Hood flew up - bent hood, shattered windshield, dented roof - repairable?

Hi all!
Long time lurker first time poster.
2006 SR5 Pre with 181k
Driving highway speeds, hood latch released, hood flew up, shattered the windshield, and bent itself over the roof, denting the roof. Filed a claim through insurance, everything was going smoothly... Until I got a call today that they want to total it.

Insurance appraiser originally estimated about $4k for the total damage and noted the roof as "repair".

Apparently after being looked at by the shop, their estimate is about $8k in damage. Citing the roof damage was worse than what the appraiser noted. I asked if the roof repair was necessary (I really just want to get it back on the road) but was told they would have to replace the roof in order to get the windshield in and that is the cause for the difference in estimates.

Unfortunately I don't have the exact amounts of what a salvage / buyout would be, guessing between $4-$8k

So: is the shop correct? The roof damage seems very cosmetic and is almost impossible to see from the inside. Does it need to be repaired for the windshield to be replaced? Is this something a DIYer could do? I'm fairly mechanically inclined and feel like I could tackle the hood, if I could get the windshield done on my own dime.

I know it's an old truck but I've put a lot of time into it over the years and the truck market is bananas right now, so I'd love to keep it if at all possible.

Very appreciative of any insight, thanks!

 

Take it to a shop that that does windshield installations.
They will know. If they say a windshield can be put in as-is, I’d get a big suction cup style dent puller and yank the dents in the roof out the best I could and call it good.

Obviously I’m not a body guy.
And I don’t install windshields.
So my advice isn’t worth much.

BTW, I’ve been in a vehicle when the hood flys up.
It’s certainly a “Holy $hit” moment. Stopping in your lane and not running off the road requires lots of luck.

 

Yup. Take it to a windshield install place let them say ya or nay
If your close, got a silver mica hood No-Scoop 150.00 with the weather tech rock guard like yours

 

Welcome to the forum sorry this has to be your first post.

There isn't any structural damage and the air bags didn't go off - the insurance just doesn't want to spend much to fix a 17 year old truck.

Find a good glass shop - ask around who body shops use. Get a hood from a junkyard, etc.
You might be able to pop most of the roof damage out if you will be satisfied with a "good enough" repair.

 

Keep in mind there’s a liner between you and the roof, so unless it’s dramatic, you’re unlikely see damage from the inside.

The damage to the windshield was probably caused by the stress put on the windshield by the hood at the roofline (you can see that’s where the hood bent).

I would tend to agree with the shop saying the roof needs work to get a new windshield in. But I also concur with the previous posters who suggest a second opinion from more familiar with installing windshields in.

 

Again, I’m not a glass guy.
But had 2 windshields put in my truck.
It’s just glued in, that is it.

The issue might be, a strong bond and weather tight.
A lot of it will probably come down to the shop. Some guys play it safe, others take cash and let you take liability.

 

I'm betting a windshield can be put in. But I'm also betting that there will be enough stress on the glass from the damaged roof that it will crack easily. Just a guess, but I think you will be replacing windshields regularly if the roof isn't fixed. Hard to say for sure just by looking at pics.

 

I'm in western NY, and I'll probably be in the market for one haha

 

Most everything is repairable - it's a matter of how much. In the case of a "total," the insurance company is calculating the cost of the repair is more than what they would pay you off with, not that it's not repairable.

You can take it to a reputable shop get an estimate saying how much if you pay out of pocket. Ask your insurance company if you can purchase the totaled vehicle from them (after they pay you) and for how much.

Calculate the net you would end up paying out of pocket (insurance payment value - cost to buy back total - out of pocket repair price = what you end up paying (in negative number)). Weigh that against the cost of another vehicle - insurance payment (plus time looking/finding something else).

Note that some insurance companies don't allow buybacks after a vehicle is totaled, and some might even tell you the buyback price is the price they would pay you for the total. If they tell you the latter, push back with the fact that their pay off price is the bluebook/replacement/whatever price and not the "scrap" price they would actually receive otherwise.

 

Curious, how did the main hood latch AND the secondary, safety latch both fail at the same time?

 

Yeah, I'd be figuring out how both failed before trying to repair. Also, being a northeast truck that's coming up on 20 years old, what's the frame look like?

 

Unsure on the cause. I think the latch had failed to close all the way. The appraiser said it was stuck open when he did his walk-around. I had never encountered it before on the truck.

As for the frame, it was completely replaced in 2016 when I bought the truck. Still has stickers on it haha

 

Something to keep in mind (as a guy that bought the wreck back) when you're shaking the numbers out is "can I get a truck that good for $X".

I say this because let's say (making up numbers to make the point) you come up with 5 grand after you take the payout and buy the wreck, but it will cost 8 grand to get good repairs.

A lot of guys would walk away and take the full payout, and use that as a down on another truck.

But for 3 grand out of pocket (with the above numbers) and no payments, could you possibly hope to get a comparable truck?

Even if you find a used truck cash for the full payout value, do you know how well it was maintained or what it's gonna end up needing soon?

Tacomas definitely have their flaws but especially with a new frame, they are great candidates to keep until you can't keep them on the road anymore, if you don't mind (or even like) driving around an old truck.

Plus, the psychic freedom of driving around a salvage title is incredible.

 

Get a hood from a junkyard, even if it’s a different color. Replace the windshield. See if you can do PDR for the roof.

if they cover the windshield, you’re looking at may be 1200 bucks out of pocket to fix everything.

 

like others have said, ask a glass guy about the roof, grab a plunger and pop the dents you can or even drop the head liner and pop from the bottom... or if you really don't care. Prinsu style roof rack and drive t until the wheels fall off.

 

Totaled for some dents and a cracked windshield is beyond senseless.

 

they are saying 8k to make it perfect. just pull the dents on the roof, replace the hood, and get a good glass guy to make the windshield work.

 

not senseless, if the frame around the windshield is bent, and the average truck in the area has a frame like Swiss cheese would likely be cheaper for the insurance company to write a check then, repair the vehicle.

 

holy shit
this makes me want to add extra hood pin style latches as I’ve seen done here before. Maybe this is why people put them.

I’ve heard the latch mechanism can develop looseness/play and cause this.

well dude. It’s a prerunner. Belongs in a dumpster anyway.
You can take the cash and buy it back and fix it as much as you like.
Or take the money and get a 4x4

Insurance companies are weird. They’re for profit and make a lot of money.
I’ve seen them do stupid things like blow $20k on a minor repair that likely actually costs less than that

but when it comes to a nice vehicle worth $10k you paid $7k for, if it’s totaled they lowball you at $4k and pull up their KBB/NADA “comparable vehicle” as the absolute shittiest version of yours

example. Unicorn. B6 a4 04-05 avant with 1.8t, cold weather package type stuff, Quattro, 6 speed manual

they’ll find some POS CVT-equipped sedan rusty being sold for less then point like “look, see! It’s the same car!” (Not at all…)

I imagine windshields have a big tolerance for mounting surface given the huge glob of adhesive they put.

not often do you get an opportunity to switch or try a new vehicle. This is it.
Or if you take the payout and pay yourself for repairs, or DIY, that might be affordable.
In the future I want to get into welding. It’s useful for trucks.
So if you are already, that’s another option; cutting the roof off a junkyard truck and welding it on.

if you want a TRD scoop hood this is an opportunity. Not that they are worth it. The scoop is non functional and reduces visibility off road in a truck that already has less visibility stock than a Jeep

 

i also have the infamous "hood shake" going on, and this post has me considering hood pins like my old spec miata had lol