Hurricane Harvey Flooded my Tundra

I bought my 2nd Tundra, a 2016 CrewMax Limited in September 2016. In less than a year, it transformed from this...



to this...



After driving a 2008 Tundra for 7 years, I always regretted selling it. After correcting my mistake and getting the 2016, I told myself (and my wife) that I would have this truck forever, which is how I justified all the work I put into it and I actually had it almost exactly how I wanted it.

So you can imagine how I felt when 1 week shy of my Tundra's first birthday, Harvey came through and devastated my entire city.

Now don't get me wrong, I have friends, family and co-workers that lost a lot more than a vehicle and I know things could have been a lot worse for me, but it still doesn't hurt any less.

It's a pretty helpless feeling when it rains nonstop for 3 days straight and drops 50 inches as I watch the flood waters slowly rise and devour my truck knowing there was absolutely nothing I could do about it.

So after parking at a friend/neighbor's house, I woke up in the morning to this...



Then this...



and finally this...





I hope none of you have to witness your vehicles get flooded like this, but they start honking and the electrical systems start flashing and in the case of the Mercedes van and Dodge Challenger the windows automatically roll down adding insult to injury.

When it was all said and done, I was left with a totaled truck and loss of a lot of time and money that my insurance wouldn't cover.





After settling with insurance, I didn't want to rush into a new truck, so I'm currently rocking a 2002 4Runner with 210,000 miles, but I'll be back into something new before the end of the year.

 

damn..sorry to hear that. Any parts you can salvage at all ? how about the SC ? did the insurance cover it ?

 

dude that blows.... im in Webster, just south of you so I got that same downpour. hate to say it, but I fortunately managed to stay dry. I got very lucky. hate to see your ride go, and by the looks of it got some water in your place. hopefully everything works out for ya man, seeing the pics make it seem like just yesterday. absolutely insane how everything can change that quickly

 

My brother lives in Houston, but just happened to be out of town for a bachelor party when Harvey hit. Looking at your pics is gut wrenching and I can't even begin to imagine the helpless feeling you must have had just watching the water rise like that.

 

I did manage so salvage a few parts. The TRD Wheels, Tonneau cover, TRD grille and a couple other small items didn't really have any water damage. I thought about trying to save the SC, but didn't think there would be a big market for a flooded blower. The insurance covered a small portion of the mods but nowhere close to actual cost. Considering how much I had into this truck, I try not to think about how much of it I lost.

This was actually at a friend's house. I got stuck there watching the MacGregor-Mayweather fight and couldn't make it out of the neighborhood. Luckily my house about 2 miles away stayed dry. My neighbors said water was less than a foot from the front door.

 

Truck can be replaced, you and your family can't be. Glad y'all are alright. Bummer about the truck though.

 

I was in Lake Charles for the fights with a buddy of mine... we left that Monday morning to come home, took us 7 hours. I actually still have pics of I10 on the way back. we got all the way to Anahuac and were turned around due to I10 being underwater. Went back to Winnie and actually down to Bolivar Peninsula and hit the ferry. what are the odds that the damn ferry would be running in a hurricane? took 45 north from there into Webster.

 

That sucks brother ..what part of town was that? Im off 290 and Fairbanks n clay road highest it got was 2ft passed curb..by that last aerial view pic u sure SC got flooded?

 

This was in Bellaire. Close to 610 and Beechnut.

 

Maybe meet up one day few beers..like i said I'm off 290 Fairbanks Blalock Rd

 

U part of Houston Tundras FB groups?

 

That sucks! Glad that your house did not get any water. I bet the right Tundra will come along when you are ready for your next one.

 

Sounds good.

No. I think I tried to join at one point, but wasn't accepted. Not sure why, but I don't have a Tundra anymore so...

 

I feel your pain. I drowned my 1st Tundra in an off road accident. It was only 4 months old and the insurance screwed me out of 5K.

Suggestion for your next tundra. Start the mods with a 6 inch lift which should help the next time it rains. I know the wife will buy into this after your tragic loss.

 

or you can start with an 8"

 

Thanks for the suggestions. While I admire all the badass lifts I see on this site, I was going more for speed than ground clearance. Especially since it's primarily a city truck. Sadly, I don't even think another 8" would've saved me. The only vehicles I saw make it through that neighborhood in 3 days were boats, jet skis and the national guard.

 

yeah I hear ya, I drive to hobby airport everyday and its not very city friendly.. and I got into water over my side steps, and that was as far as I pushed it.. basically covering my 37s... so may have saved your SC, but looks like you def still wouldve gotten water damage

 

Insurance said basically once it gets into your cab, it's a total loss. There's so much electronics and wiring under the floor boards that get messed up, they don't even want to mess with trying to fix it. I can attest I tried jumping the battery and the a/c starting blowing with no key in the ignition. The hazards also started flashing when I turned the radio on. Despite losing all the mods, I was honestly glad it was totaled so I wasn't chasing electrical issues forever.

My friend's 2 year old Audi got 2" in it and it was totaled by insurance.

 

yeah that's crappy.. luckily, all of it is material and can be replaced.. hurts to say but its the truth. as long as the fam and friends were ok, everything is good.

 

Hopefully u get one at end of yr as u stated...and I don't do FB I have wife look up when meets are coming up

 

I bet there would have been a line of people on this site trying to nab the blower by itself.

As long as the engine wasn't turning when it was flooded i'd think it could be salvaged? Tell your insurance you forgot your sunglasses in the truck and go pull the s/c

This is also why i put customization coverage on my insurance.

 

Damn. Sorry to hear that! I was in BR with the great flood of 16. It hit the day I was moving out and got stuck there for another couple of weeks. Ended up helping out where I could from the Cajun navy to helping family and friends gut out their houses.

Too many people lost everything. Definitely heart wrenching. Had to drive through water coming up to the headlights and ended up parking right where the water stopped. About a mile from my sisters, where I was staying. Pretty crazy considering 5-7 miles down the street, you couldn't see the roofs of the houses down there.

 

I second this. Glad y'all are OK.

 

Glad everyone is ok horrible situation to be in.

 

I don't know how you feel, but I feel for you anyway.

 

That is horrible. Like @bobeast said, I can't imagine what you went through. I'm glad you and your house made out OK.

Those old 4Runners go forever.