How to get repair work done following an accident?

Topic: How to get repair work done following an accident? (Read 2866 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: How to get repair work done following an accident?

Reply #25 – June 25, 2020, 06:23:46 pm

Not likely

Re: How to get repair work done following an accident?

Reply #26 – June 25, 2020, 06:27:29 pm

Do you have a tow car and away to get around?. Will try to get you some help if not.

Re: How to get repair work done following an accident?

Reply #27 – June 25, 2020, 07:39:33 pm

Quote from: John S – June 25, 2020, 02:27:11 pm

....... I would only go to xtreme so get a quote from them and how to get it there if you can rig a mirror and attach the cap a bit......

If you determine you are able to drive versus tow and you can rig a mirror you can secure the gelcoat by drilling holes along both sides of torn gelcoat and stitch together using tie wraps in place of some of the duct tape.
Tony

Re: How to get repair work done following an accident?

Reply #28 – June 25, 2020, 07:43:32 pm

Guys,

I am a little concerned about us offering advice on it is "safe to drive" based on the few pictures we have.

Better to get advice from someone knowledgeable with first hand information.

Re: How to get repair work done following an accident?

Reply #29 – June 25, 2020, 08:17:47 pm

Quote from: wolfe10 – June 25, 2020, 07:43:32 pm

Guys,

I am a little concerned about us offering advice on it is "safe to drive" based on the few pictures we have.

Better to get advice from someone knowledgeable with first hand information.

Well said Brett. I imagine most folks would mean AFTER a safety inspection. Then it might offer them a means to have the proper folks do a fix.

Re: How to get repair work done following an accident?

Reply #30 – June 25, 2020, 10:27:46 pm

Quote from: Dub – June 25, 2020, 06:27:29 pm

Do you have a tow car and away to get around?. Will try to get you some help if not.

Thankfully the toad survived and we do have that with us. Thank you for your offer.

Re: How to get repair work done following an accident?

Reply #31 – June 25, 2020, 10:47:04 pm

Quote from: Dub – June 25, 2020, 06:27:29 pm

Do you have a tow car and away to get around?. Will try to get you some help if not.

Yes we have a towed Jeep Grand Cherokee that fortunately did not get damaged. On a side note though, the only reason we were on that road where we got hit is that we had just experienced, I mean 2 minutes before, the infamous death-wobble with the towed jeep. First time towing, and in fact just had the tow bar and air brakes installed at M&G that same morning!

Re: How to get repair work done following an accident?

Reply #32 – June 25, 2020, 10:53:13 pm

I'm an agent for another major company. The adjuster won't have a clue what he or she is looking at. NADA is meaningless for Foretravels as we all know. You first need to decide if you want it repaired or totaled. Then you need an opinion from Nach with all the photos you can send. That sure looks like a nice coach. I imagine you'd hate to give it up. Even if they do total it and you want to keep the salvage and have it repaired that may be a good deal for you. In our state (Oklahoma) it wouldn't get a salvage title. It would be a regular title because of its age.

I don't recommend a lawyer at this point. Allstate hasn't done anything wrong and their lawyers don't look at claims unless something goes way off the rails.

Best wishes on this. Glad you're ok.

Re: How to get repair work done following an accident?

Reply #33 – June 25, 2020, 11:24:41 pm

Make a list of comparable coaches for sale.

Re: How to get repair work done following an accident?

Reply #34 – June 25, 2020, 11:37:10 pm

Bretts 100% correct. It's all about the running gear. You really need to get under that coach and take a good look. If this is not an area of your expertise find somebody. Lot's of lines up front. Air, Hydraulic fluid.that are critical to running down the road safely. Lots of other stuff like your steering gear. All that trim stuff can be covered up with that tape the Nascar guys use to hold it together after a wreck. Heck when I was a teenager I drove a pickup that looked worse than that as my daily driver!

Re: How to get repair work done following an accident?

Reply #35 – June 27, 2020, 09:22:49 am

Quote from: Johnstons – June 25, 2020, 10:53:13 pm

I'm an agent for another major company. The adjuster won't have a clue what he or she is looking at. NADA is meaningless for Foretravels as we all know. You first need to decide if you want it repaired or totaled. Then you need an opinion from Nach with all the photos you can send. That sure looks like a nice coach. I imagine you'd hate to give it up. Even if they do total it and you want to keep the salvage and have it repaired that may be a good deal for you. In our state (Oklahoma) it wouldn't get a salvage title. It would be a regular title because of its age.

We definitely don't want to give this coach up. We're pretty sure all systems are "go" and it's driveable, and the damage is just cosmetic as well as parts for the generator radiator. If they total it and we want to keep it, we're afraid we'll loose lots of money. How do we find out the ACV, and the salvage value that Progressive will want to subtract from that in order for us to keep it?

Re: How to get repair work done following an accident?

Reply #36 – June 27, 2020, 10:04:11 am

Totaled is a misnomer. To an insurance company it means that it would cost more to repair it than they estimate it is worth. To the rest of us it means it has no value. Many years ago, my wife was rear ended at a stop light knocking her into the vehicle in front of hers. No major injuries but she was very pregnant. The insurance company said our several year old Simca coupe was totaled and offered us the salvage value. I said fine, and as this is the value of the car, I'll just keep the wreck. Oh, no,we get the car. I said why do you want it,you have just said "it is totaled". Obviousally, a flaw in their argument. I advised them that my wife was 6 or 7 months along in her pregnancy (yes she was using a seat belt, they had just become standard) and I thought we ought to get X-rays of her neck and have a doctor check her neck. They paid the salvage price, I kept the car, adhesive taped the front bumper and fenders and headlights, the trunk lid, rear fenders and tail lights and drove the car to work for two more years and sold it for $200. (1962)

Re: How to get repair work done following an accident?

Reply #37 – June 27, 2020, 10:21:18 am

Quote from: Dan Keyes – June 27, 2020, 09:22:49 am

Progressive will want to subtract from that in order for us to keep it?

From my experience of years owning a body shop, being an insurance agent, depending on the estimate to repair, Progressive will use an outside company to value, that only performs work for insurance companies.

You would be better off instead of getting appraisal information doing this: gather togeather proof of what you paid, proof of any repairs or maintenance ou made after the purchase, and a specific list of all options and updates by the previous owner. Pictures of updates by previous owner if you do not have receipts. The insurance company, with that much damage, may want to total to avoid supplemental estimates of hidden damage or any supplemental bills after the repair. Often their threshold is 30% of book value, as they have agreements with national salvage yards to buy for 25% of book value.

I would gather all this to boost the value to what you concider is acceptable. You may be surprised at what they offer you, making you whole again.

Remember, the whole process is negotiable. You do not have to accept their first offer. Time to settle is on your side. If you decide to purchase salvage, do find out what you are getting into to repair, and register in your state. Some insurance companies do not allow owner to purchase salvage. However, all is negotiable. If they make you an offer you want to accept, and think it is unfair, always take a couple days to think it over.

Re: How to get repair work done following an accident?

Reply #38 – June 27, 2020, 10:31:06 am

Re: salvage title. I know that Newell refuses to work on a Newell with a salvage title regardless of age. Does Foretravel have the same policy? May be a moot point with MOT and others available to work on it. Just another thing to consider.

Re: How to get repair work done following an accident?

Reply #39 – June 27, 2020, 10:41:48 am

My 1999 U270 was under a Kentucky salvage title when I purchased it 1 yr ago. Mot, Fot and Stewart Stevenson all did service on it. At no time did anyone ask about title. It is now under a blue Texas title.
Mark

Re: How to get repair work done following an accident?

Reply #40 – June 27, 2020, 11:13:11 am

Here's another interesting thought. I don't even know what state's laws/regulations apply here. I bought the coach at MOT in Texas. They gave me a 60 day temporary plate. The title was from Montana, and it was signed over to me as a resident of Florida, but I have not registered the vehicle in Florida, or applied for a Florida title, or paid any sales tax which happens at time of registration, because I am out of state.

Re: How to get repair work done following an accident?

Reply #41 – June 27, 2020, 11:40:26 am

Very glad you and your family are well!

I would make a call to MOT. Maybe they could sent someone to inspect and photograph the damage. That way you would have an expert opinion on damage and possible repairs before deciding what YOU want to do.

How long will it be in impound?

Re: How to get repair work done following an accident?

Reply #42 – June 27, 2020, 11:48:29 am

Quote from: Dan Keyes – June 27, 2020, 11:13:11 am

Here's another interesting thought. I don't even know what state's laws/regulations apply here. ......

If the rv is deemed a total loss, the insurance company is generally required by law to have you surrender the title and report it as a total loss, so the title is blemished.

I do not know what Progressive will do. Depending on the insurance company, the adjusters knowledge, the state working the claim, things can vary.

Some states mark the title salvage, previously salvage, or alliw a "rebuilt title." Some insurance companies have tightened up on this, and some have not. Some insurance companies have been sued because of a subsequent loss by a subsequent owner, who did not know the vehicle had previously been declared a total loss.

Re: How to get repair work done following an accident?

Reply #43 – June 27, 2020, 12:15:51 pm

Hopefully if totalled. You save state tax.

Update idea: after all you were planning on titling it in South DAKOTA. Which has no sales tax on rv.

Re: How to get repair work done following an accident?

Reply #44 – June 27, 2020, 12:58:34 pm

Saturday morning update.
I got under the coach yesterday, and to my eyes it doesn't appear that any of the drive train was effected. We checked for wheel rub side to side, okay. Air bags inflate and stay up. Drove it out of the impound yard and 2 miles to a nice campground where we are now. Drove okay that short distance.
I can probably, with duct tape and maybe some strapping, secure the loose front cap. Also tape a temporary mirror onto what's left of the old one. With these efforts I'd consider a slow drive down to Nac. I have one concern, which can be seen in the photo. A steering component, I don't know the name for it, but there's a vertical shaft that comes down from the steering wheel, moves forward and back as the steering wheel is turned. This component connects that vertical shaft to a horizontal shaft which extends back towards the front axle and steers the wheels. There is a rubber covering over that connecting component, to keep grease and dirt out I am guessing, that is cracked. See photos. Should I be worried about this in a 300 mile drive down to Nacogdoches?

Re: How to get repair work done following an accident?

Reply #45 – June 27, 2020, 01:02:15 pm

Normal age cracking. Replace the rubber boot as things go along

Re: How to get repair work done following an accident?

Reply #46 – June 27, 2020, 01:06:14 pm

Yup that is the pitman arm to drag link joint (on the drag link).

If no play in the joint, you are good to go.

Your choice then is to either grease the joint frequently and replace only when there is play OR replace the boot now (assuming zero play).