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What's left of my 4Runner after hitting a moose

Discussion in 'General 4Runner Talk' started by luis1, Jan 10, 2017.

  1. Jan 10, 2017 at 10:07 AM
    #1
    luis1

    luis1 [OP] New Member

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    I know I'm new to this forum, have been on tacoma world for a while though, not that that means much, but on Christmas day this past Christmas, we had the possibilty (my fiancé and I) of getting placed in the hospital or worse.

    Back story: my fiancé and I spent Christmas day at her brothers place. Was a great day and super chill. That evening we left to head back to her parents place to finish off Christmas and get some good drinks into us. Well me at least, because I had to drive back from her brothers place and could drink. When we left it was getting later into the evening and was dark, the conditions weren't that bad, dusty snow covered some of the highway but there was no ice. We were driving her 2012 4Runner trail edition, no mods to it what so ever except a set of duratrax. About 10 min from leaving her brothers place, we both saw a full grown moose running in the ditch opposite of the lane we were in (single lane highway) running in the same direction of travel. I began to slow down, the Moose then ran out in front of me, at which time I applied full brake and smacked into the side of the Moose. The Moose landed on the hood (at this time I think I had slowed down with locked brakes to approximately 60 - 70 km/h) and then flipped over the vehicle and landed on the side of the highway, still alive we found out after. Needless to say police were called, the Moose was put down and we left the incident without a scratch. We both feel like something was watching our butts that day, and feel lucky that we were able to finish Christmas. What I want to say is my God these 4runners are built like brick sh*t houses and a tank in one. Below is a picture of the damage, the vehicle is going to be fixed and somehow the frame was unaffected. I am glad Toyota pays attention to the quality of their vehicles as we very well may have ended up sevearly injured or worse.

    Unfortunately we only took one picture of the vehicle but it sums up about 95 % of the damage. It did look worse in person though.

    20161225_183218_b37f857333c36e7da40ef85329569d55019b21cb.jpg

    Anyways just wanted you guys to see how tough these vehicles can get from personal unpredictable incidents.
     
  2. Jan 10, 2017 at 4:43 PM
    #2
    jester243

    jester243 rabble rabble rabble

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    I changed some lights, tires and tinted windows...mind blowing huh
    holy shit! glad you both are ok, what happened with the 4runner?
     
  3. Jan 10, 2017 at 5:00 PM
    #3
    PVT Pablo

    PVT Pablo

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    Fucking moose. Almost hit one of those once, I can't believe how tall they are in person!

    Glad you're ok. I would of asked for some of the meat :)
     
  4. Jan 10, 2017 at 5:55 PM
    #4
    inocoma

    inocoma mud slinging mall crawler for now.

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    Yup glad you're okay but i would've asked too. :)
     
  5. Jan 10, 2017 at 6:16 PM
    #5
    luis1

    luis1 [OP] New Member

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    Thanks! I would have asked for some meat, but the police officer was waiting for us to leave before he had to put it down, plus my father in law didnt want to wait around in -20 lol, A bit of a waste I know, but such is life. The 4Runner is going to be fixed, the moose caused $15,000 in damages, thank god for insurance companies lol. The fiancé is happy, she really loves that vehicle, and has her mind made up to turn it into an offroad rig when it gets up in age.

    If a mid size SUV can take a moose , i trust it with my life after this incident lol. I live in Canada, we have a lot of moose up here, especially in rural areas, they are known to take the roofs off of smaller cars and destroy 18 wheel tractor trailers at highway speeds, just want you guys to know how tough these SUV's actually are from my misfortune, I guess a you could call this a thorough torture test lol. :annoyed:

    Also I should say that after we stopped the vehicle and turned it off, I was able to start er up again like I just picked it up from the lot, very impressed with toyotas.
     
    2Toys and inocoma like this.
  6. Jan 10, 2017 at 6:38 PM
    #6
    Palerider

    Palerider New Member

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    Installed Rago brackets and 4" cube ditch lights. Weather tech mats. Cargo net. Cargo mat. Ordered Gobi rack with ladder.
    Wow. Glad you guys were okay. I installed ditch lights just above the hood where the windshield meets and they are wired into my high beams. We traveled form Katy Texas to Keystone Colorado and these lights allowed us to see the deer along the highway. Almost happened to us but the these pod lights with their illumination gave me the time to slow and miss these animals. Without them They would have been right up on me. Thanks for sharing your story.
     
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  7. Jan 10, 2017 at 6:56 PM
    #7
    MTgirl

    MTgirl Moderator Staff Member

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    Why did you hurt the moose?!?
     
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  8. Jan 10, 2017 at 7:00 PM
    #8
    Palerider

    Palerider New Member

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    ARE YOU NUTS?:eek:
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2017
  9. Jan 10, 2017 at 7:43 PM
    #9
    luis1

    luis1 [OP] New Member

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    well you see, when the moose ran out in front of me, i felt threatened by its presence and decided to put mine and my fiancé's life at risk and rammed it with my SUV to teach it a lesson so it wouldnt run out in front of vehicles ever again:burnrubber:
     
  10. Jan 10, 2017 at 8:28 PM
    #10
    PVT Pablo

    PVT Pablo

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    Totally did the same with a street sign in a car that was way too fast for a 16 year old. Street sign never told anyone the speed limit again.
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2017
  11. Jan 10, 2017 at 8:37 PM
    #11
    Palerider

    Palerider New Member

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    Sarcasm at its finest. Good job boys!
     
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  12. Jan 10, 2017 at 11:47 PM
    #12
    Husky Driver

    Husky Driver Kyna's chauffeur

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    I don't know where you're at but here in CO the state patrol/sheriff deputies carry deer/elk tags for exactly that reason. I had some moose burgers a couple of months ago. It was like a (ground up) filet minion. :dancingbacon:
     
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  13. Jan 11, 2017 at 10:13 AM
    #13
    luis1

    luis1 [OP] New Member

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    Yea that does sound good, I have heard of people doing that here, not just police lol.
     
  14. Jan 11, 2017 at 3:59 PM
    #14
    Stuck CAPS

    Stuck CAPS Truck killer

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    Glad you're okay, and glad to hear the runner will get to live on its life, but HOLY SHIT, HOW did that not total it? You must have gotten extra lucky or something
     
  15. Jan 11, 2017 at 5:09 PM
    #15
    luis1

    luis1 [OP] New Member

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    Yea we are insanely lucky, I think because I was able to slow down, I only hit it doing between 60-70 km/h and it was running in the same direction as we were driving. Just a freak set of occurrences that let's keep the vehicle. I do remember the Moose flying over the roof of the vehicle though. Thanks for the kind words all.
     
    2Toys likes this.
  16. Jan 12, 2017 at 1:38 PM
    #16
    TedRCASC

    TedRCASC New Member

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    My dad ran into a moose in northern Ontario, back in the '50s. The moose came through the windshield, the moose was killed, the moose was pregnant, the calf was killed, the car was totaled! Not funny! I drive very carefully in moose country- Ted
     
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  17. Jan 12, 2017 at 6:51 PM
    #17
    Palerider

    Palerider New Member

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    A few years ago, while my oldest was driving home from work, a medium size white tail doe decides to kiss his bumper on his 2008 tundra crewmax. At 60+ mph it was a short kiss.

    He pulled off the road, removed the head and used one of his doe tags and proceeded to gut the animal. 30 minutes later the deer was on ice and headed to the processor. The head which was tagged was given to the processor who in turn called the game warden to report the accident.

    Did cost him a tag but provided the family with sausage and jerky later that spring. He skinned her as well and we used the pelt for throw pillows on our couch.
     
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  18. Jan 12, 2017 at 8:08 PM
    #18
    inocoma

    inocoma mud slinging mall crawler for now.

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    Glad your boy was okay. Glad that the deer didn't go to waste, we can't get good meet out here in Southern California.
     
  19. Jan 12, 2017 at 8:51 PM
    #19
    Palerider

    Palerider New Member

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    Thank you.
     
  20. Jan 13, 2017 at 4:59 AM
    #20
    glandnut

    glandnut Reserve Collection Squirrel Hair

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    Scary man, glad you guys made it out alive. I used to date a girl from Oregon and there was a person in her town who died after hitting a moose. Similar situation where the vehicle hit the animal in the rear legs causing the body of the moose to "sit" and literally crushed the whole cab of the car, killing the driver. It got up and wandered off, later to be found dead from injuries as well.
     
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  21. Jan 15, 2017 at 7:13 PM
    #21
    DTOM_plz

    DTOM_plz New Member

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    so like...... 10 mph?
     
  22. Jan 15, 2017 at 9:01 PM
    #22
    luis1

    luis1 [OP] New Member

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    More like 40 - 45 mph but thanks for trying.
     
  23. Jan 16, 2017 at 8:33 AM
    #23
    jester243

    jester243 rabble rabble rabble

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    I changed some lights, tires and tinted windows...mind blowing huh
    upload_2017-1-16_8-33-9.jpg

    [​IMG]
     
  24. Jun 23, 2021 at 8:03 PM
    #24
    luis1

    luis1 [OP] New Member

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    I know that this is a 4 year old thread but just want to let everyone know that we still have the same 4runner and its running great! Still gets better mpg s than my overland rig Tacoma and the only issue we have had since then was a battery that didn't charge one winter. All in all, I still can't believe it!

    Cheers all!
     
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  25. Jun 23, 2021 at 8:23 PM
    #25
    Thatbassguy

    Thatbassguy New member? Really??

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    I'm glad to hear that 4Runners is still going! I can't imagine hitting a moose! I hit a deer once in an MR2, and that was exciting enough for me.
     
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  26. Jun 23, 2021 at 8:26 PM
    #26
    luis1

    luis1 [OP] New Member

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    Thanks man! Yea it was not a fun experience at all.
     
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  27. Jun 24, 2021 at 7:15 AM
    #27
    canadian.bacon

    canadian.bacon H9 halogen is the best led bulb

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    lucky to be unhurt and actually alive.
    always slow down when you see any moose/deer; moose is highly unpredictable and aggressive
    whereabouts in canada did you do that?
     
  28. Jun 24, 2021 at 7:32 AM
    #28
    luis1

    luis1 [OP] New Member

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    Was between daysland and heisler Alberta. And yea we did slow down but not soon enough when we saw it.
     
  29. Jun 24, 2021 at 9:33 AM
    #29
    inocoma

    inocoma mud slinging mall crawler for now.

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    I remember your Fiance. I'm assuming wife by now wanted to build up the rig. Do you have any pics of the work that has been done?
     
  30. Jun 24, 2021 at 9:44 AM
    #30
    luis1

    luis1 [OP] New Member

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    Just a full roof rack, nothing else. Life circumstances changed dramatically for a bit after words and then settled again and we both decided to build up my Tacoma for - lack of a better term - overlanding/offroading and she's happier with that. Might still be in the cards in the future, but for now she just wants a lift and that's about it. I wish she did though lol.
     
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