1996 U280 fiberglass repair after front tire blowing on interstate

Topic: 1996 U280 fiberglass repair after front tire blowing on interstate (Read 1189 times) previous topic - next topic

1996 U280 fiberglass repair after front tire blowing on interstate

December 04, 2019, 06:15:47 pm

I posted a couple weeks ago that we had a blow out on the front passenger tire on the interstate.
It pulled us into the guardrail and damaged the fiberglass from the front bumper to the tire.
We had the tire replaced and drove it to a body shop in Mt Vernon OH. There is no mechanical damage only cosmetic.
Our insurance company went to look at it and estimated there was 25,000.00 worth of damage but they'll only pay 15,000 because that's the NADA value. This is the first motorhome we've owned out right so I didn't know I needed to set a value on it when I got insurance.
We paid cash for the motorhome in 2017 and we probably have 25,000 in it with all the repairs we've done to it.
I'm leaning towards buying it back and fixing it ourselves.
We can't get another for 15,000.00.
This one only has 60,000 miles has new tires, airbags, one new air conditioner and is set up perfect for us.
They tried to call salvage yards to look for parts but the possibility of finding a 1996 U280 is not great.
Does anyone know what's years of u280s had the same body style as the 1996?
Does foretravel sell replacement fiberglass.
I've got a call in to them but they haven't called me back.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks, Susan and Bob

Re: 1996 U280 fiberglass repair after front tire blowing on interstate

Reply #1 – December 04, 2019, 06:24:57 pm

Please post pictures so we can give you more accurate advice.

Re: 1996 U280 fiberglass repair after front tire blowing on interstate

Reply #2 – December 04, 2019, 06:26:23 pm

Read the posts in discussions on agreed value insurance. David had to get a third party appraiser to deal with the insurance company to get his value.

Re: 1996 U280 fiberglass repair after front tire blowing on interstate

Reply #3 – December 04, 2019, 07:03:21 pm

Added a picture

Re: 1996 U280 fiberglass repair after front tire blowing on interstate

Reply #4 – December 04, 2019, 07:05:56 pm

As craneman said "Read the posts in discussions on agreed value insurance. David had to get a third party appraiser to deal with the insurance company to get his value."

The NADA is mostly used by financial institutions, and that is ok. It is a guide sold for $$$ to insurance companies, financial institutions, and dealers.

It is just that, a guide and has little to do with the value of your rv.

If your situation was mine, I would not yet go out on your own to have it appraised. I would first tell them you do not want it totaled and ask them to get an appraisal.

What you paid for it is immaterial, however what you have spent on it the last year is. The appraisal they get get will only value invoices you supply to them and pictures you provide. So tell them the NADA guide in your opinion is not an appraisal of current value, if they want to total it you would like THEM to get an independent appraisal, with the invoices and pictures you provide, to show to you it's value.

After you see the appraisal you can deal with that then. They may decide to fix it after getting an appraisal. Realize the appraiser they get, only works for them and the other insurance companies.

Also you may have it at the wrong body shop. Others that specialize in rv fiberglass repair may do it for less. They might be giving an estimate for a replacement entire front cap and side wall, when another shop might just fabricate the section that is needed. Three years ago I had similar damage to yours on a 40 ft Monaco, repair was $9,500. The body shop used equipment to match the other side, came out better than original.

Realize if you buy it back, it will have a salvaged title, probably prohibiting you from ever insuring it again. It definitely will make it harder for you to ever sell.

Best of luck getting your insurance company to do the right thing, which is coinciding with your wishes.

Re: 1996 U280 fiberglass repair after front tire blowing on interstate

Reply #5 – December 04, 2019, 07:15:10 pm

According to our guide last month when we took the tour of the FT factory all the fiberglass parts are available, they have all the molds.
They keep them in Nag and send them to the fiberglass company which I understood was about an hour away.
Suggest you give the factory a call
Sorry you had that happen!
Yes: this is where "stated value" insurance comes into its own.

Re: 1996 U280 fiberglass repair after front tire blowing on interstate

Reply #6 – December 04, 2019, 07:20:12 pm

Quote from: "Irish" – December 04, 2019, 07:15:10 pm

According to our guide last month when we took the tour of the FT factory all the fiberglass parts are available, they have all the molds.
They keep them in Nag and send them to the fiberglass company which I understood was about an hour away.
Suggest you give the factory a call
Sorry you had that happen!
Yes: this is where "stated value" insurance comes into its own.

I believe they sold off all of the older molds actually. They can be fixed though at a good fiberglass place.

Re: 1996 U280 fiberglass repair after front tire blowing on interstate

Reply #7 – December 04, 2019, 07:20:54 pm

Take some good pictures and send them to Xtreme in Nacodoches. They should be able to give you a pretty accurate estimate from them.

Re: 1996 U280 fiberglass repair after front tire blowing on interstate

Reply #8 – December 04, 2019, 08:23:09 pm

Quote from: wolfe10 – December 04, 2019, 07:20:54 pm

Take some good pictures and send them to Xtreme in Nacodoches. They should be able to give you a pretty accurate estimate from them.

I 2nd that. See what Xtreme says: Xtreme Paint & Graphics

Re: 1996 U280 fiberglass repair after front tire blowing on interstate

Reply #9 – December 04, 2019, 08:30:34 pm

The basic front cap is like a U300/U280 @102 inches. The exception is the ICC lights and the nice front end access door that came out in 1995. Better photos from different angles would sure help. Is it driveable now?

Pierce

Re: 1996 U280 fiberglass repair after front tire blowing on interstate

Reply #10 – December 04, 2019, 11:08:55 pm

A typical body shop is a metal parts swap shop, so estimate will be extremely severly inflated as they have little experience. Need to find a fiberglass repair shop.

Re: 1996 U280 fiberglass repair after front tire blowing on interstate

Reply #11 – December 05, 2019, 12:19:42 am

Need to find the one guy in town that does boat fiberglass repair. Every town around a water destination has one. Not the dealer that sells boats, but the one man that does repairs for them and the boat rental shop. Good luck on your repairs. TPMS are worth every penny. Newer ones show pressure and temperature.

Re: 1996 U280 fiberglass repair after front tire blowing on interstate

Reply #12 – December 05, 2019, 07:20:15 am

X2 did
I was fortunate enough to find the one guy to do a basement door repair-- Too bad he is retired but a cousin of mine got him to do the repair. A good fiberglass man is worth his weight in gold, there are not many around!!
Chris

Re: 1996 U280 fiberglass repair after front tire blowing on interstate

Reply #13 – December 05, 2019, 09:24:11 am

The RV Fog Doctor in Searcy Arkansas does excellent fiberglass body repair. They are, in fact, a division of a body shop located across the street from them. They have a couple of indoor bays dedicated to RV body work. Give them a call.
We saw some of their work when we were up there a few weeks ago.

Re: 1996 U280 fiberglass repair after front tire blowing on interstate

Reply #14 – December 05, 2019, 09:33:02 am

For Susan and Bob. Rocky1down, that started this thread:
Alot of good advice and experiences in this thread. Salvaged and blemished title laws vary from state to state. Best to research salvage title in state you titled your vehicle.

Since you live in Ohio, I've attached the following. however, it is not from your states Bureau of Motor Vehicles, BMV. Their site appears down here at this time. I would have preferred a link there.

Research your specific laws, as this article may not be current. I would also call your DMV to get currant publications on this.

Vehicle Salvage Title Rules in Ohio | Pocketsense

Re: 1996 U280 fiberglass repair after front tire blowing on interstate

Reply #15 – December 05, 2019, 10:00:39 am

I've had a dog hit the gear shift and the car and dog went over the edge in our property and hit a tree. A Vanagon got a rock in a caliper, the brake pedal went to the floor, it rolled backwards into a telephone poll. Both times the car/van was totaled but the insurance company just sent me a check and let me keep the vehicle. No problem with title or insurance. You are going to have to be pro-active with the insurance company. Don't roll over for them. With the Vanagon Camper, they sent a check for a couple thousand less than I wanted so I just copied a couple of newspaper ads, sent them and they coughed up the extra $$. Hey, you have the title in your hands! No need to give it up.

Still need photos, what brand of tire, is it driveable, did you have a spare tire onboard?

Pierce

Re: 1996 U280 fiberglass repair after front tire blowing on interstate

Reply #16 – December 05, 2019, 10:16:31 am

In Oklahoma that age vehicle would not require a salvage title. Like some have said it varies by state. It's worth the trip to get it to the right repair facility.

Re: 1996 U280 fiberglass repair after front tire blowing on interstate

Reply #17 – December 05, 2019, 10:21:49 am

It was a Michelin Tire. We had a mobile service come and put a new tire on and drove it 2 1/2 hours home then 1 1/2 hours to get a quote on fixing it.
No mechanical problems at all.
I sent pictures to Brad in the parts dept at Foretravel so I'm waiting to hear back from him.
Do you think they would still give us more since it was just insured for actual value instead of stated or appraised value? We have progressive.
We live in Ohio and if we have to get a salvage title we can fix it, have it inspected, and get a rebuilt salvage title but would probably only be able to get liability insurance at that point. I posted one picture on the original post so I could probably post more there.

Re: 1996 U280 fiberglass repair after front tire blowing on interstate

Reply #18 – December 05, 2019, 10:31:15 am

Quote from: Rocky1down – December 05, 2019, 10:21:49 am

It was a Michelin Tire. We had a mobile service come and put a new tire on and drove it 2 1/2 hours home then 1 1/2 hours to get a quote on fixing it.
No mechanical problems at all.
I sent pictures to Brad in the parts dept at Foretravel so I'm waiting to hear back from him.
Do you think they would still give us more since it was just insured for actual value instead of stated or appraised value? We have progressive.
We live in Ohio and if we have to get a salvage title we can fix it, have it inspected, and get a rebuilt salvage title but would probably only be able to get liability insurance at that point. I posted one picture on the original post so I could probably post more there.

No, if that was the insured value. More if it was insured for actual value. Download ads off the internet and present them.

Establish a dialogue with a person at the insurance company (write his/her extension number down) and explain the situation. Most insurance companies won't require you to give up the title. They get almost nothing for a wrecked coach. Again, don't roll over for them, insist on the full amount and keep the vehicle. Both times, my insurance company did not drop me after paying me off for the total. Squeaky wheel gets the grease.

The big plus here is the fact that your coach is driveable. You can call Fiberglas repair shops after reading Yelp/etc. reviews and then drive it to get it fixed. Many folks can't drive the coach and are at the mercy of the shop where the coach was towed.

Pierce

Re: 1996 U280 fiberglass repair after front tire blowing on interstate

Reply #19 – December 05, 2019, 11:10:57 am

I have a call in to a fiberglass shop that is closer to us. I'm frustrated with the place we took it because they have had it over a week and still haven't gotten back to me with a quote. I'm wondering if they think they don't have to since the insurance company said it would cost 10,000 more to fix it than what the insurance company is willing to give us. We are willing to pay more than the insurance company is offering but not 10,000 more.

Re: 1996 U280 fiberglass repair after front tire blowing on interstate

Reply #20 – December 05, 2019, 04:18:46 pm

Read what David posted about his coach and hiring independent appraiser also getting sale prices of similar coaches
Just a thought
Chris

Re: 1996 U280 fiberglass repair after front tire blowing on interstate

Reply #21 – December 05, 2019, 05:25:19 pm

I went through this insurance negotiation with a Jeep many years ago. I was hit on a head on so the Jeep was truly totaled. However I had in the prior year spent several thousands of dollars on a new engine, conversion to fuel injection, etc. I was able to produce the receipts and I more than doubled my insurance payout. I told them I wanted to keep it. I think we negotiated something like $1000. They sent me a check reduced by the $1000 and I went about my way. I bought another jeep with a blown engine and shredded interior and built one out of the two.

I would think you can get the payoff increased by showing recent, above and beyond standard maintenance, receipts. Negotiate to keep it after agreeing on a payoff amount and then go about getting it repaired yourself. I'm in Southern California, but a quick CL search turned up half a dozen shops and individuals that do fiberglass/boat repair. Do you want perfection, or do you want a 20/20 job? Looks good from 20 feet or at 20 mph.

Re: 1996 U280 fiberglass repair after front tire blowing on interstate

Reply #22 – December 05, 2019, 06:17:28 pm

Try to get the adjustment negotiated upwards, lots of good advice has been given on this.

I was faced with a similar situation. U295 flat nose coach with front entry. Far more damage than yours. Called Foretravel, the only way they could supply a replacement part was a complete front cap at $18K for part only. Now, I also had a front entry with the door knocked askew, and the generator was shoved back and balled up. These are both tricky, complex repairs whereas you basically have some fiberglass damage. Here's my advice....

Take the money and either find a fiberglass guy who can repair or , as I did, do it yourself. The actual cost of repairs, for me, for parts and mtl only, was around 2500.00, including a HID headlight retrofit and fabricating/welding up a new generator subframe. All labor done by me, mind you. No one will look at it and think Xtreme did the body work, but it really looks quite ok. I've driven my coach for almost 80K miles since. Very happy with it. Really happy with my financial position...

Basically, you have the opportunity to pretty much recover the cost of your coach with a little sweat equity. The really sweet way to do this repair is to find someone with the same coach who will allow you to pull a mold from the affected area. That makes it very easy....but basically slowly and methodically building up the area with glass will yield an acceptable repair. Clean up the damaged area, put some new tires on it, and go to it. PM me if you need any further details.

Re: 1996 U280 fiberglass repair after front tire blowing on interstate

Reply #23 – December 07, 2019, 05:47:26 am

It cost me $4,500 to have similar damage repaired at Xtreme.

Re: 1996 U280 fiberglass repair after front tire blowing on interstate

Reply #24 – December 07, 2019, 10:48:17 am

There is always Rocky Point also.. or other places in Mexico.. if you are into that or not.. If not.. disregard.

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