The end of an era…. 🙁

[Swirvinnirvinn]

Possibly one of the worst weeks of my life, but also extremely thankful to be alive and not have hurt anyone after this freak of an accident.

Was doing a late night drive to move some final stuff to my apartment and was driving on the far right lane of the freeway, about two exits out from my place. Saw an 18 wheeler coming up and I decided to switch lanes, but as I put in the directional light, turning the wheel to move over to the middle lane and look over the side view mirror, I’m not sure what I hit, or rolled over, but it jerked my Cruiser wheel just enough to start slightly tilting, enough to make me panic since I’ve seen YouTube videos of 4Runners just losing it at higher speeds. I ended up over correcting, and started to lose control, enough to send me further into panic mode and slam the brakes……. Game over.

I drifted back into the right lane, where I saw what could’ve been my death had I been in a car, or worse, the hurt or death of someone else because of the speed and weight of my Cruiser. I slammed into the back half of the 18 wheeler’s trailer, which blew up his hydraulic fluid tank(?) and resulted in fluid spraying all over my windshield and front windows, restricting my vision, and also ricocheting me to hit him again with the rear passenger corner. The 18 wheeler pulled over and I did as well, but I was immediately shaken up with the quickness of what had just happened. I never believed in “your life flashing before your eyes,” but that really did it to me. The driver asked me what happened, and I couldn’t really put into words what I thought happened before cops pulled up and asked me the same thing. I’ve never felt so useless and distraught, but thankful at the fact that my poor Cruiser took such a huge impact, and protected me the way that it did.

All the trials and tribulations that I ever had with it, and the excitement of learning something new when tackling a project, or just getting pissed off about life and going for a drive with my goofy audio system that had new speakers, but the original subwoofer which meant almost no bass lol. Even just reading the goings on of other owners here on the forum and being inspired by everyone’s work was a great time for me, and a great reference for all the plans that I could craft and plot. All of it was flooding my mind and having me chain smoke cigarettes before a cop said, “alright, you can go home.”

After it all, she still took me home for the night, while the 18 wheeler had to stay and wait, AND it even took me for one last ride to work before gushing out all its coolant. I was tired from moving stuff the night before and decided to file a claim the morning after, but something about seeing it with a clearer mind, and having to take photos of it for the claim, really did a number on me. I’ve never had a connection like that with something materialistic, but man does it hurt to see the vehicle that practically saved me just sitting there, asking to be fixed…..

Insurance called me a few days later to pick it up with a tow truck, and the claims operator I spoke with said it’s more than likely a total….. That really sucked to hear. I asked about value, but she said it’ll be up to total loss’ discretion.

I’ve been told by both coworkers and customers that have asked about my Cruiser to buy it back and repair it since they all know how much I love it (I spoke highly of it any chance I got, and bombarded everyone with all the knowledge I knew about Land Cruisers in general, as well as geeked out with anyone who knew about them and other vehicles), but I can’t see that happening with me living in an apartment and not really having a place to work on it anymore.

It sucks even more because I know that insurance will try to low ball via the KBB value, and the chance of hopping back into an 80 will be slim as hell, but I’m hoping to fight to fight the good fight with comps lists, the current market and how much people want for their 80 series, but I won’t lie that I am a bit discouraged about the possible outcome.

It sucks the hardest knowing that I will have lost a 97, triple locked, 40th anniversary Cruiser that took me everywhere and back every single day, and had plenty of life left to give at 241k miles, but I’m 100% happy knowing that she gave her life to let me go home and to work one more time, completely unscathed and alive another day.

Thank you to Toyota and ARB who truly saved my life and I hope to be back to this forum sooner than later with either the same Cruiser, or another one if need be (really hope it’s the first one)!

 

[jonheld]

Is it me, or does that just look like cosmetic damage?

 

[Comet]

Glad you are OK.

My immediate thought was the same. @Swirvinnirvinn now that you have had some time, is the frame bent? If not, at @jonheld suggests, it may not be as bad as you believe. The entire insurance dance you are about to embark on does not fill me with warm fuzzies. Insurance is not going to make you whole unless you had a stated policy. Don’t let them take it! Keep us updated.

 

[Francis K]

Happy you're safe and well brother, the shock will wear off and the rest will sort itself out and be okay.....give it time.

 

[mrsleeve]

Fight fight fight, document document document. Pull examples of recent sales and completed listing on ALL the popular sales venues to establish a base line value. It’s not going to be a fun, easy or short process but others have gotten much closer to the real value than what Kbb comes up with.

As others have said lots of that looks like just bodywork and nothing to serious structurally. Might be worth it to you to buy it back from them with a decent total check to fix it. Do that if possible!!!!!

 

[Swirvinnirvinn]

Is it me, or does that just look like cosmetic damage?

I really hope that’s the case brother! It didn’t look like it had frame damage and felt like it drove straight. I really wish I would’ve taken photos of the frame to show because now it sounds like it might’ve been handy.

 

[Swirvinnirvinn]

Glad you are OK.

My immediate thought was the same. @Swirvinnirvinn now that you have had some time, is the frame bent? If not, at @jonheld suggests, it may not be as bad as you believe. The entire insurance dance you are about to embark on does not fill me with warm fuzzies. Insurance is not going to make you whole unless you had a stated policy. Don’t let them take it! Keep us updated.

Same here, and thank you!

It didn’t look like it was bent, and drove straight both home and to work, but the horns at the front were the only part where I couldn’t really tell if one was slightly bent out because of the ARB.

My insurance (State Farm) says they don’t do stated policy, which bummed me out, but I decided to bite the bullet and do full coverage while keeping all receipts of anything I did and I’ve been screenshotting all sold vehicles on here and bring a trailer, as well as what’s on the market on all platforms. Not sure if it’ll make a difference, but I’m determined to get her back, or at the very least, something close.

I looked at the 100 series cruisers for a bit also, but something about switching to IFS and timing belts just doesn’t feel the same. haha

 

[Kernal]

Will likely be totaled by the insurance company, keep the vehicle and repair it. A few people have turned damage that type of damaged vehicle into pick-up trucks.

If the Insurance company totals it at a minimum buy it back, rebuild it or use it for parts (after buying another 80), or part it out yourself, do not let it go to a salvage yard to rot.

You'll need to fight the insurance company over the value, do not accept their first offer, or second. Start collecting comparable values off Bring a Trailer and FleeBay.

I would not have let them take it away, but either way, it's still your vehicle, get it back. Reselling totaled vehicles is big business, the insurance company will try to pay you the minimum (then increase your annual rate for a few years to recoup their losses), then they will sell it to a Salvage yard for even more profit, then the Salvage yard will sell off the parts. The only person who loses is the original owner.

 

[Swirvinnirvinn]

Happy you're safe and well brother, the shock will wear off and the rest will sort itself out and be okay.....give it time.

Same here and thank you brother! She really took care of me as much as she could there and I’m thankful for that. The shock of it all really did a number on me for a while, but I’m also thankful to have this forum to read and prepare myself for the insurance fight up ahead and everyone’s words of encouragement through now and previous accidents from other members is definitely encouraging!

 

[PIP]

I had a high value 80 series get smashed real good. I refused to let insurance take it anywhere. I refused to let them total it. I got a payout that covered the cost to completely repair it including replacing the entire frame and the title stayed in my name with no brands.

 

[Kernal]

^^^That's even better^^^

 

[Swirvinnirvinn]

Will likely be totaled by the insurance company, keep the vehicle and repair it. A few people have turned damage that type of damaged vehicle into pick-up trucks.

If the Insurance company totals it at a minimum buy it back, rebuild it or use it for parts (after buying another 80), or part it out yourself, do not let it go to a salvage yard to rot.

You'll need to fight the insurance company over the value, do not accept their first offer, or second. Start collecting comparable values off Bring a Trailer and FleeBay.

I would not have let them take it away, but either way, it's still your vehicle, get it back. Reselling totaled vehicles is big business, the insurance company will try to pay you the minimum (then increase your annual rate for a few years to recoup their losses), then they will sell it to a Salvage yard for even more profit, then the Salvage yard will sell off the parts. The only person who loses is the original owner.

I would truly love to do that if it was possible, but my immediate problem is that I live in an apartment complex now, and don’t have any space to keep it like that. It’s really frustrating that I can’t just bring it back and work on it at my leisure here because it was also my DD and my only vehicle, but also because of where I now live.

I guess the silver lining would be that if they do decide to total it, I will be fighting tooth and nail to get the value for it as there aren’t many triple locked, 40th anniversaries to begin with in the U.S. and finding comparable stock configurations are pretty pricey nowadays. I appreciate the words of wisdom on this situation as it is realistically very probable.

 

[Swirvinnirvinn]

I had a high value 80 series get smashed real good. I refused to let insurance take it anywhere. I refused to let them total it. I got a payout that covered the cost to completely repair it including replacing the entire frame and the title stayed in my name with no brands.

Well s***. Does that mean if they take it anywhere, it’s basically a goner?
I’d have liked to be able to do the same thing, but I had nowhere to store it, so I let them take it to a shop for an estimator to look at it.

I’m also having a really tough time finding comparable ones if mine were to be a total loss.

 

[PIP]

Well s***. Does that mean if they take it anywhere, it’s basically a goner?
I’d have liked to be able to do the same thing, but I had nowhere to store it, so I let them take it to a shop for an estimator to look at it.

Mine definitely wasn’t showroom quality by any means (CEL light came on for EGR system last year and the clock spring ripped inside the steering wheel which I had just bought the part to replace it), but I’m also having a really tough time finding comparable ones if mine were to be a total loss.

This going back awhile now, but I believe you have substantially more control over what happens to the vehicle if it stays in your possession.

I do recall they would not pay for a loaner if I kept it in my driveway.

 

[Swirvinnirvinn]

This going back awhile now, but I believe you have substantially more control over what happens to the vehicle if it stays in your possession.

I do recall they would not pay for a loaner if I kept it in my driveway.

I wonder if it could possibly be the same case now with how valued these vehicles seem to be.

Did you have to pull up any receipts or examples of the market?

 

[PIP]

I wonder if it could possibly be the same case now with how valued these vehicles seem to be.

Did you have to pull up any receipts or examples of the market?

Yes. I had to supply a ton of comps. Progressive sent adjusters out multiple times after I contested thier BS offers over and over. It took about 4 months to get paid. If I did it over again I would contact an independent appraisal that specializes in fighting insurance companies. I discovered they exist after the fact.

 

[Francis K]

Around here there are a few garages that will let you rent a space with a lift and tools. Mind you this is in Michigan where we have NOTHING nice or cool so I wouldn't be surprised if there is such in your area. Barring that you could search around for some local industrial buildings that are owner occupied or for lease/sale by owner and ask them if you could temporarily use their space and pay them for it. Myself personally I have a industrial warehouse for lease at the moment and if someone asked me to do that I would let them, I would just tell them that if I found a tenant they would have to be out.

Again find owner occupied or listed buildings, don't waste your time contacting management or large companies. You pretty much need to get lucky and find a car guy who is down for the cause but it's doable.

Also yes as suggested contact a public adjustor do not just accept the insurances offer even if it sounds good, I just had to do this with my Ferrari and even though AAA had already offered me a number well over the value of the car he squeezed another 10k from them and only charged his flat fee of $500. If the adjuster doesn't feel he can do better he will tell you before he goes and fights for it, or at least he should, the industry is very reputation dependent so they normally don't screw around.

 

[mudgudgeon]

Is it me, or does that just look like cosmetic damage?

The shop time required to pick that apart, replace and straighten panels wound stack up fast.
Then there's paint, small parts, clips, trim etc etc etc etc

If you've ever reviewed an itemised insurance repair quote, they will include parts cost, and time to R&R every. Tiny. Little. Thing you can possibly imagine. $$ add up fast

 

[mudgudgeon]

Saw an 18 wheeler coming up and I decided to switch lanes, but as I put in the directional light, turning the wheel to move over to the middle lane and look over the side view mirror, I’m not sure what I hit, or rolled over, but it jerked my Cruiser wheel just enough to start slightly tilting, enough to make me panic since I’ve seen YouTube videos of 4Runners just losing it at higher speeds. I ended up over correcting, and started to lose control, enough to send me further into panic mode and slam the brakes……. Game over.

Username checks out!

From your story, I expected pics to show a lot more carnage.

Glad you weren't hurt.

I had a fairly minor accident recently, a 17 year old kid pulled out blindly in front of me (weird, angled intersection). I had no time to brake more than a stab on the pedal. Totalled my 04 F150.

It was enough of an impact to bend the frame, and bend the steering wheel when I instinctively braced for impact.

I posted here in chat for some advice, and basically everyone said keep possession of the wreck until you agree on settlement terms.
I made sure i was home when the assessor came by and made a point of pointing out all the damage I had spotted with the frame, panels, steering wheel, fan shrouds etc
I contemplated repairing it as a salvage title, but the more i looked, the more work i could see was needed. Figured it was best to push for total loss payout.

I also rewashed and detailed it the day before, so it presented as well as possible to try to improve the assessed value.

 

[mudgudgeon]

Well s***. Does that mean if they take it anywhere, it’s basically a goner?

It means you don't have access to it to do things like take photos of the frame to verify if it's straight, or of other parts to prove condition etc without their agreement for access.

You've maybe lost some bargaining power.

My insurance company provide a list of 12 comparable vehicles either for sale, or recently sold within a two to three state radius. Comparable specs, condition, miles, age etc etc
This was done to justify there assessed value.
In my case, this worked in my favour. The payout I was offered was decent enough to not fight them for more.

Once I had the settlement confirmed in writing, I allowed them to take the wreck