Wrecked my Tacoma this afternoon...

[MaxPower]

I was driving by myself in my 2000 Tacoma on a small backroad this afternoon in heavy rain.  I came up to a heavily graveled intersection and lost it.  Basically what happened was that I hit the breaks to stop, the rear wheels locked up and skidded, and before I was able to steer into the skid my front end dropped off the edge of the pavement into a 10-12 inch deep ditch.  The truck rolled over, eventually coming to a rest 1.75 revolutions later on the driver's side.

I'm unhurt, just a sore neck and back.  Those aches should clear up within a day or two, I certainly was lucky.  I wasn't going more than 30 when I lost it, so it was a relatively low-speed accident.  I suppose driver inexperience was the cause; it certainly was my fault.  The intersection was so heavily sanded that the pavement was almost totally covered, and with the pouring rain it was slick as ice.  I'm normally a prudent driver and  I wasn't doing anything reckless, it was just an unlucky accident I suppose.  I've always known that heavily graveled intersections are dangerous, now I know from experience.  It was my first accident, and it was quite the surreal experience.

The insurance company probably won't look at it until next week.  From what the mechanic who picked it up said it's probably going to be declared totaled.  He's been my family's mechanic for years so I trust him, which means I'm in the market for a new (used) truck.  I loved that truck and it sucks to see it wrecked, but I came out unscathed, so it did it's duty by protecting me.

Bottom line: I'm o.k., I probably need a new truck.

I'm going to the garage to get pictures tomorrow or Sunday, so of course I'll post them when I get them.



EDIT:  Added pics...

[93JC]

:o

 

[Raza]

Glad you're alright, mate.  

[SaltyDog]

^Yup.

I don't mean to prod into this, but what was it like rolling over?

[SaltyDog]

What are you looking at in terms of trucks?  I'll just assume a manual and 4x4, and suggest a 4.0 Ranger as the budget route and another Tacoma as the better, but more expensive route.  Maybe you want to move up to a full-size?

[MaxPower]

^Yup.

I don't mean to prod into this, but what was it like rolling over?

Surreal, like slow motion.  I knew I was going to roll the second I saw the ditch, it was just way to deep not to.  I just thought "OH SHIT" in my mind and leaned my head down and looked into the steering wheel/guages.  I'm a tall guy and I don't have much headroom anyway, so I figured putting my chin down might help.  I did hit my head on the side window before it blew out.

Like I said, it was my first accident.  It was interesting, but not something I'd like to do again.  I was lucky to be able to simply walk away.


EDIT: and the kicker, which i forgot about, was that I had only 10 miles earlier put $30+ of gas in the tank.    

[SaltyDog]

^Yup.

I don't mean to prod into this, but what was it like rolling over?

Surreal, like slow motion.  I knew I was going to roll the second I saw the ditch, it was just way to deep not to.  I just thought "OH SHIT" in my mind and leaned my head down and looked into the steering wheel/guages.  I'm a tall guy and I don't have much headroom anyway, so I figured putting my chin down might help.  I did hit my head on the side window before it blew out.

Like I said, it was my first accident.  It was interesting, but not something I'd like to do again.  I was lucky to be able to simply walk away.

Yeah, that's a damn good thing.  I wouldn't think of a light pickup as the safest car, but it did the job B)  

[Rupert]

I was hoping you had a rock crawling accident .

Too bad about all that...

[MaxPower]

What are you looking at in terms of trucks?  I'll just assume a manual and 4x4, and suggest a 4.0 Ranger as the budget route and another Tacoma as the better, but more expensive route.  Maybe you want to move up to a full-size?

Manual and 4x4 for sure, no question.  I loved the Tacoma and will probably get another, but go with an extended cab this time.  I like the idea of the Toyota 2.7L 4 banger as well.

I'm ruling out full sizers for now.  I don't need a truck that big, and don't really want one.  Just too much mass.  I like the size of the Tacoma, and it's bed was big enough for what I use it for.  

'Course everyone here is great at suggesting things, so I'm open to opinions!

[SaltyDog]

I like the idea of the Toyota 2.7L 4 banger as well.

I'm ruling out full sizers for now.  I don't need a truck that big, and don't really want one.  Just too much mass.  I like the size of the Tacoma, and it's bed was big enough for what I use it for.  

If everyone had that mindset I think we would be in much better shape.  

I can't blame you for wanting probably the best truck in that market.  However, used Toyota prices will be bad as I'm sure you know.  In the end I like your idea of better quality over saving a few bucks.

Hopefully your insurance gives you a lot of dough and considers the circumstances of the crash before jacking up your premiums.

[MaxPower]

Hopefully your insurance gives you a lot of dough and considers the circumstances of the crash before jacking up your premiums.

I hope so but I'm not counting on it.  I will be financially fine if they total it, I won't owe anything or have to continue payments.  I think the police report will include "driver inexperience" or something to that effect, so I'm sure that won't look good to the insurance company.

[Rupert]

I saw an '86 Yota truck with 249,000 miles for $2200! I mean, c'mon!

[dazzleman]

Sorry to hear about your accident Max Power.  I'm happy you're OK.

[280Z Turbo]

How bad do you have to shmuck up a Tacoma to total it?!

[mazda6er]

Sorry to hear about that man, and we're all glad you're alright. At least you get to shop for another, a nice new ride is never a bad thing, whatever the reason. Kinda of strange, a friend of mine just rolled his late 90s Tacoma, there must be something going around, I guess. <_<

[so cal cookie]

Glad to hear you're OK.

[footoflead]

Glad your ok..as you know i had an experience with a tree...head on....

when you get into a crash situation your mind slows everything down and makes it seem like a dream..i didnt believe i had wrecked for about 10 mins...

I had a couple dreams replaying the event for a couple nights...i woke up screaming once because i just kept crashing over and over in my sleep

[footoflead]

what do you think the value of the truck was before....

[giant_mtb]

 :ph34r:    

[Fire It Up]

Well, you're still alive and kicking.

[Raza]

Do you need a truck?  If not, I'd just wait for the Yaris.

:P

[Raza]

Glad your ok..as you know i had an experience with a tree...head on....

when you get into a crash situation your mind slows everything down and makes it seem like a dream..i didnt believe i had wrecked for about 10 mins...

I had a couple dreams replaying the event for a couple nights...i woke up screaming once because i just kept crashing over and over in my sleep

Well, you've had plenty of practice when it comes to crashing, haven't you?  He's new at this.

[SaltyDog]

Glad your ok..as you know i had an experience with a tree...head on....

when you get into a crash situation your mind slows everything down and makes it seem like a dream..i didnt believe i had wrecked for about 10 mins...

I had a couple dreams replaying the event for a couple nights...i woke up screaming once because i just kept crashing over and over in my sleep

Was this part of the fence incident or something else?

[Raza]

Glad your ok..as you know i had an experience with a tree...head on....

when you get into a crash situation your mind slows everything down and makes it seem like a dream..i didnt believe i had wrecked for about 10 mins...

I had a couple dreams replaying the event for a couple nights...i woke up screaming once because i just kept crashing over and over in my sleep

Was this part of the fence incident or something else?

Fence incident was #2.

[footoflead]

Glad your ok..as you know i had an experience with a tree...head on....

when you get into a crash situation your mind slows everything down and makes it seem like a dream..i didnt believe i had wrecked for about 10 mins...

I had a couple dreams replaying the event for a couple nights...i woke up screaming once because i just kept crashing over and over in my sleep

Was this part of the fence incident or something else?

Fence incident was #2.

fuck you...the tree/fence was # 1...the other was only a fucking scratch

[Colonel Cadillac]

Glad your ok..as you know i had an experience with a tree...head on....

when you get into a crash situation your mind slows everything down and makes it seem like a dream..i didnt believe i had wrecked for about 10 mins...

I had a couple dreams replaying the event for a couple nights...i woke up screaming once because i just kept crashing over and over in my sleep

Was this part of the fence incident or something else?

Fence incident was #2.

fuck you...the tree/fence was # 1...the other was only a fucking scratch

Don't sweat it, I was backing out of the garage in the Audi yesterday and hit the Volvo because I was talking on my phone and relying on the parktronic to tell me how close I was (of course, it didn't start beeping until I had already hit the Volvo).  

[TBR]

[rant]Let that be a lesson to you, don't use your cell phone and drive. There is no call (or very few calls anyway) important enough to risk your life, next time you may not be so lucky.[/rant]

[Colonel Cadillac]

I was just backing out of the garage, not quite life threatening. But, yes, I do try to not use my phone while I drive.  

[ifcar]

Risking your life while backing out of the garage? :D

Seriously, it's not worth risking anything to gab while driving. No call is that urgent.  

[TBR]

Good. :)