offer more, accept it.

 

The main thing is that your truck kept you safe! Good luck.

Jay

 

Not good but like you said, it could have been worse. Glad you're ok, hope the insurance co. does well by you.

 

Oh boy Sorry about that, hope things work out for you.

 

Just a nose job by the looks of it. Rad support looks ok, yes?

 

I haven't got a good look in the daylight yet but the damage came from the bottom up and it all looks a little "bent".
I just got word that they're totalling it and I'm glad. The drivers side looks pretty straight in the photo but the door won't open and the C-pillar is pretty mangled along with the side of the box. It landed on the driver's side and slid a few feet.

 

Glad to hear your ok, and sad to hear they totaled your taco

 

That's the one! That close beam that goes up at 45 degrees is the kind I kissed just a little farther along, almost at the end of the bridge.
It is fun, in good weather.

 

TW comes through again! Thanks for the tips. I had the report sent to me and in 20 minutes of reading it found 3 features my truck had (missed by the appraiser) the comparables didn't. They ran the valuation over again and my settlement went up $748, well worth doing.

My valuation ended up at 24.9K, about as much as I'd hoped. The credit union will get their share and I'll have a decent pile to start shopping with. Currently I'm trying decide my approach to replacing my truck with the leading ideas being:

* Try to find a Tacoma Sport with as many of the features my 09 had but a couple years newer and half or so of the miles. This would result in a payment about half of what it had been. (one that I found fit the bill looks to be a Sport package but not an SR5, my truck was both, what would a 2012 Sport without SR5 be missing?)

OR

* See what price I can get on a '14 Sport on the last day of the month (haven't seen any '13 double cabs left on the lots). Only slightly smaller payments than I've had.

OR

* Find an SR5 or base model DC LB with fewer miles than my old one and go to very small or no payments. Save some money then sell the SR5 when the big redesign comes out in 2018. (if you've gone from TRD to SR5 or base which features did you miss the most?)

OR

* Buy a Tundra 5.7 that's a couple years old with all the goodies, use it for trips, use it to pull my skidsteer (approx. 4,000 lb + trailer), keep a commuter clunker on hand to avoid using the Tundra as a daily driver.

The Tundra should mean I don't need to put airbag helper springs on, the mileage goes down a bit and some features that would be nice to have.

My preference is for another Tacoma but there are arguements for the Tundra.

Here is a better look at some of the damage that resulted in the totalling of the truck. The driver's side rear door is jammed shut and you can see the pillar damamge:

 

See... I look at it the other way.

My body will heal, truck has to be replaced

 

Always good when no one is hurt.


Bad when your beloved truck is damaged.


Now you can actually buy the new truck at the dealer


instead of just looking

 

Searching for a replacement for my truck has been disheartening. Tacos a couple years old are hard to come and when I find them they cost what mine did 5 years ago. (I end up wishing I could have mine back but that's not possible)
I've broadened the search to consider low milage Tundras that are a year or two old, the prices sometimes match, occaisionally beat Tacomas of the same condition and vintage. The features of the Tundra not available on the Tacomas are sure enticing. Today I was crusing many lots hoping to strike gold.
This Tundra caught my eye and I stopped to check it out. Nice truck, low miles, the only concern is the 4.6 motor in this vs. the 5.7. The 4.6 doesn't seem to get a lot of love around these forums. It can't be that bad can it? I'd like to use the truck to pull about 6,000 lbs of skid steer and trailer a couple times a year. Would the only difference between this and a 5.7 truck be slower starts and slower up the hills? Is the transmission common between the two? suspension? brakes?

http://lutherhudson.lutherauto.com/...undra_4WD_Truck_Hudson_5TFDM5F17BX018881.aspx

Here's where things get wierd. As I was checking out the Tundra I noticed the Silverado sitting next to it. I haven't been a fan of Chevy styling in quite a few years especially the piecemeal bumpers they were using front and back. Maybe all the silver reminded me of my colormatched TRD Sport, but I thought this truck looked pretty good, for a Chevy. I know Chevy's come in for more abuse around here than 4.6 Tundras but I read the window sticker out of curiousity. It had a pretty nice comination of features (even some not found on the Tundra such as remote start) and dare I say the look of the dashboard interior looks better on these than the one on the 2011 Tundra (who came up with those big white knobs?). I had to read the mileage a couple times to realize the slightly over 5000 miles wasn't a typo, I nearly put that many on my Taco in one trip last summer. The silver paint wasn't the only reminder of my Taco when I saw that the Silverado has rear drum brakes.
So, am I losing it to be weighing out the pros and cons of this Silverado against the Tundra in the event that I make the jump back to full size trucks with this next purchase?

http://lutherhudson.lutherauto.com/..._Silverado_1500_Hudson_3GCPKSE77DG219453.aspx

In full disclosure, before getting the Tacoma my daily driver was a 2002 S10 that I enjoyed for 134,000 miles, admittedly a completely different animal but one that leaves me open to the idea that Chevys can get the job done even if they'll never be as fun as a Toyota.

 

No shit huh? Hate to start over again but......

I'd gladly pay for a replacement on this body.... Some shits been "totaled" but there's no replacements yet.

 

This chapter of a troubling oddessey should be coming to a close tomorrow with my next purchase.

I considered a Tundra and even a Silverado, but kept coming back to the Tacoma as the right sized truck for most of my tasks. I have an old F450 dump bed for the big jobs and heavy towing. It was also frustrating that the beds for these full size crew cabs were 5.5 feet long and not available in a 6 foot length.

After looking over a handful of low milage high priced 2012's I found two trucks to focus on. Last Monday I test drove both trucks and agonized over them for a while before deciding. Here are the two trucks:

First a used 2012 TRD sport long bed double cab, 11K miles, $29,998. Basically the identical truck to mine but 3 years newer, same color all the same toys plus those available on a 2012 such as NAV:
http://www.walserhonda.com/wholesal...neapolis-53865f7b0a0a00640db096147cbff0e3.htm

Second a new 2013 SR5 long bed double cab, $29,920. With the SR5 Extra Value Package most of the goodies I came to rely on with my Sport are included in the truck, backup camera, bluetooth and temp gauge:
http://rudyluthertoyota.com/Minneap...3-4WD-Double-Cab-LB-V6-AT-Red-Truck/21343068/

How do you guys think these two trucks measure up?

I'll be posting the results of my decision after I bring home my next Tacoma.

 

Sorry that you beloved truck is gone. At least the insurance appeared to be fair to you after the recalculation. You personal taste is really going to play into the dilemma of the two Tacomas. I am a sucker for a scooped hood from the day I had my first 67 Firebird 400, so I am terribly biased. The lifetime warranty is a plus, too.

On the other hand, I could not justify the thousands of miles missed by getting a used truck that was only $1500 difference from a new one. The Sport had all the items I wanted with limited slip, larger tires, and especially the Speedway Blue color! The electric locker in the rear did not appeal. I also prefer manual which unfortunately ruled out the long bed.

Hard for others to advise you when so much is personal preference! Good luck on your decision and glad to hear you decided to stick with Toyota.

 

I'd vote for the 12' Sport. It has everything you need including the Nav since you want a dclb.

 

I know a guy! That will buff right out!

Seriously, glad to hear you are OK without any big injuries.

Things can be replaced.....people can't. Good luck with repairs.