Truck had a bad day

[AdrianAT4]

I hit a deer Friday evening. It was a doe not much bigger than a large dog. I wasn’t going very fast 65 in a 70 on Montana Highways. That is slow for me BTW. She just walked right in front of me. I didn’t swerve just hit the brakes. She basically disintegrated. Died on impact. Good thing no suffering. I was ready to put her down if needed. I have had to in the past. This isn’t my first deer or wild animal suicide. I have hit an owl and a black bear and several other deer. Almost an elk but luckily they dodged me too. All my trucks have had brush guards. I have one on my AT4. The thing is this is my first time the guard let me down. $15k in damages. Ranch hand bent inwards busting both head lights lost both fenders hood front grill and bumper and everything plastic behind the grill. Passenger door wont open. You would have thought I hit a moose. Nope a deer who decided she couldn’t hack one more winter. my beautiful AT4 1500 6.2 is a mess. Taking it in Friday to get it repaired or start it to get it fixed. Anyway just thought I would share.

I’m sorry you had to go through that, I hope all is well the process to get things back to normal doesn’t take too long!

I had a question regarding insurance, you had a ranch hand which probably mitigated more damage to the vehicle, but did your insurance cover the cost of repair or did they total out the vehicle? I’m curious to know if they still insure your vehicle even if you have a grille guard.

 

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[kobra357]

FYI
Approximately $15k. Wont get it back until September 27. It doesn’t look bad but everything is broken or bent etc.

 

[kobra357]

I’m sorry you had to go through that, I hope all is well the process to get things back to normal doesn’t take too long!

I had a question regarding insurance, you had a ranch hand which probably mitigated more damage to the vehicle, but did your insurance cover the cost of repair or did they total out the vehicle? I’m curious to know if they still insure your vehicle even if you have a grille guard.

If you have extra insurance for aftermarket products the insurance company will pay for a new brush guard. Unless it came on the original PO. Otherwise Anything aftermarket is on me. So no new brush guard. Actually my truck would have been totaled if not for the brush guard. I made an argument about this. It was futile. $18k later

 

[kobra357]

Ok truck is done I received it back October 3. I had them put on non OEM grill because I did not want more peeling on original grill. So its black with lower bumper valance, fog bezels, and side 6.2.

 

[Koolbreezeya]

I hit a deer Friday evening. It was a doe not much bigger than a large dog. I wasn’t going very fast 65 in a 70 on Montana Highways. That is slow for me BTW. She just walked right in front of me. I didn’t swerve just hit the brakes. She basically disintegrated. Died on impact. Good thing no suffering. I was ready to put her down if needed. I have had to in the past. This isn’t my first deer or wild animal suicide. I have hit an owl and a black bear and several other deer. Almost an elk but luckily they dodged me too. All my trucks have had brush guards. I have one on my AT4. The thing is this is my first time the guard let me down. $15k in damages. Ranch hand bent inwards busting both head lights lost both fenders hood front grill and bumper and everything plastic behind the grill. Passenger door wont open. You would of thought I hit a moose. Nope a deer who decided she couldn’t hack one more winter. my beautiful AT4 1500 6.2 is a mess. Taking it in Friday to get it repaired or start it to get it fixed. Anyway just thought I would share.

Glad you're OK, and truck can be repaired. I hit a buck once, major damage, don't want to do it again.

 

[Koolbreezeya]

If you have extra insurance for aftermarket products the insurance company will pay for a new brush guard. Unless it came on the original PO. Otherwise Anything aftermarket is on me. So no new brush guard. Actually my truck would have been totaled if not for the brush guard. I made an argument about this. It was futile. $18k later

Wow, Unbelievable.

 

[pinebaron]

I've had near misses with deer in NJ and now in WA . My truck is long enough as is and just about fits in my 25' deep garage; a brush guard would add lenght; as it is I have a time parking this truck without extending its length. All I can pray is the steel AEV bumper would help some. I pay for an additional 10K insurance coverage for installed accessories although I have easily exceeded that amount by now. Hopefully my luck will extend some more.

 

[pinebaron]

Ordered a few deer whistles to install up front; I used to have them on my old SUV however never got any for the truck. It's not a perfect solution but any aid is better than none.

 

[Sdakota24]

I hit a deer Friday evening. It was a doe not much bigger than a large dog. I wasn’t going very fast 65 in a 70 on Montana Highways. That is slow for me BTW. She just walked right in front of me. I didn’t swerve just hit the brakes. She basically disintegrated. Died on impact. Good thing no suffering. I was ready to put her down if needed. I have had to in the past. This isn’t my first deer or wild animal suicide. I have hit an owl and a black bear and several other deer. Almost an elk but luckily they dodged me too. All my trucks have had brush guards. I have one on my AT4. The thing is this is my first time the guard let me down. $15k in damages. Ranch hand bent inwards busting both head lights lost both fenders hood front grill and bumper and everything plastic behind the grill. Passenger door wont open. You would have thought I hit a moose. Nope a deer who decided she couldn’t hack one more winter. my beautiful AT4 1500 6.2 is a mess. Taking it in Friday to get it repaired or start it to get it fixed. Anyway just thought I would share.

Will you put another grill guard on? I know each deer incident is unique in damage but did having the grill guard save you from more damage or did it cause more with the entire thing folding in? I have one on my old one that was custom welded and that thing wouldn’t budge from a deer. But I’ve always been on the fender about the factory grill guards. I think I’m going to hold off on getting one for my new truck. Your thoughts??

 

[kobra357]

Will you put another grill guard on? I know each deer incident is unique in damage but did having the grill guard save you from more damage or did it cause more with the entire thing folding in? I have one on my old one that was custom welded and that thing wouldn’t budge from a deer. But I’ve always been on the fender about the factory grill guards. I think I’m going to hold off on getting one for my new truck. Your thoughts??

I already added one. I wanted the full bumper/guard but my wife dislike them. She finally gave up and now we have this one. I think the first might have been installed incorrectly. IMO it was maybe tilted too close to the truck and when it flexed it took out my front end. Its only a theory. This new one will not do that.

 

[Koolbreezeya]

 

[pinebaron]

I already added one. I wanted the full bumper/guard but my wife dislike them. She finally gave up and now we have this one. I think the first might have been installed incorrectly. IMO it was maybe tilted too close to the truck and when it flexed it took out my front end. Its only a theory. This new one will not do that.

Hopefully this will also offer some protection.

 

[Sdakota24]

I already added one. I wanted the full bumper/guard but my wife dislike them. She finally gave up and now we have this one. I think the first might have been installed incorrectly. IMO it was maybe tilted too close to the truck and when it flexed it took out my front end. Its only a theory. This new one will not do that.

That is a sharp looking grill guard

 

[kobra357]

That is a sharp looking grill guard

Thank you
RanchHand. Unfortunately they are the only company you can go with if you have all the features built into the grill. It doesn’t effect the functionality of camera lane assist etc