A Hard Goodbye

The other day I was at the auto parts store buying fog lights. I parked on a hill with the truck idling and the parking brake on, no problems. Drove to my girlfriend's house and parked the truck at the top of her steep driveway. I left the truck in 2nd gear with the parking brake on (verified by her brother) and went in to say hello. Two minutes later, her mother drove up the driveway and my truck was still at the top of the hill.

3 mins later, I was on my way outside to wash the truck, and heard the dogs barking. We looked outside and the truck had rolled down the hill, jumped a small creek, and crashed into the elevated road bank. The truck hit at a 45 degree angle and appeared to twist the truck badly. The impact did not deploy airbags (maybe because no one was in the truck?) but dropped the tailgate and literally blew out the driver's side rear tail light. From the hill's grade, we estimated that the truck was probably doing 35-45mph. At the bottom of the hill, the e-brake was still on but the transmission had popped out of gear.

The truck never appeared to have skidded on her gravel driveway. My thoughts are that since I left it in 2nd gear, the engine gradually lost compression and the truck inched forward a little at a time until it hit the wet grass and took off. The field that it went through when it left the driveway is bumpy, so I would assume that the truck popped out of 2nd at some point here. As far as the brake goes, I used it regularly and had faith in it; with that said it's possible I simply did not pull it out as far as required.

With an insurance estimate of $8306.58 just on the surface, and the possibility to go up another $5-$6k if the frame is bent (which is most likely), my insurance decided to total the truck. I planned to buy the truck back, but they want $4200!! I can't afford the cost of the truck + the potential repairs, so unfortunately I am thinking I must let it go. Am I foolish to let this go? My gut says to let it go but I got a very good deal on this truck and I'm afraid I won't find one of equivalent value. For reference, I paid $11,000 for this truck (2006 TRD 6MT)with 80,000 miles and insurance will give me $13,600 (with 94,000 miles). I am a college junior, so I am financially restricted until I can get a real job. Before I pass on what was my dream truck, what are your thoughts? Thank you TW.

 

Oh my...glad no injuries

 

Take the money, buy another vehicle.

 

Welcome to TW

 

$4200 is too much. Walk away

 

How many miles on the truck now, is it 4x4?

 

Im sorry for your loss of the truck, glad there was no animals people or buildings it ran into though. I managed to let go of a 4 place old flatbed sled trailer at the top of my driveway, my two year old garage took that one. Insurance is a curse to pay for a blessing when claim time comes. I wish you good luck in finding a replacement, keep us updated!

 

I'd take the money and move on and be thankful that noone was injured...

Just curious: why would you leave the truck parked on 2nd gear and not 1st?

 

Damn. Glad no one was injured. I'd probably take the money and find another 2nd Gen.

 

Can you negotiate on $4200 with insurance? Probably not. But doesn’t hurt to ask.
It might be worth paying for the truck if you can drive it as is for two years until you’re done with school and hang onto that money to buy something you really really want.
Glad no one was hurt.

 

Good thing no one was hurt; question is why wasn't it put into 1st or Reverse?

 

Truck is 4x4 with 94,350 miles.

I parked it in second gear because while vacuuming the interior this summer, I knocked it out of 1st gear and it scared me how easy it was to knock out of gear. Since then, I've been parking it in 2nd because it seems that's harder to knock out of gear accidentally. I tested that the truck wouldn't roll in second on a steep hill, BUT didn't test this with time. Lesson learned, Park your truck in reverse or first!

I tried negotiating with insurance, they won't budge so I don't think I can justify buying it back. Will definitely be replacing with a 2nd Gen.

 

Make a solid down payment on a 3rd gen, but just make sure its an auto this time lol

 

Another good reason for an automatic trans. Buy another Tacoma.

 

You might just buy it back and then have the head gasket go. Take your money and count your blessings.

 

If your gut says let it go, let it go.
Things tend to get messy when your gut says it is time and you ignore it

 

That truck doesn't look to bad to me , even if the frame is tweaked it's not much and frame shops straighten them every day .

 

You drove the truck 14000 miles and have a chance to make $2600 profit. I don't know what you are studying at college but it must not be finances. Take the money and run.

 

You are right, economics is next semester

Just a shame to lose such a good truck

 

It really doesn't look that bad.

Did you try moving it all after the accident or just have it towed off?

I probably would have put the spare on it, made sure nothing rubbed, eyeballed things to see if the wheels were all pointing in the correct direction and took it for a spin. If no weird tracking, vibrations etc, would have started pricing out replacement parts.

If there is no bad frame damage it is a great starting point as a project truck. But that depends on your time, access to tools/shop space and mechanical ability.

Also just noticed what state you live in. Factoring 13 years of road salt into your decision and it might be best to move on to something different.