Ladies and gents, let's hear your guesses!

And $8850 was the highest of the appx. 65 bids. Just can't imagine that much......

 

This. But only if you know how and where to source the parts/have the mechanical aptitude to determine if something needs replacing/have a friend to help you put it back together.
Otherwise, if you're a normie like most drivers, may as well get another Taco

 

Remember, the insurance company sometimes makes more money by totaling it because the carcass is worth so much as parts.

 

Starts and steers. No leaks, no lights. Looking for a place that will tow it and hold it while I accumulate parts.

 

$500.00 just for the tow.

 

I didn't run through all of the posts but in case it wasn't mentioned, I was recently told to never accept the insurance companies first offer.
If you say one that was closest match to yours sold quickly and for a substantial amount more money, it might not hurt to put that out there.
I found this out a short time ago when a DWI guy third offense crossed the highway median and totaled my kids car.

 

that sucks.

your snow tires are bald... shoulda never drove on it bro

 

I appreciate the input from everyone here. I'm likely gonna take the money, buy the corpse back, and rebuild/salvage.

I had a pretty good look at it, did a bunch of pricing, and spent most of the day finding a shop that was willing to take it in to do the small amount of work I'm not set up to do myself.

The frame mounts aren't bent, the control arms look fine, steering had full range of motion, and I didn't see or feel anything binding or clunking when I jumped on it across a few different steering positions.

Even assuming worst case scenario of replacing EVERYTHING in the wheel well AND the steering rack, I still come out far ahead, and I'm never selling the truck anyway, so the salvage title doesn't hurt my butt.

 

Maybe you could find a trade or vocational school where students in training can fix it for you.

 

Insurance is settling for more than I paid for the truck 9 years and 100k miles ago, and letting someone else do the body work (which is rad support, fender, pax door replacement, driver door repair) is going to cost less than I imagined it would. Paperwork is gonna take a few weeks due to backlog at the DMV, but I can't complain too much.

ARB bumper and OEM headlight on the way to the shop as we speak, and waiting for 6112s to come in stock somewhere. Been driving on 3rd gen TRD OR takeoffs because I was being a good boy and not blowing unnecessary money on the truck... but now the truck is paying for itself just in time to get gnarly this spring.

 

Wow looks almost like my truck. All I had was the inner-outer tie rod end and lower control arm bent. The bumper needed replacing and that's it. Going outside my insurance all I'm paying is 500 bucks and maybe a couple hundred in labor to repair. Kinda crazy the cost is that high.

 

It's aliiiiive!

Not pictured, new Blizzak pizza cutters.

... And even after the ARB, skins, body panels, outsourcing the bodywork (too DAMN cold here to do it myself and no heated workspace big enough), I'm at about 1/4 the insurance payout.

Next up, finding some 6112s and a couple lighting changes.

 

Bravo sir! You did the right move! Looks good as new and better even. Bring on the trees.

 

Did they hit you with a salvage title or you just repair it yourself and get it done?

 

Salvage title for full payout. Doesn't bother me, I'm never selling it.

 

This is an excellent thread on how to get the best bang for buck outta your insurance. You have to do your own research and inspections to compare to insurance. NEVER take the presented option, ALWAYS take a more detailed look and ARGUE for better. This guy has made money on his accident and has a dope rig that isn't as stressful to wheel hard.

 

Congrats Caveman, looks like you did good.

 

As I accept this award, I just want to say I love you to my mom, and I couldn't have done it without the haters.

 

That was quick! Looks brand new again. Glad you were able to get it back and the road and get back to normal. The new tires look good as well