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5th Generation Crash Survivability

Discussion in '5th Gen 4Runners (2010-2024)' started by GLS, Sep 11, 2021.

  1. Sep 11, 2021 at 6:46 PM
    #1
    GLS

    GLS [OP] New Member

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    Last Labor Day weekend, Saturday, at dusk I was driving home on a rural highway in SC on a narrow blacktop, 2 lanes, at highway speed, 50 mph. Coming towards me from the opposite direction was a pickup truck towing a utility trailer with a concrete mixer on it. The trailer disconnected from its hitch, swerved into my lane and dumped the mixer into our path moving towards us at 50 mph with a closing speed of about 100 mph. I couldn't avoid it as the truck was in its lane blocking an escape route. Drowning depth water was on both sides of the road. According to witnesses, the impact of the mixer lifted us airborne, rolling us several times all the while spinning us as well. The 2016 XP came to rest on the passenger side. All airbags deployed and our seatbelts held fast. Other motorists opened my door and helped us out. I had a small abrasion on my left triceps and that was the extent of my injury. My passenger had right arm lacerations and was transported to the ER 30 miles away and released early the next morning. I had a flatbed wrecker take it to my house as I had to remove my 85 lb. IMG_20200315_100436.jpg cradled 8500 Warn Winch and other valuables. Both of my Toyotas, a 2003 4x4 Sequoia and the 4Runner are wired to use the winch on front and back hitches. I had it lashed in the cargo area to the back seat with half inch rope to prevent it as acting as shrapnel in a wreck such as this. The inside of the truck looked like a tossed salad after the wreck.
    Toyota strong, airbags, seat belts, and random good luck prevented serious injury or worse.
    I bought a 2022 TRD Off Road on Wednesday. I can take a hint.
    PXL_20210904_224019359.jpg PXL_20210905_121757809.jpg PXL_20210905_121822958.MP.jpg PXL_20210908_193322329.jpg
     
    Last edited: Sep 11, 2021
  2. Sep 11, 2021 at 6:47 PM
    #2
    Toyofan87

    Toyofan87 New Member

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    Blue & Grey Hwy Gburg
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    First post needs a hearty welcome. Greetings from Central Penciltucky
     
    GLS[OP] and Thatbassguy like this.
  3. Sep 11, 2021 at 6:56 PM
    #3
    MattO2786

    MattO2786 New Member

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    Glad you’re okay. Nice looking T4R. The new one, not the jacked up one.
     
    GLS[OP], Thatbassguy and suaveflooder like this.
  4. Sep 11, 2021 at 7:05 PM
    #4
    JET4

    JET4 New Member

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    welcome, glad everyone is ok
     
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  5. Sep 11, 2021 at 7:13 PM
    #5
    Antman

    Antman New Member

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    NorCal
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    2021 4Runner: King Coilovers King rear shocks Camburg UCA’s Spc rear Trail arms Icon 52700 rear springs Icon panhard bar SCS Ray10’s Rci Sliders Rci Full Skids 2022 Tacoma Offroad: King Coilovers King rear shocks Deaver leaf springs Camburg UCA Scs Gen 5 Bamf front hybrid bumper Rci Full Skids Rci Sliders
    Holy shit. Glad you’re ok. Hope the other parties insurance is taking care of you.
     
    GLS[OP] and Thatbassguy like this.
  6. Sep 11, 2021 at 7:36 PM
    #6
    SCMountaineer

    SCMountaineer New Member

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    On my third 5th gen — 2021 SR5 premium 4wd
    Gunmetal TRD wheels, Yakima rack, Canvasback covers
    wow! Glad you're here to talk about it! Love the new rig! That green is sharp.
     
    Toy4X4, GLS[OP] and Thatbassguy like this.
  7. Sep 11, 2021 at 7:38 PM
    #7
    JaSC

    JaSC New Member

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    ToyTec Lift, Dual Batt Redarc. Rear safe drawer, console safe, Aux 2004 JGC fuse box, Warn bumper, 12,000lb winch
    Greetings from Anderson, SC.....Wow!
    Was the trailer not chained?
     
    GLS[OP] and Thatbassguy like this.
  8. Sep 11, 2021 at 7:54 PM
    #8
    GLS

    GLS [OP] New Member

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    PXL_20210904_233752848.MP.jpg
    The chain used was not much. Snapped like a rubber band.
     
    Last edited: Sep 12, 2021
    BigDgak and Thatbassguy like this.
  9. Sep 11, 2021 at 8:08 PM
    #9
    MrBell

    MrBell New Member

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    Glad you are OK. Nice upgrade.
     
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  10. Sep 11, 2021 at 8:31 PM
    #10
    Blue 4ever Runner

    Blue 4ever Runner New Member

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    Blacked out badges, window deflectors, smoked 3rd brake light. I have a Borla muffler on order as well as some color matched engine cover stickers. I'll be painting the stock wheels soon as well. Falken tires in the fall as well.
    Damn! As others have said, I'm glad you're OK. You are added to the list of people who have been saved by the construction of their 4Runners. They really are well built, safe vehicles. Good luck with your new one, it's a beauty.
     
    GLS[OP] and Thatbassguy like this.
  11. Sep 11, 2021 at 8:46 PM
    #11
    Thatbassguy

    Thatbassguy New member? Really??

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    S/E Wisconsin
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    RSG sliders, Yakima offgrid basket, Pro-Comp wheels, SOS Streamline bumper and skids, Warn VR EVO10S winch + Ultimate Sidewinder, Bilstein 6112 + 5100 + rear lift coils, Rigid Dually SS ditch lights w/Caliraised brackets and OEM style dash switch
    Welcome to the forum from Wisconsin!

    I'm glad to see the 4Runner did it's job and protected you and your passenger!
     
    Toy4X4 and GLS[OP] like this.
  12. Sep 11, 2021 at 8:52 PM
    #12
    henrylw

    henrylw New Member

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    Good to know you both survived the crash. Curious that you were able to buy a MY2022 4Runner without wait. I placed an order for MY2022 OffRoad in late June and dealer just told me it would arrive next week.
     
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  13. Sep 12, 2021 at 3:12 AM
    #13
    GLS

    GLS [OP] New Member

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    Dealers were closed Labor Day. I checked Autotrader for new T4Rs in a 200 mile radius and called local dealers. I didn't waste time looking for non-existent used ones. North Charleston had two Limited in 4x4 and my Off Road. The dealer is 120 miles from here. On Tuesday I placed a $500 binder on my credit card and had my brother drive me to the dealer the next day. The truck had within several days had been delivered to the dealer, Hendricks of N. Charleston. The negotiations consisted of me taking or leaving the quoted price. My test drive was my drive home. Gil
     
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  14. Sep 12, 2021 at 3:32 AM
    #14
    GLS

    GLS [OP] New Member

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    All airbags popped out. Passenger and I were protected by 4 bags. Steering wheel (me) or dash (Floyd), side curtains, under dash for legs, and surprisingly from along outside edge of seat's upright portion, hip to shoulder. I had flimsy seat covers that surrounded the upright portion of seat like a sock. Bag ripped through the cover as if it was made from Kleenex. With that in mind, I'll probably go with the same $27 front seat covers from Amazon. Gil
    PXL_20210909_113949740.jpg
     
  15. Sep 12, 2021 at 4:22 AM
    #15
    Blue 4ever Runner

    Blue 4ever Runner New Member

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    Blacked out badges, window deflectors, smoked 3rd brake light. I have a Borla muffler on order as well as some color matched engine cover stickers. I'll be painting the stock wheels soon as well. Falken tires in the fall as well.
    I have seat covers too and they are designed to split if the air bag deploys. Maybe yours did too? either way, glad they did their job.
     
    Thatbassguy likes this.
  16. Sep 12, 2021 at 5:12 AM
    #16
    Spare Parts

    Spare Parts New Member

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    glad all are ok, and nice color on the replacement.
     
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  17. Sep 12, 2021 at 10:17 AM
    #17
    Cardork

    Cardork New Member

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    Congrats on the ‘22 and so glad you are ok.
    My ‘21 ORP with 600 miles likewise stood up to one hell of a lick. While my shoulder is still giving me fits, considering what happened, cannot even slightly complain and like you I replaced mine with another new one.

    It actually ended up flipped on the driver’s side but my phone was trapped in the car as it looked way more dramatic that way. That said, holy crap is it a testament to Toyota’s engineering that you both did not have more serious injuries.

    DF0B93A9-B7BE-4ACC-BC43-1B37226B79AC.jpg
    B201088F-8B58-4B28-9A66-A69D6B7DEFFF.jpg
    4E258367-FD44-4074-8529-FC357566326B.jpg
     
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  18. Sep 12, 2021 at 2:53 PM
    #18
    GLS

    GLS [OP] New Member

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    Cardork, hope your shoulder issues resolve soon. 600 miles on the ORP before the crash? New meaning to a new truck being "broken in". Gil
     
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  19. Sep 12, 2021 at 5:24 PM
    #19
    Thatbassguy

    Thatbassguy New member? Really??

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    :laugh:

    Great description!
     
    GLS[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  20. Sep 12, 2021 at 7:16 PM
    #20
    Gamma Ray

    Gamma Ray Be excellent to each other

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    Who cares? This never shows everything anyway.
  21. Sep 12, 2021 at 8:24 PM
    #21
    AdventureCat

    AdventureCat New Member

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    @GLS Incredible story and situation. So glad to hear you are ok. I actually called Hendrick about that particular 2022 TRD OR but I'm happy it went to you.
     
    GLS[OP] and Spare Parts like this.
  22. Sep 13, 2021 at 6:22 AM
    #22
    L1011

    L1011 New Member

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    I'm glad everyone was ok. When I was shopping for a new vehicle, I *really* wanted a Wrangler but the lack of rear curtain airbags was a no-go for me. I'm a first responder and lately I've seen far too many fatal accidents. Seeing your pictures makes me glad I chose to get another 4R!

    That said, I wish I could buy the good door handles and rear spoiler from the MGM 4R shown above. I don't like the piano black door handles my '21 MGM Venture has. I want them body colored
     
    GLS[OP] and Spare Parts like this.
  23. Sep 13, 2021 at 11:03 AM
    #23
    thermorex

    thermorex New Member

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    Holly cow, that is a heck of an accident. Thank God you guys are fine!
     
    GLS[OP] likes this.
  24. Sep 13, 2021 at 1:16 PM
    #24
    Cardork

    Cardork New Member

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    For sure about the broken in part and thanks truly for the well wishes!

    L1011,
    Having had an MGM ORP and the Venture, I do dig the body colored handles, but actually dig the other parts that are black. Well, maybe not the mirrors as well….

    Especially with mine having the black as opposed to gunmetal finish wheels I don’t mind it and will say the number of random compliments I have received for the Venture compared to my ORP is surprisingly high for some reason.
    All the same, my major concern was finding a OR/ORP/Venture with KDSS.
    I did add the one part to the sides of the sombro that blacked out the one part that is chrome on the grill.
     
    GLS[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  25. Sep 13, 2021 at 6:32 PM
    #25
    4R21

    4R21 New Member

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    Glad you are Ok. :bowdown: God Bless :amen:
     
    GLS[OP] likes this.
  26. Sep 13, 2021 at 8:14 PM
    #26
    LSustaPR

    LSustaPR New Member

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    Crazy accident. Glad you and your passenger are ok. Nice upgrade.
     
    GLS[OP] likes this.
  27. Sep 13, 2021 at 8:25 PM
    #27
    Dick_Hammerbusch

    Dick_Hammerbusch New Member

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    That's what a jacked up 4runner looks like?! Glad @GLS is alive
     
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  28. Sep 14, 2021 at 2:21 AM
    #28
    Toy4X4

    Toy4X4 New Member

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    Another Wisconsin welcome! Damn! What are the odds that the trl. comes unhooked in front and coming at you? Glad to see you were not badly hurt.
     
    GLS[OP] likes this.
  29. Sep 14, 2021 at 9:23 AM
    #29
    Singleminded

    Singleminded New Member

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    Holy sh*t what a scary crash and what an amazing and fortunate result. So glad you two made it through ok (and you were able to get a sweet new replacement so quickly -- great color too).

    Every story like this is of course anecdotal and one can too easily jump to conclusions about what a given crash event means about the safety of the vehicle overall. But there is in fact real world data to back up the conclusion that the 4Runner is among the better vehicles out there when it comes to surviving a serious crash. It reminded me I had looked up and posted about it almost exactly a year ago.

    To wit:

    The 4Runner has one of the lowest death rates of any vehicle. IIHS periodically calculates the number of driver deaths per million registered vehicles. There are adjustments in this calculation and I gather that various factors mean it can't be exact. But the results show an overall death rate of 13 for the 4Runner compared with 36 for all vehicles on average.

    Within its category of midsize SUVs, only two vehicles had lower rates (11 and 12). Most were in the 20s and 30s, a couple were in the 40s and one hit 51. This was for the years 2015-2018.

    Results for years 2012-2015 were similar.

    I thought this was interesting because IIHS crash test data shows mixed results for the 4Runner (only a "Marginal" rating for the small overlap front crash test).

    Of course, death rates will depend not just on the inherent crash worthiness of a vehicle but how it is driven. IIHS says they adjust the rates for age and gender, so presumably some of that variable is accounted for. But one would expect the average 4Runner owner to engage in less risky driving than, say, the average WRX driver of the same age and gender.

    Still, these are positive findings that I think y'all might find interesting.

    Here's the link:

    https://www.iihs.org/ratings/driver-death-rates-by-make-and-model
     
    Blue 4ever Runner likes this.
  30. Sep 15, 2021 at 7:26 AM
    #30
    GLS

    GLS [OP] New Member

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    Singleminded, thanks for the above info. I only today saw the crash tests with "marginal" on the small overlap front crash test. Not enough to bother me with buyer's remorse on the new one, however. Gil
     

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