Resurrecting a Total Loss (2005 Tacoma), Possible? Worth it? Experience Needed.

edit: thanks for the advice from people helping! I'm not talking about what happened though. The first week home I had to have a friend help me get cleaned up and get dressed because of how injured I was. I couldn't even sit up in bed. Here I am 3 weeks later and I'm still waiting with a broken vertebrae for the concussion symptoms to fully fade and the medical bills to arrive. Youtube is for entertainment, but what happened to me is not.

 

I was also in a wreck (just happened today) but I am dreading a $6,000 dollar plus repair bill. Luckily I was not hurt as you were but my honest advice is only fixed it if you are attached to it. I’m 17 and have only had mine since July but I’ve been on so many adventures with it I just can’t let it go. In the long run money doesn’t define us, happiness and life experiences do, other people may not have any attachment to their vehicles and that’s ok but nearly everyone on this website has put in work and has some form of attachment to their rig. If you can do it without going into debt and it will make you happy in the long run I would say do it.

 

I’ve straightened some things that were bent like that using the chain and tree method, plus a come along and chain fall cross, etc. The hardest thing is to get the frame rails back to straight for the suspension and steering to be right. With a few anchor points, some chains, strings and a laser level you can do amazing things to the frame. It’ll be close enough for the bodywork to be fine. Having said this, look at the cab closely to see if it deformed in the door openings, window frame, and mount locations. Dealing with a frame and a warped cab isn’t worth it in my opinion, because you’re likely going to then need to source another cab or suffer leaks and fit issues.

Registration isn’t an issue where I am, you just get a salvage title and move on. Insurance is similar, liability only, so it depends on what you want.

In the end it depends on your goal for the restoration. It won’t be what it was, but if you’re into making some mods and ok with it being a new kind of truck to you these events can offer some opportunities to be creative in a way that you’d never try on a non salvaged vehicle.

 

Holy shit man. That REALLY sucks, at least you will be ok physically. Take the insurance money, fight with the adjuster to get as much as you can and find a new truck to build. That truck took a serious tumble, who knows what else is broken you haven’t found yet. Hope you recover well my man

 

Glad you’re OK.

I’d take the money and buy a new/different truck. I don’t think that truck will ever be the same again. And if restored, market value will always be less than a truck with clean accident history. Doesn’t make sense from a financial perspective IMHO.

 

Oh dang you're the guy that Rory recovered?? I watched that video the other day and was thinking "This truck has way too many mods to NOT be on tacomaworld."

Glad to hear you made it out of there in one piece, I was wincing at the thought of experiencing that wreck. What exactly happened there anyways?

Unless you've got boatloads of freetime (read: all of your time), the truck sounds like a loss. From what you're describing, I fear that frame and cab is tweaked. The amount of metal that has to be moved in such a particular way to be functional... Sounds like a tough job even for an expert with the right equipment. The prudent move is probably strip whatever components are salvageable and buy a new truck.

 

Damn!! I’ll bet that was a pricey recovery

 

How are the parts? Can the wreck be used as a donater truck.

 

from the insurance side….

some companies won’t insure a branded title.

some companies will insure but not allow you to add physical damage coverage, and you’ll pay a higher premium due to the branded title.

some companies will insure with physical damage, and you’ll pay a higher premium due to the branded title.

 

With those hits, rear lower control arm mount was pushed back and in, bending the frame. As a p4x4 guy myself, I have straightened a few toyota frames at that spot with a winch and a torch. Then weld a fawk ton of plating and bracing in that area. Coilover bucket and motor mount might also be fawked. The real answer is cut the frame off at the cab, 4x2 tube it out, 3 link it and 1 tons. Might as well LS swap it too, lol.

 

I just checked and you’re completely right. The crossmember by the rear mount is buckled a little by the driveshaft. I’m guessing this means the main frame rail is pushed in too? How hard is it to get it back to where it needs to be? Are there any spec sheets I can reference for dimensions?

 

yes body shops have dims on the frame. Might also be in TIS, but I havent ever checked. Call your local frame shop and see how much they charge to straighten the frame. Sometimes they can actually be cheapish. It only takes them a hour or 2 to get it good enough to go. Honestly I have built and rebuilt a ton of what other people would consider worthless, and I wouldnt touch this project unless it was free and I was bored. And even then I would just get a used frame and swap it all over. Have you checked for cracks in the block around the motor mounts? Also any sign of driveshaft getting slammed into the tcase? That hit could have easily flexed the frame enough, they spring back a bit after the hit.

 

@billygoat I am just wishing you a good recovery, DONT push it..rehab takes a long while, and just be good to yourself when you CANT do the stuff you used to be able to do...as far as another truck, that will happen when it happens. Take care of yourself first!

 

I'm having a hard time inspecting the block due to my injuries and not being able to take it apart. Is this something that would be obvious? Do you think it's likely? I actually have a spare engine that needs a rebuild, but that's another 2k easy and a few months to rebuild it after I heal.

As far as the frame flexing goes, the top of the camper shell hit the top of the cab and dented it pretty bad...I didn't see marks on the t-case, but again I'm not able to inspect it very thoroughly.

My insurance is being very difficult and I need to decide tomorrow according to them, or invoke an appraisal clause which could backfire. They aren't willing to find a vehicle with the TRD Offroad package to compart it to, so I'm looking at 8k to keep it and 12.5k if they take it. If it was a stock truck the decision would be easy, just let them take it. I'll need to pull about 2k in audio out of it tomorrow if they take it and I'll lose my winch, coilovers, RR shocks, twin sticks, tire carrier, roof rack, shell, etc. I can't replace this thing for 12.5k. I don't know what to do man. You still think it's not worth fixing with all of that? I'm not 100% opposed to SASing it, but it still needs to be a comfy freeway vehicle that can tow...anything bigger than a D44 or 5" lift/35's sound extreme for that.

 

man I wish I lived closer to help...and no, you wouldnt be able to replace it for the amount they want to give you for it either...no way you can get anyone to help you look at it closely and see if you can see frame or crossmemeber damage?? Effing tough spot man....sorry

 

The frame and crossmember are definitely damaged. The crossmember by the rear lower control arm mounts is pushed in on both sides and the front 6" of the frame is mangled. I can replace the front 6", probably have a shop fix the crossmember...I just don't know what else is fubared or how much it will cost when all is said and done. I have a friend that might be able to help, but the timeframe makes it tough since he works so much.

 

Glad you're alright man, thats wild. Unfortunately I think parting out the truck might be your best option

 

You think it’s worth paying insurance 4.5k for me to keep so I can part it out? They’re charging me for my own mods to keep it (what co-part will pay them) but aren’t covering them in the payout.

 

the fact they’re not really honoring actual cash value is concerning. when it’s all said and done you can always file a complaint with your state’s dept of insurance.

 

If I was in your boat I think thats what I would do but its hard to say because i've never been in a situation like that. Sorry man good luck to you with however you decide to proceed