The Spicy Tacoma vs Mercedes, who was the victor? I need an Allstate guy!

Yeah it flatten the exhaust tip, bent the corner of the bumper that's about it! No frame damage at all! Had Toyota dealership checked it first. Ended up getting a complete new cat back exhaust to replace the flatten tip one I told and showed the owner of Superbumper my accident pics and he shipped me a brand new one free of charge

Worth every penny Also I take it off when I go wheeling

 

Voted for regular oem factory bumper. Everyone who gets into upgraded bumpers ends up needing to upgrade the suspension... I dislike slippery slope projects unless they are planned out from the beginning.

 

Depends on the bumper. Mine cut the weight in the rear by almost 50 lbs because it was aluminum and removed the very heavy OEM receiver hitch. Some of the steel bumpers with an integrated receiver hitch weigh almost the same as the factory bumper plus factory receiver hitch.

That said, I agree you really need to think these things through with a good plan from the beginning! Lots of folks end up buying two upgraded suspensions because they haven't planned how much weight they are going to have where. Better to cry just once!

 

+1 to see the bumper airbag work

- I had upgraded the stock leaf pack to the AP Expos to handle the constant weight load [dual battery, ARE shell, tools etc, and U-bolt flip and brake lines to go with it.
The Pro suspension is a bit bigger but all things considered....
I agree, not thought out projects are the demise of good trucks, I fortunately have had the fortune to train and travel with some great knowledgeable folks and the benefits outweigh the other options.

If only it were as simple as it seems.

 

You don't go wheeling, don't lie to these people.

Good luck OP. When I had damage to my old car I was able to get them to just pay me for the estimate from the body shop I went to. the car was fully paid off though. Getting aftermarket parts may make it a bit more complicated through insurance if you still have payments on the truck. @digitaLbraVo went through this a few months ago and got full glass. He had some issues with insurance but I'll let him tell you about it

 

Not with you guys but I wheel and I get paid to do it

 

So, this is all dependent on the state you're from. Out in California the insurance cannot force us to go to "their shop" they definitely make it easier as all you do is drop the vehicle off and everything is taken care of, no issues with supplemental claims, etc. Georgia may be different. Find out your area first.

That said: as @uhplifted indicated. I got side swiped pretty gnarly and made it out with full painted glass and a new windshield from it. The trick is: when you go to a new shop the insurance doesn't care "how" the part is replaced, just that it's put back together. Lucky you a color match-painted rear OEM (ask for original parts of course) bumper is VERY likely about what a brand new plate bumper will run.

Get the estimates from insurance, talk to shops in your area. Learn the laws and your rights. Make decision from there.