chefs kiss
Back to square one - LC totaled.
- Thread starter RandyDaytona
- Start date
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lots of people (who i respect) on this thread are speculating
i trust their word
I thought all ARB bumpers were indeed Australian "crash tested." Hell, the Aussies have to get additional shocks/springs/etc if their vehicle weight gets too great. Nanny on safety indeed, so I would imagine their testing is approximate to NHTSA stuff.
Were this from another country with questionable practices, I would be more inclined to say "don't bring it up" (Rival has entered the chat). With that said, I wouldn't go out of my way to specifically mention the bumper, but wouldn't deny if they brought it up. The adjuster will see the thing with its shiny red, black, and white label when they go to look at his rig for final tally on damages or to deem it a total loss.
Again, I want to be wrong about the insurance company and I'm rooting for the OP to get back all he can that bambi took from him.
Were this from another country with questionable practices, I would be more inclined to say "don't bring it up" (Rival has entered the chat). With that said, I wouldn't go out of my way to specifically mention the bumper, but wouldn't deny if they brought it up. The adjuster will see the thing with its shiny red, black, and white label when they go to look at his rig for final tally on damages or to deem it a total loss.
Again, I want to be wrong about the insurance company and I'm rooting for the OP to get back all he can that bambi took from him.
Last edited:
bloc
SILVER Star
Total speculation here, but it's possible the ARB is fine with a frontal collision that primarily impacts the bumper itself, but if a large deer mostly hit the upper loop portion, I could see it bending the whole assembly backward.. and doing so to the ends of the frame horns too.
But again, that's speculation.
No pictures?
But again, that's speculation.
No pictures?
Until you sign the title over to the Insurance Company it is YOUR vehicle and you can do with it as you wish. Also, they are not allowed to mandate which shop you use. So definitely research some local shops, talk to them, and get a second opinion of your choosing. I repeat, you do not have to use their shops, and they are directing you to those two shops because they will be cheaper for the insurance company, not because they're the best shops.
This. Great points and I completely forgot about this. Whenever I have had to (unfortunately) deal with this, my insurance has always just said "pick who you want." I clearly took that for granted.
IMO, all this talk about the insurance company denying cover because of the bumper really depends on when the OP added it. Before or after the coverage began? Assuming it was before, unless the OP signed some document that represents the truck has no mods, the insurance company had every right to come in and inspect the truck before agreeing with coverage - most do not bother with inspection and, in my book, can't simply deny coverage now after having agreed to provide it for the truck as it was in the beginning of the contract.
Lots? I count 2. The entire (original) point of the ARB bumper was to protect vehicles from animal strikes in Australia. Mark Whatley's experience here in Alaska has convinced him that they do. I trust his word.
Is it possible that no frame damage would have occurred with a stock bumper? I suppose so.
Frame repair is nothing new or unheard off. It was much more common in the past. It is a safe repair, and Toyota has parts for that purpose. In other part of the word such a damage will be considered just another body work and just fixed no problems. Here in the US because of the insurance companies, a frame damage results in totaling the vehicle. Again, it is not about safety but about insurance practices. Hell, they total cars for far less than frame damage. Vehicles are becoming appliances here.
It looks like you are not against fixing what you have. That makes sense if:
1. you are Ok with the title - looks like you are
2. you can find a good shop that will take on the work - in some areas it's almost impossible to find one, most want easy paint jobs for thousands of dollars
3. the financial math works in your favor - if you are not happy with the insurance offer using an appraisal company is good idea.
Good luck!
It looks like you are not against fixing what you have. That makes sense if:
1. you are Ok with the title - looks like you are
2. you can find a good shop that will take on the work - in some areas it's almost impossible to find one, most want easy paint jobs for thousands of dollars
3. the financial math works in your favor - if you are not happy with the insurance offer using an appraisal company is good idea.
Good luck!
Speculation on denial of coverage due to aftermarket parts is like speculating on denial for being over GVWR; everyone likes to talk about it yet no one can cite a real case.
ARB bumper isn't magic. Energy from the crash is going somewhere.
The stock bumper with factory impact bar is engineered to absorb (crumple) the crash's energy. So you hit an animal and it looks bad - but it's soft-er stuff, and maybe it's repairable.
You remove this factory engineered component and insert an extremely heavy aftermarket steel bumper, well, that crash energy is now going right into the frame rails. So the crash doesn't look as bad (Hey my bumper did its job!)... but now your frame is bent, and you are worse off than if you left it stock.
My guess is it's bent behind the frame horns.
2 > 1
Agreed. I wouldn't worry about the bumper for a simple totaling out claim.
Now for a higher dollar situation (injuries / fatalities) I would NOT want to have a vehicle equipped with a 200lb aftermarket steel bumper that insurance / lawyers can (will?) point to as potentially causing more damage due to an aftermarket modification. Think (god forbid) hitting a pedestrian at low speed....
tampacruiser95
Upgrades are coming.
This sucks, sounded like a thorough build too!
Would a crash involving a truck with a 200lbs bumper be worse than one pulling a 7,000lbs trailer? Because according to that logic, the bumper would be negligence and the trailer normal use. Not a lawyer, but I believe the standard is willful intent.
@RandyDaytona did the airbags deploy? I don't see this mentioned. If not, I'm wondering if a second opinion isn't due. To bend a 200 series frame from a frontal impact and not have airbags deploy seems suspicious.
Could just be that the frame horns are bent backwards and the shop isn't willing to do any type of frame repair. I'd definitely do a deeper dive to figure out what exactly they're seeing.
Could just be that the frame horns are bent backwards and the shop isn't willing to do any type of frame repair. I'd definitely do a deeper dive to figure out what exactly they're seeing.
A crash? Maybe not. But hitting a pedestrian with a vehicle with a 200 lb bumper that for one sticks out beyond stock dimensions... is it that hard to imagine a lawyer arguing the pedestrian ended up with worse injuries or death because of the aftermarket bumper modification done to the vehicle?
I'm not a lawyer either and not claiming anything. Just that were I to find myself in the unfortunate situation of accidentally running into a pedestrian with or without one of these aftermarket bumpers on my vehicle, I'd rather it be without
- Thread starter
- #38
You and me both!
The pedestrian will come after you regardless. The insurance company's duty is to indemnify you against the loss. They do this when you're speeding, when you're drunk, and when you're texting on your phone. It's what they do. It would be no different than putting a bike rack on the back of your truck and hitting a pedestrian. There was no wilful intent to cause harm.
That said, I do believe the insurance industry is in need of reform. You won't find a bumper clause in your policy. When I asked my agent the answer was some nonsense about actual coverage is determined with the specifics of each event. The state insurance regulators should require any exclusions be on a single one-page list written in 8th grade language.
That said, I do believe the insurance industry is in need of reform. You won't find a bumper clause in your policy. When I asked my agent the answer was some nonsense about actual coverage is determined with the specifics of each event. The state insurance regulators should require any exclusions be on a single one-page list written in 8th grade language.
- Thread starter
- #40
No pictures as of now. Truck is still in their shop and I didn’t take any because it was dark out. Hit the deer at 1:00 am, did the claim online waiting for the tow truck, which took it directly to the shop. I’ve had questions about the shop since then. The lady there handling my case claimed to be unable to find or source a replacement bumper. I sent her direct links to the bumper in both the ARB site and to Slee, who actually installed it. She was like “are you sure you got it from them?” Um…yes, I’m sure.
Keep in mind, I probably own the only Landcruiser in Duluth, MN. It’s a truck you don’t see much of anywhere else, but even less so up here. In the almost-five years I’ve owned it, the only time I’ve seen another is down in Minneapolis.
The body shop said they sent their estimate to USAA, but USAA doesn’t have it yet. I thought it strange that it took two weeks to get the estimate done to begin with. I asked them for a copy as well, it don’t have it yet.
I left a message with USAA regarding getting a second opinion at the other body shop. We’ll see where that goes.
