My bumper became one with the wild...(life)
 

So last night in the dead of night during the crazy amount of rain in New Orleans, I accidentally hit a raccoon crossing the road. In my defense he didn't look both ways, in his defense...it was a raccoon.

So I'm left with some damage. Front bumper cracked, grill bent inwards, and what looks like the gravel shield underneath is snapped. Few questions:

-If i take off the shield from underneath, will i run into any issues? It'd be temporary until I figure out what to do to get it all repaired.

-Does anyone think i have any hidden damage under the car? I hit that sucker doing 60 in the rain. I couldn't have hit the brakes or else I would have hydroplaned and had a cold wet swampy dirty nap.

-Has anyone had any luck finding bumpers and extras at junkyards? My deductible is an even grand, and I'm sure it won't cost that much to get this repaired.

Pictures here

Taking the shield off temporarily will not be an issue.

Odds are that if it caused any serious damage under the car you would know by now. If all seems fine then it probably is.

If you can find a colour matched bumper at a wrecker the you may be able to come in under $1K but otherwise it will cost you at least that. You could shop around for a lip that would cover most of that damage for considerably less.

Don't be so glib about the poor raccoon. Think of it's family waiting for it too come home. "Mommy where is daddy with the garbage?"

http://photoity.com/wp-content/uploa...by-Raccoon.jpg

If that's the case, I'm wondering if I should just file a claim through my insurance, that way if anything else is messed up I don't have to deal with it.

As far as lips...do you know one you'd recommend that may cover the crack?

Thanks!

Sorry can't help there as I am not much of a lip guy. There are a few around that should cover at least most of that crack. Maybe somebody else can chime in, you can check Ebay or there is something here http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3505
Check with your insurance though as hitting animals is frequently covered by comprehensive not collision and the deductible is often much less.

i would just keep an eye out in the classifieds for someone selling their front bumper

5 axis lip.

You can find a unpainted bumper for about 350 and get it painted for about 500 it will save you some money verse using your insurance. Shop around for prices.

The damage should be covered under your comprehensive portion using that deductible.. Hitting live animals are under comprehensive and dead ones are an accident. I should know. Been there. ;)

No matter what, Tell the insurance agent the animal was alive. This should not affect your rates.

Really? It won't bring up my insurance premium? If that's the case I'd fork out the deductible so it can be completely done once over and I won't have to worry about shoddy paint jobs and missing parts.

heck your policy but it shouldn't. I got hit by some flying debris and since it was moving (It hit me I didn't hit it) it was comprehensive and did not touch my premiums.

I'll need someone to chuck small rocks at my hood in a year or two then :)

That is a nasty tear .........:cry:

You could just jack up the bumper, so the cracked part comes together, place two metal straps behind it, drill holes through the straps and bumper, put in bolts. Drill holes in the gravel pan, zip tie it up into place. Fill in with bondo, sand and paint with rattle can.

OR, call your insurance and have it fixed proper ...... :D

The next time you go coon hunting, I suggest you use a coonhound and a rifle.......... :popcorn:


humfrz

Don't think they would go for that one. I got hit by a very large, flying chunk of steel (I suspect it was a lower control arm) that a truck hit and threw at me. The adjuster asked me about 10 times if it was moving and hit me or if I hit it. Wasn't until the end of the conversation where she told me if it was moving it was comprehensive that I understood what the intense interest in the physics of the incident was all about.

- ForceWerkz V1
- TRD
- 5 axis
Above 3 front lips will definitely hide the crack. It seems ForceWerkz lip is the cheapest solution if you dont paint match the lip.