Wisconsin 4Runners - Cheese Heads Unite!

@Thatbassguy

 

Too late.

 

Latest on the insurance / bodyshop?

 

I was expecting a call from them early this week, but apparently they couldn't get in touch with me because I'm working in a building with bad reception. They finally emailed me and I called them Thursday.

I was told to upload more pictures so I did. But, apparently I didn't upload them in the right place so I had to send more pictures and a video on Saturday morning. They should be working on their own estimate, and once that is complete I can schedule shop time. On the plus side, I'll probably still have it this weekend to drive up by my mom.

Part of the delay is my own lack of understanding of how this process works. I'm sure it will go a lot more quickly the next time I hit a deer, lol!

 

Oh man, that’s awful. Hope you see a speedy and satisfactory fix.

Any aftermarket bolt-on front bumper options that extended over the headlamps? I’ve not seen one that doesn’t entail some trimming or that may interfere with the radar equipment. We can equip cars with radar for semi-autonomous operation but design a bolt-on deer barrier is a bridge too far perhaps.

On a positive note, free beef sticks with Leine’s purchase.

 

Well, we are adding another 23 4R to the family. Long story short, the local dealer had a new 23 Limited model in a color combo identical to my wife's 19 Limited (nautical blue/red wood) but with a third row seat. The additional seating and updated electronics appealed to her. We received a trade in value of $34.5 (38k miles on the odo) and the dealer shaved $1500 off MSRP and will swap over the OE running boards/cross rails to the 23. At least three 23 4Rs sitting on the lot unsold as of this weekend including a magnetic gray ORP.

 

Yep, we're on the south-west end of Prairie.
We love this chain of lakes with all of the acerage and the eating/drinking venues right on the lake.
The Wolf's Den is about a 5 minute pontoon ride from our lake place.
The annual Lienies on the Lake (event?) is worth checking out, as is the Fishy Four.
Just north of Barron, there's a great farmers market that sets up once a week (in season) - when we first went there we were told the Amish donuts were spectacular, though we haven't had them yet.

The annual Chetek Brew and Rib fest is worth checking out also, but when tickets go on sale, you best snatch them up right away since they sell out in a mater of hours.

DM me if you're interested in getting together for occasional social stuff, though we're not social animals by any stretch of the imagination.

 

It's not over yet! When you get it back from the shop, give it a good look over like you're looking for a needle in a haystack - you'd be surprised what you find.

I'd just started working QA at my company and had recently been trained to look at detail. Was rear-ended by a teenager in stop and go traffic. Took it to the shop the insurance company recommended (they had good reviews) and wife picked it up the first time they finished work because I was on business travel. She called and said it was "clunking" over the speed bumps in the neighborhood. Told her to park it and I'd take a look when I got back.

They had to put it on a frame stretcher to get the unibody straightened out ('04 JGC) and forgot to tack weld the muffler hanger back to the unibody frame (that was the clunk). They had also replaced the hatch door with aftermarket/used parts (I assume a junkyard) per the paperwork you have to sign with the insurance company. That was fine, the hatch fit and worked well, but all around the edges of the hatch you could tell the paint had been chipped, and probably rusted, and they just painted over it. Took it back and told them that was unacceptable and they needed to grind the edges back smooth and repaint just like my original had been.

I ended up taking it back 3 times for bad door gaps and other things until I was satisfied and I think insurance paid about 50% more than the original estimate as a result, but that's not your problem. The last time I picked it up the manager walked around the vehicle with me to show they had finally addressed everything. About 50 ft down the road I turned on the turn signal and it flashed at double speed (which was an alert that the bulb wasn't flashing) so I made a u-turn and came back. This actually made it 4 times but I don't count this last one - the bulb just wasn't connected fully into the harness. A test drive would have uncovered that though.

My intention isn't to be fearful, but be diligent about the repair work. The shop has a quote and I'm sure they do everything they can to stay under because they probably pocket that (this is speculation). If the shop was recommended by the insurance company like mine was, they had no issues going back to get more money to do it right. Make sure you are satisfied with the repairs or push them to make it right.

 

I appreciate the insight. A good friend works at the shop I'm bringing it to, so I have some confidence it will be done right. But, I'll certainly pick it apart once it's done.

 

Victory told me that their hoops on the Strike bumper do not interfere with TSS.

 

Thank you. Looks like some body panel trimming is required for fitment or I'd probably grab an aluminum example. Snow forecast for tonight.

 

Pretty much any aftermarket bumper is going to require cutting the bumper cover. There might be exceptions where you remove it entirely.

 

The only ones that don't require trimming are more or less incompatible with TSS and MTM.

 

Thanks again. Bummer. There's also no compatible front bumper for use w my 2018 Suburban. Maybe I'll affix deer whistles to the cars instead? lol. Remember those things? Decent snowfall here this morning and the roads were surprisingly slick. Will be a gusty night of trick or treating too.

 

Man, I really need to check in more over here.
Anyways I do have a folder with photos and videos from the Fall Color Run up in the Clam Lake area.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1S40gyh8NpPMeva6V8ag7CHlloSVejNu0?usp=sharing

We were a bit light on 4Runners this trip so expect the photos to be Tacoma heavy.

 

Was that the WC4WD one?

I would have liked to do that one, but when I went to register it was filled…and then apparently a ton of people didn’t show.

 

No, it's the Tacomaworld and 4Runners.com Wisconsin crew trip we do every October for the last 3 years or so.

 

Buddy sent me a picture of the progress so far. Just disassembly at this point.

 

Ahh! Have to keep that in mind in the future.

 

QUICK! Get a snorkel on there.

 

How many pounds of Northwoods mud did they remove?

 

I washed it several times before taking it. I also took it to the pay and spray in dousman to get into the nooks and crannies. I think I spent like $30 there.

 

There’s one in Dousman?

That makes life easier than going to Pewaukee. Where’s it located?

 

I thought 'cheesehead' only referred to Packers fans. Is everyone from Wisconsin considered a Cheesehead?

 

Bullfrog BP, right on Main street.

They do have a bunch of signs about "no muddy trucks", etc. I'll run through a touchless automatic to get rid of the loose stuff before I go there. And, if it's really bad, I'll use the sprinkler on the underbody first. I also spend a few minutes at the end washing everything into the drain so it's not messy for the next guy.

I think I'm buying my own pressure washer next year.

 

I don't think you have to be a Packer fan to be a cheese-head. We are America's Dairyland, after all.

 

To everyone not from Wisconsin: yes.

I hate football, and the only way I know there is a game going on is if places like Home Depot are quiet.

 

Lol - agree best times to visit Menards or the Festival grocery store. Boston was the same way during a Patriots game.

 

Same. I'm not a ball sports guy. Bunch of millionaires throwing balls at each other.

 

The best part is that we pay for the stadiums, whether we use them or not.

Man, don’t even get me started.

The prospect of paying more for new digs for the Brewers when there’s a minor league team in town that provides for a better experience for the dollar just grinds my gears.