Convince Son Not To Lift 2023 Tacoma Off Road

I will try to post some pics, having issues now downloading. The truck was hit on the passenger side by a low end 2018 Lexus (RX I think) so that bent in the two doors and also bent the cab part under the doors and the cab near the bed and the bed, and took a chunk of metal out of the tire rim. That collision pushed the rear end sideways which caused the truck to skid sideways and then to flip onto the drivers side. Drivers window breaks and two doors smash in the bed scrapes as well as front fender and the top of the cab where in meets the doors. Basically every panel except the hood and the tailgate is bent. Main problem seems to be the cab damage. The cab has major dents. I guess one could pound things out and body fill, I would not want a car fixed that way as the entire truck would be covered in body filler. The most impact was on the cab below the doors on the passenger side where the car hit. That area is actually very strong as it is sheet metal rolled and bent, this took the energy of collision and stopped the car from hitting frame. Since the truck was pushed sideways (skid marks on the road) this also lessoned the impact.

 

Also, depending on height of the lift, the car that hit the truck could have hit the frame and bent it, instead the body took and absorbed the impact, as it should. Also, the car that hit the truck was low to the ground. A very lifted truck could have decapitated the other drunk driver. As it is, the truck frame, engine, and trans seem fine. And the drunk may drive another day- maybe not such a good thing

 

Attached are the pics. About impossible to find a similar replacement. The cost of similar used is $5k more than we paid. Talked to one body shop that says they can fix it, paid for by insurance, Says they have the equipment to bend out panels and not to have to add too much body filler.

 

If I were in your shoes, I would pull a number of comps/appraisals and argue back against the adjuster. You are under no obligation to accept their appraisal. I just went through four separate claims between May and August. I had to argue all four.

If the airbags blew, let it go. It did a great job on the first impact. There are no guarantees on the second.

 

Doesn’t matter how much you paid; the value owed is the current market rate, and you can use comps of current selling vehicles to prove your point

 

Man!

OP, I'm glad your son walked away unharmed.

When I first saw this post pop up, I went looking for the 6" lift video that I thought was cool.

As has been said, not sure how things would turn out if the truck was lifted.

Since I went looking for the video, here it is...just for educational purposes. lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6prhsZHeZT4&t=1s

 

It's a Hawaiian thaang...rubber bands in the sand at sunset ...

 

What a waste of a fine truck.

 

It's a different style for sure and I may never biuld one but I give mad props and respect ...cuisin in the sand at sunset with all your friends ...fossin .. F..K...YA!!! 6

 

Thankfully your son is alright. You don't want the truck back. Hash out a price with the insurance and take the money and run.

 

Haha!

Ill stick with my 2 incher and pizza cuterzz

 

It is great to hear your son's health is good!!
Another major factor: how much does the insurance want IF it is deemed a total loss? The parts are with a shit ton, so at times that number is shocking. Gone are the days we can buy back our totaled vehicles for a song.

 

You mean, cookie cutters! lol

2 inches..?

Come on, Bro! lol

 

Some more pics accident and damage. Note in accident pic the car did a 180 after being hit, a 180 and landing on its side. The real danger with the truck position is that after laying on side, the roof is exposed to collison of any on coming car. This intersection has blind curves when entering with a speed limit of 45 mph and most exceeding that. Lucky no one drove into the roof as the truck lights would not have been in view of any on coming car. Must have been quite a jolt for son. Talked to a few other body shops. Only one is willing to work on it and that shop work ethic may be questionable. Started to think about it, even if the side air bags were fixed, all of the impact door sensors are probably damaged or out of alignment. Should add the Tacoma took a lot of inpact on the rear axel during collision, limited damage but caused the truck to spin, do the 180 and turn over.

 

Man… that stinks. Glad your son is OK. Easier to fix of replace the truck than deal with injuries.

in addition to the body work, I would be worried about how long the engine ran on its side. I would expect oil starvation damage if it ran for more than a couple of seconds. It might run OK, but that doesn’t mean there’s no damage.

 

Could be right. I asked son what happened after accident, he said he tried to turn off engine, he was not sure if it went off with the stress of the accident. He said he was wondering when the truck would stop spinning then worried about turning into a crispy critter from fire. I read where in an accident the fuel pump is shut off, but the engine would still spin for a time.

 

I should add after the accident my son called me, on a phone that someone let him use as his was temporarily lost in the mess. I was freaking out as when I answered he was crying and I thought he was hurt, and wondered why he was calling from an unknown number. He was crying because his truck was wrecked. I told him don't worry about the truck, as long as no one got hurt (the drunk was fine also). At that point I knew he had reached the "Pinnacle of Manhood". Real men cry when there Tacoma's get damaged....

 

What a rollercoaster of emotion!

From what you describe, he felt bad for what happened...it's the initial instinct...disappointment in oneself before considering his well-being.

I was hit on the driver side wheel by a lady riding the suicide lane not paying attention...I was at a standstill and basically watched her hit my SUV.

I couldn't believe how calm I was...probably because I couldn't believe I had time to think to myself, "She's gonna hit me."

After impact, I was close enough to the other driver's window that I asked her if she was OK.

Nevermind that I was having my left knee manipulated the next day and I walked away without injury. (I had bilateral knee replacement in 2018)

Your son definitely grew up really quick in this moment; you must have been a wreck too until you saw your son.

The truck is definitely not a priority when compared to your son's well-being--glad the other driver wasn't injured; they'll have their day in court.

Thank you for posting this personal story in your life and that no one was seriously injured.

 

Your son has been through something traumatic, but he survived and apparently with his wits intact. Emotional response to life-threatening event is normal. Normally you need to be a soldier overseas. Ensure he knows you support his use of psychological care ... at least 1 session may help deal with what he has "already dealt with".

I predict he will be the calm voice in the room in the next few years when some 23-year-old pretends to be better than he can be in a storm. My humble opinion, at least.

 

I did notice he seems to have grown up since the wreck, small things do not matter so much. Your "soldier overseas" is on the mark. First person on the scene was an Army woman who had been following the drunk and saw the accident, and climb on the truck to hold the door open while my son crawled out. In the middle of the night and in a fairly remote area. Many people today would drive on by. The woman stayed to give police report but had left by the time I arrived. She also wrote on police report she would go to court if needed.