Deer Killer

Received a text message and picture the other morning from my son who had a deer encounter on his way to work. Tundra 1 & Deer 0

The 2001 Tundra was my father's truck, given to my son when he went off to school at UT in Memphis and later in Knoxville where it was subjected to a horrific hail storm 2014/2015. The roof and hood looks like a golf ball!

The body shop is telling my son that the insurance company may total the truck at this point given the year, 187k miles, and condition of the body. Bodyshop wasn't sure that the insurance company will pay for the repair. He estimates $8k - $10k should they total the Tundra.

What do you guys think? Repair or take the money?

 

Total, buy it back, repair it.

 

You and I have spoke before. That hail storm is infamous here. It sounds like this truck has sentimental value. Personally, I'd fix it. At minimum, don't take their first offer. These trucks have gone WAY up in value the past year. Is the frame clean?

 

Hope he is ok and sorry about that. Pretty sure insurance will total it. Not worth them fixing anything with any age and miles these days. That does not look awful, but as you know, once you start taking things apart a repair can escalate quickly.

Happened with my daughters car- mazda 3 hatch and one of the best cars we have owned. But it was a 2010 and getting up there in miles, still looked and drove amazing. Luckily they paid out retail level payout...and we moved on.

 

I hope he's ok! And did he eat the damn deer?

 

Hey, good to hear form you! Frame is clean so I also think it is worth fixing. He did mention getting a new Tundra so we will have to see how it plays out.

 

Will see him this weekend and find out what happened.

 

LoL! I think he was pretty shaken since the deer came out of no where and rammed the truck! He said the entire truck shuttered and he struggled to maintain control. He said the deer ran out into the woods and I'm not sure he actually found it.

 

We have that problem with moose up here, I think if the animal wreck's your ride you should have the right to eat that sombitch!
Who's with me on that?

 

While I am a deer hunter and a deer eater.... I dont eat road kill. If a truck hits a deer the amount bruising, endorphins, and adrenaline that comes out in the blood will to me makes the animal taste horrible. Its a deer. They are literally every where here in Missouri

 

Don’t do venison but I’m with ya on the Talkeetna….gorgeous country, at least what I can see on any Alaska shows we watch !

 

Take the money, buy it back (provided you can insure a salvaged vehicle for liability), fix it yourself with used parts and Monstaliner it!

 

I can say one thing with confidence... The fender flares are Deer proof....

 

Weekend update... Insurance company would not total the Tundra given the low supply/shortages of vehicles on the market. They gave my son ~$6 to have it fixed and my son is quite happy with the decision! Will post pictures when it's done! ETA is the end of the week or beginning of next week!

 

Hell yeah! Happy to hear. May want to have the shop fix the roof while at it, kick em another $500. Truck will be like new after!

 

Good idea, I will mention it to my son.

 

Appears to need a hood, a fender, maybe a new flare and some new lights. I would buy the parts myself, have them sprayed at a body shop and fix it myself. probably cost less than $2k all in. May have to message some supporting metal underneath. Fixed my son's mustang after he rear ended someone this way. Can't believe the bumper survived. It's got an old dent in it looks like, but these things are made of tin foil. A random tennis ball can take the stock bumper out. Never seen one that didn't have a dent or three in it.

Crash damage to bumper hood and fender


Stripped the dented and broken bits off


replaced with factory replacement parts and some new aftermarket lights



Went with the GT front end and bought some GT wheels on marketplace to complete the look.

 

i wish a deer would run out in front of me.

 

Nice job on the Mustang! Looks sweet! Hewas thinking about fixing it himself but don't have the space and time.

 

Would be deer hamburger!

 

I meant i’d get a one piece nose. My truck would handle the situation similars to your sons truck.

 

Dang that's too bad!

 

Maybe put a steel bumper on it while you're at it?

 

I was going to suggest a Brute Force Fab bumper with full brush guard. Worth the wait.

 

Just structural stuff from the photo. No problem fixing that part.
Total out, buy it back and do some easy repair work.
Install some BAHA fenders, a lift and a few other goodies.
You'll sell it for a lot more than you put into it.
Or you just might keep it.

 

To add to my prior post, I feel a front bumper is basically insurance that has a decent chance of paying for itself. It's far too easy for the front to get damaged to the point the insurance company would mark it as a "total loss" when there's a whole lot of good truck left undamaged.

 

My truck had a deer hit too before I owned it. Baby deer and Mama deer wiped out at the same time.

 

Whew! Them deers do some serious damage!!!

 

Yeah. Texas deer. Good thing though is it was my best friend's truck and he gave it to me for free. And there was also some damage on the right outside of the bed but everything else was in great shape. Had to get new headlights and side marker lights and a new radiator and that was pretty much it. The rest of the stuff I've done is just normal maintenance. So I'm into this truck for probably less than $500, not including timing belt and tires and maintenance items.