I'll start with no one was injured.
Was finally getting around to opening up the rear wheel opening. Cut it, bent over the outer skin and started welding it back together. I don't know if I broke through, or just got part of it too hot, but I was finishing one weld and I heard a crackling sound. I looked up to see flames on the other side of the rear window. I ran to the garage for a fire extinguisher, and thought better of it and yelled at the wife in the house "Turn on the hose, the Lexus is on fire". By the time I got to the hose it was on, and the truck was ablaze. My mind flashed back and forth between the instinct to get the fire out and the fear of the whole thing blowing up. The black smoke was just billowing out of the truck.
I got the flames out, or so I though, and dropped to my knees to take in some water from the hose. One of the neighbors yelled "It's flaming up again!". I got the flames down again, and opened the hatch. There was some stuff in the back of the truck, a lawn chair, a roll of blue towels, a carbord box, my sons' life jacket and a CO2 life jacket. The 3rd row seats had fallen down and the stuff under them was still burning, so I started pulling stuff out to get the rest of the flames down. 5-10 min later the fire trucks showed up. On there advice I pulled the seats cause they were still smoldering.
The RR seat is down to the metal. Both child seats are melted. The rear cargo panels, melted, same with rear hatch panel. 3rd row seats, toasted. Back of front head reasts - melted. rear door panels, melted to a degree. Headliner - completely burned - visors singed. PS rear window the divider thing is melted. RR window, shattered (guessing from going hot to cold w/ water). Guage cluster, smoked. GPS, smoked.
The not so funny funny thing is my last payment is on Sept. 1st. I was kidding my wife that now that it's paid off something major would go wrong, I didn't realize that I was going to be that something. Also got a notice that afternoon from my insurance company that my car premiums were goind down another 10 bucks a month.
Of course called the insurance company right away on Saturday. They said it would be auto not homeowners (I didn't know). Adjuster finally called me today (don't work weekends, which sucks if you're out a car). They're going to look at it tomorrow. I was honest and told her I was welding on the wheel well (like I could hide it?). She said it'll be under my comprehessive policy, $250 deductable, and would likely be totaled (no doubt). I have no idea what they'll come up with when they look at it. I don't think they compensate for sliders, bumpers, lift, ect. I just hope they don't nail me too bad for the two dents in the doors, and rear quarters.
I really was getting to the point it was all set up the way that I wanted it. After the fender wells, it was just a matter of a bunch of little stuff, and some body work, and gears.... Ok, so the gears was still a pretty big one...
Private Party Retail Trade In
Retail Excellent Good Fair Excellent Good Fair
KBB $9490 $7265 $6450 $5590 $5325 $4800 $3925
NADA $10175 $7625 $6075 $4250
Edmunds $7857 $6290 $5349
So I'm thinking based on that, I could just put $1000 - $7000 on a dart board, blinfold myself, spin three times and shoot. I just really am getting worked up about not knowing what they'll come up with.
Was finally getting around to opening up the rear wheel opening. Cut it, bent over the outer skin and started welding it back together. I don't know if I broke through, or just got part of it too hot, but I was finishing one weld and I heard a crackling sound. I looked up to see flames on the other side of the rear window. I ran to the garage for a fire extinguisher, and thought better of it and yelled at the wife in the house "Turn on the hose, the Lexus is on fire". By the time I got to the hose it was on, and the truck was ablaze. My mind flashed back and forth between the instinct to get the fire out and the fear of the whole thing blowing up. The black smoke was just billowing out of the truck.
I got the flames out, or so I though, and dropped to my knees to take in some water from the hose. One of the neighbors yelled "It's flaming up again!". I got the flames down again, and opened the hatch. There was some stuff in the back of the truck, a lawn chair, a roll of blue towels, a carbord box, my sons' life jacket and a CO2 life jacket. The 3rd row seats had fallen down and the stuff under them was still burning, so I started pulling stuff out to get the rest of the flames down. 5-10 min later the fire trucks showed up. On there advice I pulled the seats cause they were still smoldering.
The RR seat is down to the metal. Both child seats are melted. The rear cargo panels, melted, same with rear hatch panel. 3rd row seats, toasted. Back of front head reasts - melted. rear door panels, melted to a degree. Headliner - completely burned - visors singed. PS rear window the divider thing is melted. RR window, shattered (guessing from going hot to cold w/ water). Guage cluster, smoked. GPS, smoked.
The not so funny funny thing is my last payment is on Sept. 1st. I was kidding my wife that now that it's paid off something major would go wrong, I didn't realize that I was going to be that something. Also got a notice that afternoon from my insurance company that my car premiums were goind down another 10 bucks a month.
Of course called the insurance company right away on Saturday. They said it would be auto not homeowners (I didn't know). Adjuster finally called me today (don't work weekends, which sucks if you're out a car). They're going to look at it tomorrow. I was honest and told her I was welding on the wheel well (like I could hide it?). She said it'll be under my comprehessive policy, $250 deductable, and would likely be totaled (no doubt). I have no idea what they'll come up with when they look at it. I don't think they compensate for sliders, bumpers, lift, ect. I just hope they don't nail me too bad for the two dents in the doors, and rear quarters.
I really was getting to the point it was all set up the way that I wanted it. After the fender wells, it was just a matter of a bunch of little stuff, and some body work, and gears.... Ok, so the gears was still a pretty big one...
Private Party Retail Trade In
Retail Excellent Good Fair Excellent Good Fair
KBB $9490 $7265 $6450 $5590 $5325 $4800 $3925
NADA $10175 $7625 $6075 $4250
Edmunds $7857 $6290 $5349
So I'm thinking based on that, I could just put $1000 - $7000 on a dart board, blinfold myself, spin three times and shoot. I just really am getting worked up about not knowing what they'll come up with.
Sorry to hear that 
, hope it all turns out well for you. Keep us posted.
