Well, my nightmare became true, I had my first accident . I was in a hurry to leave school because I was a little late for guitar practice, and I didn't look back well enough, so I backed into the winch and brush guard of my friend's truck. I was backing up only just a little over normal speed, but my friends truck is so tall and heavy it hurt the hatch and bumper pretty nicely.

So, I need to get it repaired. I was told by a local detail shop not to waste my money on new parts (probably over $2500 they said), and buy from a junkyard and repaint the parts if I have to. I was quoted from a place that specializes in used Toyota Truck used parts $1000 for the hatch, and $350 for the bumper, plus I'll have to repaint the hatch since its charcoal grey and my 4Runner is black. Is this a good price? Also, how close would the used parts look to how my current hatch and bumper did originally given they are in good condition? Thanks!

BTW, here are some pics since I know ya'll like to see pictures of accidents....

 

And here is another one.......

BTW, sorry these pictures are a little dark, it was starting to get dark when I took these pictures.

 

What about insurance? If you go thru insurance, get a new Toyota hatch. Then, get a new bumper on ebay, and pocket the rest or put it toward your deductible.

If you cant go through insurance, then price the junkyard idea, with paint.

Bumper:

For $350+labor you are dang close to having a sweet aftermarket bumper, with an integrated hitch. That would allow you to sell your current hitch set-up and get some money.

Best advice:

Price around all your options. You would be surprised how much better your truck can be after a wreck. If you play your cards right, it just might end up looking better in the end.

Sorry it happened though.

 

Man, that sucks. Sorry to hear about the 4runner. At least it wasn't any worse and no one got hurt.

If it makes you feel anybetter I just recently hit a mailbox going 40mph . Luckily though it only got my side mirror. I got a new power mirror for $46 shipped off of ebay. I think Toyota wanted like $200 for a new one.

You may want to check out ebay for those parts. You'll never know what you will find.

Good luck with getting it fixed. I hope they do a good job painting the hatch. They should be able to make everything up pretty closely.

 

Thanks for the eBay suggestion, I found the center bumper piece that I need to replace for only $105! I am hesitant about buying it though because I see that it is an aftermarket piece, and I am concerned that it might not as well as a Toyota center bumper piece or be of nearly as good quality. What do ya'll think?

Here is the auction for the part, which ends in just over 3 hours
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=42611

About insurance, I thought about insurance, but decided that it would not be worth it in the long run. I am only 17 years old, and my rates would skyrocket if I tell my insurance company that I had an accident, and I have a $1000 deductible. Overall, I would probably be spending much more money than just dealing with it myself.

 

1K for a salvage yard hatch???
DAMN!! I thought $725.00 for a brand new Toyota gate for my 2nd gen was nuts!!

 

Man that sucks dude. I did the exact same thing once. Work called after I had gotten home and I had to go back in to fix something that should have been done by someone else the first time around. I had company over so needless to say I was bit pissed. I jumped in my Runner and went roaring out of my driveway and ran right into my girlfriends little VW Golf. Broke out her headlight and didn't put a scratch on the Runner... got lucky on that one. Had it been a bumper of a truck I'd been in the same boat as you!

 

Do your self a favor.. Call Toyota on the gate.. LKQ gates are expensive, some times more so than a brand new one just because of the glass (a tinted glass can cost $500-$1000 alone..) I just called Toyota for you, a new gate is only about $747.98 (with a wiper..) Unsure for a price with out a wiper and I need your vin for a closer price.. But give them a call, pull some strings, try the old TLCA stand..

 

Whoa! It looks like buying a new gate from Toyota would save me even more money, and I especially like the idea that I would be buying a new gate that has never been used. Thankfully, I do not need to buy a new rear window, and the rear window even still rolls down (but I only tried rolling it down for a couple of inches, I am scared to roll it down too far!). I can't call Toyota until next Monday because I am leaving town to run in the state championship track meet this weekend with my school, but I'll call Toyota when I get back in town and get the price of the gate with and without the wiper for my specific VIN number, and probably the center bumper piece too. Thank ya'll for your tips, I might have made a mistake if I didn't talk to ya'll first! And if any of ya'll still have any tips or comments, please post them!

P.S. Lee, what do LKQ and TLCA mean (sorry, I don't visit YotaTech often enough to know what they mean )

 

Woops. Sorry.. LKQ is an Insurance term I use all day long for work.. "like, kind, and quiality" In other words a nice way to say we are putting used junk yard parts on your car


But TLCA??? Come awn... Dude, the Toyota Land Cruiser Association... Check them out..TLCA

 

Now that I have time to call Toyota since I am done with school for the year, I have been looking for the number to call Toyota to give them my VIN number and ask them how much a new gate would cost, but I can't find the number, could you please tell me what the number is? Thank you!

 

Just find a dealer in your area - they can give you any of the prices you need. Just from a quick search on toyota.com:

Springhill Toyota

3062 Government Blvd.
Mobile, AL 36606
Phone: (251) 479-9581
Fax: (251) 450-2445


Palmer's Airport Toyota

470 Schillinger Road
Mobile, AL 36695
Phone: (251) 639-0800
Fax: (251) 639-0860

 

Now why didn't I think of that? I bought my 4Runner from Palmer's Airport Toyota, so I guess I'll have to pay them a visit sometime this week (I need an oil change and maybe new belts anyway, and I haven't been to my dealer since they moved to their new location which is supposed to be the largest on the Gulf Coast). I just have one question though, would they somehow jack up the price of the gate by a lot if I ordered it through them? I know they charge ridiculous amounts of money for labor, such as $20 to change a tailight bulb!

 

I am in the insurance industry and am sorry to say that going through your insurance company you will not get new parts. They are going with used or after market parts. You can pay the difference if you like between new and used, but the insurance company will not pay for new as your 4Runner is a 97.

There is no replacement cost provision in an auto policy so you get LKQ parts (Like Kind & Quality) The parts you have are 6 years old so they will replace them with 6 year old parts or afermarket parts.

Aftermarket parts get a bad rap at times, for a lot of vehicles out there many are better than the original parts.

 

All insurance companies don't do this do they. I am trying to look through my insurance stuff, but USAA gave us the option for NEW "Factory" parts with no difference in price.


Scott

 

Most policies are like this, USAA may offer a repalcement option for new parts for additional premium. I would check with your agent and make sure you have this coverage.

 

I am not going through my insurance company. I am only 17, and my rates would probably skyrocket if I dealt with this through insurance. After reading some of these responses, I am figuring that the best thing to do would be to either call up Toyota myself or ask my dealer how much a new gate and bumper would cost, order the parts, and have a local shop replace the damaged parts with new ones for me.

 

That would be your best bet. But, I would check a couple of local junkyards first, though. Find a 97 that was in a headon collision and you're set. The only problem will be finding a paint match or getting it painted. Look into it anyway.

 

I have a rear chrome bumper for sale off a 97 4Runner. Ill beat that $105. My Zip is 63043

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...&threadid=8783

 

I have a rear chrome bumper for sale. Ill beat that $105, just dont forget about shipping. My Zip is 63043

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...&threadid=8783