Deer vs Ranger

[Red Ranger]

Last Monday night I hit a deer with my 2000 Ranger. Since I was only carrying liability insurance all repair are up to me. I've got an estimate for $3100 - $3400 depending if I blend the paint. According to KBB truck is only worth about the same amount. This is what is needed as far as I can tell.
Hood, radiator support, grill, grill reinforcement panel, l/h headlight, a/c condenser, radiator and necessary hardware. I can get everything I need from LMC Truck. Both fenders are good as is the bumper. Frame also looks straight.

Question, Is the radiator support welded in any where, or is it a strict bolt on piece?
Does anybody produce a body shop manual for the 2000 Ranger? I have a service manual on cd, but it doesn't cover body panel/grill/radiator support removal.

Pictures can be seen here: https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=71A05395DA84F1B5!910&authkey=!AJVQCZiPJc7qWhY

Ranger has 164,000 miles on it and runs just fine mechanically.
Thanks for any advice.

 

[tony314]

Little paint and it'll come right out

 

[tony314]

Check Certi-fit for body parts!

 

[Andy D]

pound it out enough to hang a headlight , and then take your time looking for used parts in red, The radiator shell ,just needs to be sound, it doesn't need to be beautiful. Hang a nice looking grill on it and only you will know.

 

[doorgunner]

Even if the Rad supports are welded---you can cut the ruined supports aloose leaving a couple inches sticking up at each welded location---then buy a used support/fit it in place & weld it to to existing "stubs". Do the same procedure with the grill support if it doen't bolt-in. (buy new/aftermarket supports if money is not an issue...or get the used stuff & apply the saved money to a new grill/lights/hood/paint job on all replaced panels & hood).

The good news is....the money you would have spent on full coverage was actually only a "prepayment" of any future damages...so basically it's a "wash".

 

[Destroyer000]

the rad support is spot welded the each inner fender... buy a spot weld bit remover an go to town.. not that bad to do. then just weld it back in place. i bought my rad support online for about 80 bucks shipped.

 

[Ranger1776]

Add about 150 dollars in steel to your budget and build a grille guard like mine... never worry about deer again, or other cars, or mailboxes, or s10's. when i got my truck i had to replace the header panel all the lights and the grill because the guy hit a deer with it... 2 actually... he hit one, then fixed it all, then his wife hit one and he just duct taped it... and the radiator support just because it was really rusty... spot weld remover is what you need as Destroyer000 said. then i used my mig welder to re-weld the fenders to the new radiator support.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Add about 150 dollars in steel to your budget and build a grille guard like mine... never worry about deer again, or other cars, or mailboxes, or s10's. when i got my truck i had to replace the header panel all the lights and the grill because the guy hit a deer with it... 2 actually... he hit one, then fixed it all, then his wife hit one and he just duct taped it... and the radiator support just because it was really rusty... spot weld remover is what you need as Destroyer000 said. then i used my mig welder to re-weld the fenders to the new radiator support.

Deer are nothing to be triffled with...

The one I hit did virtually nothing to the front end, it spun around and declared war on the rear side of my wheel well.

3 miles from my house a young lady had one jump through her windshield, broke her neck on impact and killed her instantly. Her little sister made it through the following rollover ok at least.

 

[PanamaExpat]

I had a deer to 15k worth of damage to my Mercedes when I lived in the states. I really liked that car too. Insurance adjuster couldn't believe that amount of damage was caused only by a deer.
I would start combing the junkyards you can probably get a whole front clip for under a thousand. Might get lucky and get the same color also.

 

[88_Eddie]

i'm an insurance adjuster and this time of year, easily 75% of the claims i get are from deer hits. i dont know what it is. maybe the hunters have them scared? i dont know. i actually just totalled a guys jeep this week, but it was older.

i'd find junkyard parts if i were you. there's no reason to buy brand new stuff to throw on a 2000 model vehicle of any make. then paint all the outside pieces to match.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

i'm an insurance adjuster and this time of year, easily 75% of the claims i get are from deer hits. i dont know what it is. maybe the hunters have them scared?

Hunters play a part but mainly it is the rut or their mating season. We have only had archery and muzzleloader seasons running until today and there is usually a fresh grease smear every day on the way to my house 6 miles out of town, they don't get too spooked by that kind of a hunter. It is when the guys come out with their pump and semi auto shotguts and later on rifles that they really get spooky.

The bucks get plain stupid and will even charge a car if it gets between them and whatever harem of does it has latched on to. So then you have bucks chasing other bucks to scare them off, chasing does around trying to have their way with them and does running away trying to get rid of bucks... it is a mess.

They are really only thinking of one thing and it isn't looking both ways before crossing the street.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rut_(mammalian_reproduction)

 

[88_Eddie]

They are really only thinking of one thing and it isn't looking both ways before crossing the street.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rut_(mammalian_reproduction)

makes sense .....i used to do the same thing during college, but i wasnt chasing does and usually checked both ways before crossing the street

 

[Red Ranger]

Thanks for all the advice