Every accident ive seen with 4runners aren't good. From what i have seen.

Yes that is the law, for the first year you aren't supposed to drive anyone. Honestly though, i would leave the seats. IT will show your daughter you trust her to make her own decisions, etc. Plus ive seen a kid whos parents took out seats, and they just drive people around on the floor.

 

I was in an accident back in 2000 in my 94. I was on a road after coming off the freeway exit stopped at a light behind a new 2000 Ford F150. There was a 1968 Chevy pickup that had just come off the freeway at 90mph, and couldn't stop. He rear ended me at approximately 45-50mph. I saw it coming right after I started to hear his tires squealing from trying to stop. He hit my rig, and I skidded with my foot on the brake right into the back of the F150. The impact pushed my bed forward on its mounts and denting the back of my cab. My hood was buckled from my grille guard, and my front and rear bumpers were crushed. I was able to drive it home and then to the body shop. It took 4 months and cost $8000 to the guy's insurance company to repair. The frame was not bent or broken. I have a lot of confidence in my truck's structural integrity especially since I have real DOM bumpers and sliders.

 

i hit a land cruiser in the side when the driver pulled out infront of me i hit him doing about 30 mph and he about rolled over here is the damage to the 4runner..... and thats as far as the door will open the fender is crushed back

 

i have to say i faired better than he did his wheel was bent and it took him forever to get his started up almost an hour i started my 4runner up three times once to move it off the road another to get it onto the tow truck and then three days ago in my driveway the only thing i did was have to pour water into the busted radiator it wouldnt start at the wrecker service(before we had it moved to my house) cause there was no fluid left in the radiator

 

If anyone thinks the toyotas dont crash test well they are crazy! My 87 That i got wrecked had rearended a camery at 55mph, I fixed it and might add the rad support needed a light pull and the frame measured with in spec. I fixed it and sold it a year later. My mom who owned it hit 2 people and i cant remember speeds or cars but 3 wrecks so far. I got it back again and fixed it. I had a guy switch from the stopped lane to my open lane and i was doing 45..I couldnt even get in to the brakes. I wasnt hurt other then punching the center of the metal steering wheel. I was able to get everything lined up with out replacing the support. Im cab swapping it because i want it perfect and we flopped it last summer. Keep in mind the frame shop i use told me that most toyotas on the street are not as straight as mine is because its fully in spec. I believe they have a 3mm error to be passible and mines within .5 of dead on.

before.

after

after repair



So with all the wrecks and bandaid repair work how bad is it under all the pannels...4 SOLID wrecks all about the same in damage and just pulling it back...this is after wacking trees for 3 years and not fixing is.
this side has been hit 3 of the times


this was the last wreck....no pull
looking in the bay

in the wheel well...


like i said im only replacing the cab cause of the flop and i want the truck 100% perfect. The body pannels still line up like this. most of the damage is cosmetic


So after all this time i have spent with frame guys heres what i have found. Toyotas up to the later 90's and the old Nissan hardbodys have the strongest of the frames they have pulled. I was told a story of a toyota like mine who hit a new chevy full sixe truck head on and they both were at the shop. They pulled the chevy first and it was cake. Pulling the toyota they broke the chain for the ram and had to work 4x as hard to pull it less then 1/2 as far.

 

Well, I figured this would be the best thread to post this. Mostly I am looking for advice on what to do now. This happened just after Christmas travelling to the inlaws. Very luckily both of us were untouched.

Big thaw after Xmas in Ontario. Heavy rain, fog and melting snow. Highway was ok, but wet and very limited visibility. Had my lights on, glasses, driving exactly at speed limit 100km/h.

Out of nowhere road is flooded with 6 inches of water in my lane. I hit brakes but begin hydroplaning. See minivan ahead to right who already spun into snowbank and is backing out. Just miss him. Trying to brake and steer hard left to fast lane where there is less water. Just past minivan is brand new 08 Tundra, already on its roof with the box sticking up in the air. I skidded right into it. Back corner of box through my windshield - inches away from the wifes head and about about a foot from mine. His truck spun around 180 when I hit it. He had hydroplaned into the snowbank and rolled on his own. Thankfully they had just got out and ran down the highway and were ok too. We had to get out real quick cause cars were just about rear ending us.



Attachment 71944

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So thats the story...Anyways -It's a solid truck. Saved our lives. But - I believe the wide tires (10.5) attributed hydroplaning on both of our trucks. The pizza cutter tires on the cars were still gettting around us on the flooded road.

Anyways, I guess we are just looking for some encouragement and advice. We really loved that truck...

1991 4Runner 3.0 V6 5 Speed, 278000 km, 2nd Owner, Original paint, very little rust, mechanically solid, very well maintained, new parts and upgrades, etc. etc. Always got complemented on this truck - even let off a ticket by a cop who had a 93 pickup.

Being a 91 I don't have collision insurance.

She still runs and I don't think theres any other damage than what you see. I really doubt the frame could be damaged. I haven't had much of a chance to inspect it. It's now at my folks house 3 hours away. The wife has a car and I use a company truck - this was my weekend warrior.

I dont need a truck right away and dont have much money, but miss my toy. I am now debating what to do:

1. Sell this as is - ive had lots of interest but everybody wants stuff for free. I was hoping at least $1000 - Its worth way more to me. Any takers?
2. Buy a truck with decent body try to piece together and fix? could this be done so the truck is safe? I've got a bit of fabricating experiance.
3. Buy a similar truck and use this one for parts. Part out what I dont need. Any takers for parts? Any good 3rd gen p/u or 2nd gen runners for sale in Ontario?
4. Bush truck - not very practical - but fun.

If anyone has any suggestions, advice or has a truck or parts for sale that could help me out, or is interested in any of my truck or parts let me know. I have been on this site daily since after the accident looking for similar fixes, body swaps, new trucks etc. Finally got the courage to show you my mess.

This forum has been very encouraging but also makes me wish I was a bit more mechanically inclined. Anyways, I still have time to learn.

Thanks everyone.
Tim

 

I have no pics as it happened years ago, but it was raining and as I was coming down hill the semi in the lane to the left of me jack-knifed into my lane, taking out my truck in the process. I literally 'knew' it was the end. Well, after I let go of the steering wheel, got out of the truck, and found the semi driver, I learned he had three broken ribs and I was fine. The Toyota was fixed $3000 later and I was on my way. I still hate semi trucks in the rain.

 

I've driven a few of those.

They're holy heck to get unstuck, though. trust me.

 

I'd like to say that I don't agree with this statement... Crumple zones and vehicle size anyway. I owned a 79 regal at one point and got creamed from behind at about 40 by a dodge ram...late 90's style, the steel regal didnt crumple at all...and because of the size of her I was like 9 feet away from the accident while sitting inside the car...The truck was totalled...the car, drove home that day with only a broken tail light. Same goes for the 79 Jeep J10 I had...cept that it was a school bus that was trying to make a U-turn and slammed into the side of my truck right at the door. I come out to find the bus's bumper laying on the ground, and a dent in my door...but that was it. Didn't even effect the window operation or the latch.
Crumple zones, air bags, door cages, 3 point belts, collapsing steering columns... I'll take an oldie made of steel any day of the week. I have no fear in my 71 beetle, even without any belts in her as I know that she'd cut right through a modern car being a thick steel body and a trussed frame.

 

Wow! Thats quite the accident, looks like the wifey needed new undies after that one!

I bet its safe to say the only damage is the body.
I would find a 4runner with a blown 3.0 (easy to find, lots of people dont want to spend the money to rebuild them) and swap the body over. Any 90-95 body will bolt up!

You can re-build her She saved your butt, now its time to pay her back.

 

Thats a good idea and will definitly do somethin like that if I dont find a good home for the engine/chassis. At least a fun bush/trail rig. In the mean time I am parting out what I can off the body - If I can help another runner stay on the road thats good too.

 

If you want to get your kid a safe car get a 90's Buick Century, LeSabre, or Park Ave. I hit a stone wall going 35 in my Century. No damage. A woman hit my Park Ave going 45. Broke a tie rod and dented the fender pretty good. Her Cavalier was totaled. I drove the Century off of a 5 ft. ledge going 45 and had no problems. I've been running my current Century with a couple quarts of oil in it for 2 years as a test. I've never changed anything and never had problems.

 

Hey Tim, I live in toronto and remember seeing you on the news somewhere and couldn't believe it when I saw a 2nd gen runner (pretty rare in ontario) hit a brand new tundra. I was suprised to see that no one was injured so that is great news. Honestly a body swap is a pretty big job but it is definitely possible if you have the time. The 2nd gens are still pretty common on the market though and they are going pretty cheap. You could get a nice one for 3-4k and keep your truck for parts. Goodluck with whatever you decide!

 

have anybody's aftermarket front bumpers held up good in any crashes???..i know the Road Armor bumpers are just about the best around...they hold to up to just about anything..military uses them too...im thinking about building my own...and i would like to know which aftermarket front bumper stands up to a beating the best..that way i can copy a few things off of them..lol..also rear bumpers...thanks

 

I don't think it was on the news. I was there till my truck was dragged away and there were no news cameras. It happened about 2 hours north of TO. Very strange if there was a similar collision, but I do see second gens around all the time. And tundras - just not on thier roof.

 

No it was definitely your truck lol. I must have seen in somewhere else because I dont think it was on tv. Either way I remember saving a picture of it (same one your posted up) a while ago when I saw it because of how strange it was. As for second gens I still see them but not that commonly IN Metro Toronto. 1st gens even less.

 

You saw it here.

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehi...QAdIdZ97582063

Anyways I'm parting it out so if you want anything let me know.

Thanks

 

Yup thats where I saw it at. I have an 89' so I don't think I could use much but I'll ask a buddy with a 91 to see if he needs anything. Thanks