RIP TUNDRA? After 7 months in the body shop, now SOLD TO CARMAX

When I was rear ended, the initial repair estimate was $2277. It ended up being over $24 grand to fix it all. It’s a dumb back and forth game that insurance companies play.

 

I know. And meanwhile I've already got rust building up everywhere, including the structural parts of the cab the adjuster said "they'll pull that out" lol

 

In 6 months when it's rusted through?

 

Thats great of the frame is ok. The axle or axle shaft must be bent getting hit like that? Or spring hangers if it both wheels are facing the same direction?

 

Probably bent axle? I was thinking hangers or something, but the right side seems straight

 

Something is bent on that rear wheel fo sho.

No new footage? I thought my neighbors sucked.

lol

 

Did the centering pin on the leaf spring sheer off and cause any movement?

 

If you can wait, send it into the body shop. I know its a ways out, but that estimate seems really low.

 

Very possible the axle shifted since it was converted from Spring Over to Spring Under Axle.

It's definitely going into the shop, and bet the bill will at least triple.

 

With the way things are, they might total it. We got in a minor t-bone back on Thanksgiving and I was sure they were going to fix it, but wound up totaling out our '22 Highlander that was 11 months old.

 

Spray some Krud kutter on that rust?

 

I could. But honestly I want them to total it out. So I'll leave it be for now and monitor

 

In comparison, this my old Volvo that I crashed in around Thanksgiving and drove 200+ salty highway miles home. It sat outside in New England slushy winter for 2 full months before I stripped it down and junked the carcass. Just rejects to rust. New ones are crap, start to rust at the dealer parking lot, btw. Pretty much like everyone else these days.

 

Probably this weekend I'm gonna start stripping the lowering kit off, and return to stock. Should be SUPER EASY in the back this time since the bed is removed lol

 

Like pulling teeth trying to get on the schedule with a shop for repairs.

 

Gonna start taking off the rear suspension stuff. TRD sway bar, air bags. Maybe return leafs back to the topside of axle

 

Dumb question but why strip parts if you keep/repair it?

 

I don't intend to keep it anymore, even if they repair it.

I'd prefer they total it. The bill WILL AT LEAST TRIPLE when the shop gets a hold of it.

I never intended to keep this truck, my plan was to take it to auction or see if I could privately sell for profit once my mods were done. But this has put a huge stain on that idea with the diminished value.

Also I never needed a truck this large, I just needed something bigger than the Tacoma to tow with. I'm a short dude, and don't like how long the truck is, tbh. Kinda a pain to park at the grocery store...

If they choose to repair it, I'm trading it in for something else, idk what yet. Likely a daily driver Lexus.

And then I'll be on the hunt for a RCSB 4x4 5.7L Tundra to transfer over all the parts I saved!

 

Rear suspension back to stock

 

Ok now the rear is back to stock as much as possible

 

Reverse squat hot rod stance lol

 

Raking over the coals

 

On to the front

 

Back to boring

 

Truck is now mechanically back to stock. What a pia it is to remove the transmissions cooler lines!

Next is to remove the black led headlights and fog lights. Then the paint matched handles. And that should be it.

 

Now I have it in my mind to do an AWD conversion on a RCSB 4x4 5.7L

Move all my parts over so it has the 22" Forged TRD wheels and tires, 2/4" Lowering kit, air bags, TRD sway bars, and supercharger. Then do the 2.5 gen body and interior conversion. That'd be a pretty sweet ride, and easier to manage than the Crewmax

 

So one recommended shop denied my truck saying they're only doing smaller jobs due to wait on parts. Another recommended shop I can't even get to call me back.

State farm only has 3 preferred shops within 75 miles of Denver. Two of them won't accept my truck since it's technically not in safe driving condition.

I got on the schedule for the third one, for Mid September....and then I'll still have to wait on parts.

 

Oh what a funky filter State Farm uses....on their site when i search for shops, it only pulled up three. then you have to click More Shops for it to display the next three (first three disappear). So on and so forth. So guess I have more shops to call. I was thinking they only had three total within 75 miles...

 

You may want to check your state's laws on vehicle repairs handled by insurance; most states have a law in place that allows the "insured" the right to choose the repair shop of their choice to have work done. Some insurance companies try to bypass or sideline those laws by using the 'preferred' pitch and telling you it must go to a shop within their preferred network. In which case if you take it to a non-preferred shop, they may want an adjuster or a second estimate from a 'preferred' shop to look at the vehicle prior to authorizing the work; which is kinda frustrating since the adjusters are significantly underquoting these days.

Anyhow, just a thought... and again the laws vary by state, but if your state does allow the vehicle owner to make that decision it may open some more doors for you