Hail damage to my truck and trailer - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #1 04-01-2012, 10:10 PM

On our way to Florida we got caught out on the interstate in a major hail storm. Size of fifty cent pieces it said on the radio. We pulled off as soon as we could and took a break. The traffic was stopping along the side of the road because of lack of visibility. Funny thing was we got caught in another hail storm on the way back.

We have lots of dents on my Dodge and on the trailer. I called my insurance company on Monday and reported it.

any comments on what I need to think about in talking with my insurance company?

Palangi · #2 04-01-2012, 10:29 PM

I went through this with a Toyota 4-Runner about 10 years ago. Looked like it had been worked over with a ball peen hammer. Body shop did an amazing job on it. Basically perfect.

My only real advice would be, if they are going to replace any parts, make sure they are genuine Dodge parts. I could probably be persueded to use what the insurance companies like to call "Recycled parts", but not Taiwan / China parts. Also, if they end up replacing the hood, make sure any insulation and decals get replaced. Take a picture of the underside of the hood before the work starts.

cmbdiesel · #3 04-01-2012, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palangi

I went through this with a Toyota 4-Runner about 10 years ago. Looked like it had been worked over with a ball peen hammer. Body shop did an amazing job on it. Basically perfect.

My only real advice would be, if they are going to replace any parts, make sure they are genuine Dodge parts. I could probably be persueded to use what the insurance companies like to call "Recycled parts", but not Taiwan / China parts. Also, if they end up replacing the hood, make sure any insulation and decals get replaced. Take a picture of the underside of the hood before the work starts.

only way to get OEM replacement parts is to have an OEM rider on the policy or pay the difference yourself. Insurance won't pay for it.

Depending on the depth of the dings, they would most likely use PDR (paintless dent repair) ,someone good at it can do wonders

Palangi · #4 04-01-2012, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmbdiesel

only way to get OEM replacement parts is to have an OEM rider on the policy or pay the difference yourself. Insurance won't pay for it.

Depending on the depth of the dings, they would most likely use PDR (paintless dent repair) ,someone good at it can do wonders

Might vary by state or by insurance company. State Farm got their socks sued off around here about 25 years ago for using substandard Asian parts. They lost.

Edit: Looks like you are correct. State Farm website now says that the owner can choose to pay the cost difference. Wasn't that way a few years ago. It does say, however, that they promise that you will be satisfied with the quality of parts. I bet I could nit-pick a Taiwan Forge Company hood to death until they just give up, though......

catmandoo62 · #5 04-02-2012, 09:01 AM

as we know the chinese parts are cheap knock-offs.whats to say they have the same structural integrity as oem parts.as for say a grille or plastic parts i guess i really wouldn't care,but majore parts like fenders,doors,bumpers i would want oem parts.ii had my truck fixed years ago because of a deer.they used a chinese grille and the oem chevy emblem wouldn't fit.you had to use the chinese one.

t walgamuth · #6 04-02-2012, 09:08 AM

Was the emblem in Chinese or English?

kerry · #7 04-02-2012, 09:19 AM

Lots of cars get totaled in Colorado each year due to hail damage. It's not unusual to see relatively new high end cars being driven with hundreds of dents all over them. Mechanically fine, cosmetically unusual. Depending on your economic circumstance it might be reasonable to take the value of your vehicles from the insurance company, buy them back and continue driving them. How important is cosmetic appearance to you?

panZZer · #8 04-02-2012, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

On our way to Florida we got caught out on the interstate in a major hail storm. Size of fifty cent pieces it said on the radio. We pulled off as soon as we could and took a break. The traffic was stopping along the side of the road because of lack of visibility. Funny thing was we got caught in another hail storm on the way back.

We have lots of dents on my Dodge and on the trailer. I called my insurance company on Monday and reported it.

any comments on what I need to think about in talking with my insurance company?

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t walgamuth · #9 04-02-2012, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

Lots of cars get totaled in Colorado each year due to hail damage. It's not unusual to see relatively new high end cars being driven with hundreds of dents all over them. Mechanically fine, cosmetically unusual. Depending on your economic circumstance it might be reasonable to take the value of your vehicles from the insurance company, buy them back and continue driving them. How important is cosmetic appearance to you?

Not very. I will likely use the money to do other things, like replace the rusty bed and get the cab ziebarted.

catmandoo62 · #10 04-02-2012, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

Was the emblem in Chinese or English?

well it was the chevy bowtie so i guess it was. well i don't know.

MTI · #11 04-02-2012, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palangi

Edit: Looks like you are correct. State Farm website now says that the owner can choose to pay the cost difference. Wasn't that way a few years ago. It does say, however, that they promise that you will be satisfied with the quality of parts. I bet I could nit-pick a Taiwan Forge Company hood to death until they just give up, though......

The watch words are "OEM-like" quality, or CAPA Approved in the policy language. That's how DEPO or TYC headlights replace Bosch or Hella units at the repair shop.

cmbdiesel · #12 04-02-2012, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTI

The watch words are "OEM-like" quality, or CAPA Approved in the policy language. That's how DEPO or TYC headlights replace Bosch or Hella units at the repair shop.

LKQ....Like kind and quality

Almost no insurance will pay for OEM beyond one year.

t walgamuth · #13 04-02-2012, 07:45 PM

The estimate for the truck was about $2000.

the trailer damage was to the piece which forms the entire top in two pieces which meet in an upside down v at the top and wrap down the front and back, so the best esimate is that the trailer will be totalled since it is worth about $7000 on a good day. the parts are likely unobtainable.

The Clk Man · #14 04-02-2012, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palangi

Might vary by state or by insurance company. State Farm got their socks sued off around here about 25 years ago for using substandard Asian parts. They lost.

Edit: Looks like you are correct. State Farm website now says that the owner can choose to pay the cost difference. Wasn't that way a few years ago. It does say, however, that they promise that you will be satisfied with the quality of parts. I bet I could nit-pick a Taiwan Forge Company hood to death until they just give up, though......

I've had two battles with State farm and I won both battles. Just bring up "Diminished Value" and watch them cringe.

Palangi · #15 04-02-2012, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Clk Man

I've had two battles with State farm and I won both battles. Just bring up "Diminished Value" and watch them cringe.

In the case of my 4-Runner, they eventually took it in the shorts anyway. When it got beat up the first time, they replaced only the hood. They did the magic dent removal on everything else. A couple of years later, it got caught in a lesser hailstorm. That time, the only thing damaged was the hood. The State Farm adjuster showed me the words "Taiwan Forge Company" where it was supposed to say "Genuine Toyota Part". They replaced the hood with a real Toyota part. Then, shortly thereafter it was rammed in the azz by a woman on a cell phone. Rolled it over and totaled it.