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Author
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Topic: Stupid crap that happens
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booger
TOO BIG TO FAIL
Member # 3602
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posted November 24, 2014 02:00 PM
In light of everything happening in the world that is giving us fits, I thought I would tell a little story on myself to hopefully give everyone a chuckle.
We have a 1997 Toyota 4 Runner that has 280,000 miles on it. It was a one owner off a 24 month lease when we bought it in 1999, and we have put over 250,000 miles on it…one of the best vehicles I have owned. My wife loves it and prefers to drive it over our newer SUV.
Just 2 months ago, I had picked it up from the mechanic after spending some dollars on it since a head gasket went out on it. After just getting it out of the shop, I had to make a run to one of my customer’s across town, so I just was going to stop off at my customers before heading back to the bank.
At any rate, I get to my destination and go inside to drop off the paperwork. The business has a circle drive and a frontage road facing a fairly well travelled street here. I left it running in the circle drive and THOUGHT I had put it in park when I got out. It turns out my ‘Can’t Remember Shit’ disease picked a bad time to rear its ugly head…I am still blaming evil gremlins on putting it in gear!
When I came out to get in the vehicle, it was gone…simply gone…I thought someone jumped in it and stole it…until I looked down the circle drive and across the frontage road. My nice 4 Runner was jammed under a tree, fender and hood crumpled and a nice limb pushed through the driver’s side of the windshield! Fortunately, it had absolutely threaded the needle between a new Cadillac Escalade and a newer GMC SUV…probably missed at least $90,000 of vehicles.
Here is where the fun starts…first of all, trying to explain to my wife just what I had done to ‘her’ car, and then dealing with the insurance company, (I was still carrying full coverage on it).
This was the first time in over 35 years that I have had car insurance that I have collected on any type of collision coverage. The insurance company totaled it…so I was able to ‘buy’ it back from the company for $3,600…body work is going to be $3,400 when I get it back this week, so I ‘made’ $200 on my being a stupid ass.
I called the guy handling my claim and told him that it would be cheaper to not total the car, simply pay the claim, have me pay the $500 deductible, and have the company pay $2,900 to fix it…he said that my policy wording indicated that if the repair was within 75% of the value of the car, they total it. He said that while my reasoning made sense and that the company would have been better off by $700 doing it my way, it is the way it was going to be…sometime shit just works out!
I am now pledging to shut off the vehicle every time I stop now…
[ November 24, 2014, 02:02 PM: Message edited by: booger ]
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If we ever forget we are one Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under--Ronald Reagan
Posts: 911 | From: Bob Dole Country | Registered: Apr 2010
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Aznative
FARTS ON CLUELESS LIBERALS
Member # 506
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posted November 25, 2014 08:18 AM
Sorry about the CRS, Can't Remember Shit. I find I'm doing that more often as I age. Its too bad we don't get better with age like red wine. It is a good thing you missed those parked cars.
The reason why insurance companies stick to these rules is they know that on average the repair shop will find additional needed repairs once they start taking it apart. I know a couple that had a jeep that was in a collision. This jeep was fairly new and low mileage so it required much higher repair costs before they would total it than your Toyota. After the repairs were done, the jeep had a strange vibration. It took a while to find but the engine block was cracked at a motor mount. The replacement of the engine took the job way over the point they would have totaled it if they had known.
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Never thought the devil would need a teleprompter but I could be wrong.
United State of America: RIP
Born July 4th 1776 died November 6th 2012
Posts: 1926 | From: Phoenix Az | Registered: Jan 2005
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted November 25, 2014 08:19 AM
Some stuff there, that I didn't know? My girlfriend had her car totaled by the insurance co. She sure wishes she had it back, unable to find one like it.
I think that's what happened to the lady across the street? In any case, her garage door was a bit crumpled for a week or so.
Good hunting. El Bee
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 31472 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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DanS
Scorched Earth (AZ Sector)
Member # 316
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posted November 28, 2014 06:00 PM
A friend of mine had his car wrecked but they didn't total it. Pissed him off because now when he tries to sell it, it is worth less because it was in a major accident. Fixed but worth less now.
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futuaris nisi irrisus ridebis
Saepe Expertus, Semper Fidelis, Fratres Aeterni:
Often Tested, Always Faithful. Brothers Forever!
Posts: 1465 | From: flyover country | Registered: Feb 2004
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ursus21
2nd place, John Denver lookalike Contest
Member # 3556
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posted November 29, 2014 01:16 PM
Heck, Booger you came out of the deal pretty sweet. You just had the head gasket replaced so that pretty much takes care of the engine. Now you got body work and new paint so the outside is going to look brand new. If you could just figure out a way to get the interior and the transmission replaced you'd have a brandi-new vehicle. It's far enough along I wish I could talk your wife into selling it. Those are good little units to tool around on or off road.
Posts: 780 | From: Montana | Registered: Jan 2010
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booger
TOO BIG TO FAIL
Member # 3602
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posted December 01, 2014 06:13 AM
Troy,
You are exactly right! I think we will drive this until the wheels fall off...really a great vehicle to get around in what snow we get here, and still makes 19 mpg.
The only flaw it has is still a hint of bobcat urine on the back carpet...was using it to run the trapline one day and caught a good sized male cat. Shot it in the head and used a trash bag to catch the blood, but forgot about the other end turning loose when the cat got warm...there is still a hint when the weather gets humid...
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If we ever forget we are one Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under--Ronald Reagan
Posts: 911 | From: Bob Dole Country | Registered: Apr 2010
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ursus21
2nd place, John Denver lookalike Contest
Member # 3556
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posted December 01, 2014 07:19 AM
That's my one gripe about utility vehicles vs pick up trucks. With a pick up you just hose out the back and you are good to good. Utility vehicles are a lot more finicky. The other thing I didn't like is that you can't just toss a deer or coyote in the back. Well you can, but you better not mind having fleas and ticks crawls all over inside your vehicle. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Posts: 780 | From: Montana | Registered: Jan 2010
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DanS
Scorched Earth (AZ Sector)
Member # 316
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posted December 01, 2014 06:29 PM
I remember my brothers old 73 or 74 K5 Blazer. It was like a pickup in the back, bare metal, only had 2 seats, rubber floor mats. It was a bare bones vehicle. I wish they made a SUV like that again, without all the carpet and crap. It could cut the weight and cost way down.
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futuaris nisi irrisus ridebis
Saepe Expertus, Semper Fidelis, Fratres Aeterni:
Often Tested, Always Faithful. Brothers Forever!
Posts: 1465 | From: flyover country | Registered: Feb 2004
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knockemdown
Our staff photo editing Guru, par excellence
Member # 3588
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posted December 02, 2014 04:45 AM
Tim, if you can isolate where the pee stain is, head down to the local pet store and pick this stuff up...
Treat the area, as directed, and I bet you notice an improvement!
Sorry about the mishap. Hope that Toyo continues to serve you well!!!
Posts: 2202 | From: behind fascist lines | Registered: Mar 2010
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booger
TOO BIG TO FAIL
Member # 3602
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posted December 02, 2014 08:54 AM
Thanks, Fred! It must be a male thing...doesn't bother me, but the wife reminds me when she can smell it!
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If we ever forget we are one Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under--Ronald Reagan
Posts: 911 | From: Bob Dole Country | Registered: Apr 2010
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Paul Melching
Radical Operator Forum "You won't get past the front gate"
Member # 885
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posted December 03, 2014 04:04 AM
That's funny about the urine! The smell of skunk and or urine really bothers my wife , to me it smells good and reminds me of the trap line and good memories. On occasion I use my wife's FJ for hunting or trap check I have one of those little receiver hitch carriers from harbor freight that I put on the back keeps me happily married.
P.S. we will probably never sell the fj either its an 07 and I still get offers for nearly what I paid for it.
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Those who value security over liberty soon will have neither !
Posts: 4188 | From: The forest ! north of the dez. | Registered: Jul 2006
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Paul Melching
Radical Operator Forum "You won't get past the front gate"
Member # 885
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posted December 03, 2014 04:04 AM
sorry double post
[ December 03, 2014, 04:06 AM: Message edited by: Paul Melching ]
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Those who value security over liberty soon will have neither !
Posts: 4188 | From: The forest ! north of the dez. | Registered: Jul 2006
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booger
TOO BIG TO FAIL
Member # 3602
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posted December 03, 2014 06:39 AM
Paul,
When Troy mentioned the thing about not being able to put a whole critter in the back, I honestly thought about one of those hitch haul things.
The Toyota would make a great calling vehicle with one of those things attached. Maybe I can wrest it from my wife's grip one of these days!
[ December 03, 2014, 06:40 AM: Message edited by: booger ]
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If we ever forget we are one Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under--Ronald Reagan
Posts: 911 | From: Bob Dole Country | Registered: Apr 2010
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted December 03, 2014 07:54 AM
While driving up I-5 last week, I tried counting those FJ cruisers. Every time I see one I think of Paul and now he says it's his wife's vehicle! I was thinking it might be a decent offroad vehicle, but now, it's just an urban assault vehicle? Thanks Paul! I can quit counting them, now. BTW, that blue is just about the ugliest shade. I saw a lot of silver and black and blue and just one yellow. That rack on top is a nice touch. Poor man's HumVee.
Good hunting. El Bee
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 31472 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Dave Allen
Hi, I'm SUPER DAVE, IN CHARGE OF Q STUFF (and Goat Leader) "I'm really not trying to be a dick".
Member # 3102
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posted December 03, 2014 08:08 PM
Interesting you guy's brought up FJ's Paul & Leonard.
I spent pretty much all day last Friday in the passenger seat of my brother's 2008 all black FJ, while visiting him in central Orygun..
Pretty sweet ride, pretty stiff suspension & all, but kinda manly feeling if you will.
Was thinkin' about JF's a bit on the ride home. I think ? a 4-5 year old one brings about 17-18k ?
I'm gonna' have to upgrade sometime in the near future. Kinda makes a guy go..Hummm..
[ December 03, 2014, 08:18 PM: Message edited by: Dave Allen ]
Posts: 1986 | From: Jordan Valley Oregon | Registered: Aug 2008
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Paul Melching
Radical Operator Forum "You won't get past the front gate"
Member # 885
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posted December 04, 2014 03:33 AM
As far as the Fj goes off road its the real deal I have been in and back out of places that would be a real jack pot in anything less. on the down side obscured vision in the rear , seats are a little low for my liking and the top should come off other than that its damn near perfect. I agree about the blue , butt ugly. Mine is silver but had I been dumb enough to buy new I would have gotten the brown or green and lost several grand picking my color. my wife still thinks its hers Leonard please don't start any trouble LOL
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Those who value security over liberty soon will have neither !
Posts: 4188 | From: The forest ! north of the dez. | Registered: Jul 2006
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted December 04, 2014 06:55 PM
I have a trip planned with Tom Moore, he has a FJ. Even though it would be cramped, I wouldn't mind taking it just to see how it handles. But, he thinks there just isn't enough room, especially if we have to sleep in it. No motels where we're going.
Good hunting. El Bee
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 31472 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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