Hit a deer at about 60mph tonight...

[WKener]

Welp, unfortunately I clobbered a deer tonight... I was doing about 65mph when a pretty good sized deer ran out in front of me. I had time to slow to maybe 60mph when I nailed 'em. There was a car coming the other direction, no shoulder, and the terrain to my right was not pretty, so I had no other choice but to keep going straight and hope the deer changes directions, or something. But that didn't happen.

Luckily, for me of course, my brush guard took the impact (and did it flawlessly I might add). Besides the bits of blood and hair on the front, there was no other visible signs of impact. The brush guard is not bent at all, and no sheetmetal damage whatsoever, even though I hit it with the passenger side of the front end. I figured the brush guard might be bent in towards the body more on that side, but it doesn't look like it. I can assure you the deer wasn't so lucky.
I can look on the bright side though... I would rather have hit the deer and worry about my grill guard, than hit the oncoming car and worry about my life.
By the way, it's a Ranch Hand grill guard (not the full bumper, just the brush guard)

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'97 2500 ext cab, long bed, 4x4, 5spd
Just the stock plate forward...
New plate, etc etc on it's way.

 

[Phil Stuart]

WHEEEEWWWWW! #ad


I'll bet you thought it was going to be a lot worse huh?Glad you and the truck got out unscathed.

Phil Stuart

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`01 2500,4x4,QC,LB,ETC,5 spd(DDX),HDtransfer case(DHG)
3. 55 LSD,Tow Pkg. ,Snow plow pkg. ,Forest Green PC,Mopar alum. side steps,Mopar mud flaps with Cummins logo,Mist grey seat covers,Tekonsha brake controller,Hadley air horns,Pacbrake.
Built in St. Louis
THE BIG GREEN MACHINE

Phil Stuart

 

[Turbo Thom]

WK:
I did the same thing but it cost me $5800. 00. Lucky you are. Yeh, blessed.
Preston

 

[EMDDIESEL]

My old boss hit a Deer on his Motorcycle, doing 50MPH . And he did not fall, just bent the hell out of the forks but managed to stop without dumping it. Glad you and your Ram escaped unharmed. At least it was not a moose

 

[Bigsaint]

Glad the guard took the hit, sorry it happened. I rolled over a Whitetail two days BEFORE I put the guard on. At first, no visible damage, a closer inspection revealed a small indentation on the bumper adjacent to the passenger side fog light. My guard is on for the same purpose, hopefully I won't ever have to test it #ad
.

FYI... I don't know how the insurance co's work were you are, but here in NJ, the best bet is to hit the deer, not swerve into a tree, car, etc. to avoid same. If you report that you swerved to avoid a deer and hit something else, you'd be paying a insurance surcharge for three years with a higher premium, that is, unless you hit the deer as well AND the Police report states that it is dead at the scene.

Scott W.

White 2001. 5 3500 ETH/DEE 4X4 Quad cab SLT,tow package and camper prep,Husky liners front and rear,DiPricol pyro,boost and oil temp gauges,SPA fuel pressure and temp. gauge,Edge EZ,Psychotty air,Bully Dog stage III injectors,ATS 3 piece manifold,HX40 turbo,4" BD exhaust,4" BD E-brake,McLeod clutch,Mallory 4150 lift pump,Mag-Hytec rear,Go-Rhino grill guard,Lund bug shield,PM tractor utility back up lights,Penda bed mat,365. 8 HP on the dyno and blow by bottle is bye bye !!! I love the smell of diesel in the morning, it reminds me of... . VICTORY !!!
<A HREF="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1231655&a=9089608" TARGET=_blank><font color=red>My Truck</font></A>
<A HREF="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1231655&a=9089604" TARGET=_blank><font color=red>THE SAINTS</font></A>

 

[David_VT]

My wife as #2 behind an elderly couple that nailed a doe the other morning. Poor folks were a wreck (car too). My wife watched the darn thing run across a wide open field and then smack into that car. I figure it saw the beastly suburban and not the little toyota in front of it.

Thanks for the reminder, I keep telling myself to get a guard mounted. The first attempt was a joke which is rusting in the field as I type this. ( I was going to give it away but decided against it )

 

[Mog]

I hit one last year in my 1500 4x4 going 60 mph. I was going to take it to the dealer the next day to get a coolant leak fixed. It had a major leak after the deer hit right in the middle of my grill. The total cost was $6000. I haven't figured out how to load pictures yet.

 

[Blackdog]

I also hit one at about 65mph, and the same with me my brush guard saved everything. It didnt even leave a scratch. Thank God!!

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Test Mule for DMZ Performance
2001 Black 24v Cummins, 3/4 ton, QC, SWB, 4x4, Auto, Every Option Available, Agate Leather, 2. 5" Skyjacker Lift, 33x12. 50 BFG Mudders on 16. 5x9. 75 Weld Super Single II's, White Face Guages, Isspro Pyrometer guage, DiPricol 60lbs Boost guage on Dual A-Pillar, Cobra 29 LTD Soundtracker Nightwatch CB, Westin Chrome Brush Guard, Chrome Rocker Panels, 4" Chrome Tip, Dee Zee Diamond Plate Toolbox, Bed Rails, Tailgate Protector, Drawtite Removable Gooseneck Ball, Straight Piped, Silencer Ring Removed, K&N RE-0880, HX35 w/ 12cm Housing, JVD, BIG Custom Injectors, Pro Torque Convertor, Performance Custom Valve Body, Shift Kit, Holley Pro Lift Pump, Custom fuel lines
#ad

"Dodge Makes It, Cummins Shakes It"

#3 Dale Earnhardt Forever!

[This message has been edited by Blackdog (edited 05-09-2001). ]

 

[wyosteveOLD]

Add me to the list--I hit one yesterday morning around 10 a. m. Pulling the long grade west of Charlottesville,VA. I was watching all the gauges and she squirts out full bore from the left. No chance or choice but to smack her. Hit the right front. Pushed the bumper back about 1. 5 inches and knocked the fog light loose. Had that happen on my '95 and a good come-along and hammer got the bumper back good enough to align all that fine plastic. That's tomorrow morning's project. I've been thinking about a good heavy duty grille guard or bumper. Maybe now's the time. Any suggestions?

 

[QRTRHRS]

Check out this thread on bumpers. The one from Roadarmour that protects the hood is pretty wild but a bit too much for me. Wished I would a had one when I got my deer though. https://www.turbodieselregister.com/ubb//Forum3/HTML/003542.html

 

[DieselDoghouse]

Sorry to hear about your encounter with Bambo, but glad all are ok (well, except deer). I once was hit in the rear by a buck when I blew my horn…in a Datsun B210 (he was faster caught up to me!) ANYWAY, there is the electronic deer whistle (the Hornet by XP3). It does seem to keep varmits away but I'm not convinced it can handle the voltage spikes of a 140A charge, 2 battery rig. I finally fed my replacement unit through a voltage regulator chip and it has been fine, but they shoulda thought of that! BTW, Simple Green does pretty well at removing the blood & gore!