Any experience fighting a total decision and/or retaining a totaled Raptor

[DGrav]

Anyone have any experience fighting a total decision and/or retaining a totaled Raptor?

A huge tree crushed the bed of my 2011 Molten Orange Super Crew with 150K on it. Of course, insurance wants to total it without doing a deep dive into it.

Obvious damage is a crushed bed, blown-out rear windows, and a small crease above the 3rd brake light. Unknown is the status of the frame, drivetrain, and suspension.

On top of the damage from the tree, the passenger side has significant rust in the cab corner.

Trying to decide:

A. If I can/should fight the total decision and get it properly inspected. Maybe it's just the bed and windows.
B. Accept the total and take the $$
C. Accept the total, take less $, and retain it

I'm bummed because I looked forward to teaching my son (who I bought home as a newborn in this truck ) how to drive it. So I am probably overthinking this.

Langhorne, PA

 

[shigman]

That sucks...sometimes these things happen at the right place and time....but this doesn't seem like the case. Id personally take the money, the search for a replacement of equal value might be pretty tricky, but tossing in a little more cash could land you one with lower miles/slightly newer. Were you also considering it being his first vehicle after getting a license? I could see that being an even more major bummer. Whatever you do, I wouldn't buy back from salvage and go through the repair process unless you're really dead set on the same VIN number being in the driveway. It'll have a salvage title, which to me is not a road Id want to go down. Pictures would help.

 

[dsiggi]

Always accept the total and take the $$ if its of fair value. They are never the same and life happens.

 

[DGrav]

As Requested here are some pictures.

 

[DFS]

I can't imagine the frame didn't buckle under that initial impact. I'd take the total loss and move on here.

 

[stevenstommyboy1]

Take the money and upgrade to another Gen 1 lower miles. They are out there. Just bought a 14 Screw with 39k miles. Sorry about your truck. Yikes.

 

[Muchmore]

Man, I hate to pile on. Put the emotions aside and take the money. A truck is a truck is a truck, take pictures to show him and remind him kids are so expensive you could have had a newer truck years ago.

 

[mprice1234]

I see you joined in 2010 you sure have done a lot of posting! It's a shame but take the total. Sleep well at night knowing you have made the Molten Orange color rarer by a factor of one, thank you!

 

[TomDirt]

The current resale value of Gen 1 Raptors has crashed; I was shocked when I researched it, but right now, you can get another Gen 1 for under $20K if you look around and wave cash under the seller's nose.

 

[Goode22]

i would take the $ and move on. Believe it or not most reptuable insurers pay retail value which is very difficult for an individual doing a private sale.