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Veteran
Posts: 201
Location: Lincoln, NE | My 2000 Hawk deluxe 2H GN with weekender quarters was storm damaged. The insurance company says it's totaled and they'll give me $11,000 for it. I'm not sure this is a fair value. Weekender quarters have large screened windows; 25 Gal fresh water tank; sink w/faucets; cooktop; propane/electric fridge; water heater; propane alarm;A/C; mattress; cupboards; closet; walkthru door to horse area; cowboy shower. Horse area is padded walls and dividers; heavy mats; roof vents; collapsible rear tack; escape door in first stall; slantload. Trailer is a steel frame with aluminum skin; new tires;electric brakes.
Is $11,000 a fair value? What should I expect from insurance company? Thanks to everyone for their help.
Flatlandfilly |
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Expert
Posts: 3802
  
Location: Rocky Mount N.C. | Slant load trailer?? I don't think that's quite fair.... Maybe more in the 14-16K range. And yes, that sounds about par for the insurance company..... But what do I know... |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 781
Location: La Cygne, KS | You'll have to fight for the last $5-6K. Use this site to pull comps and engage several trailer dealers with pictures of your trailer and ask that they provide you with a cost of what they feel they could sell the trailer for. We had to do this when our Elite was stolen and several trailer dealers helped us out... even one as far away as MN! We where able to get within $800 from $8K difference of what they were willing to pay. Do not accept the payment. They will always lowball first to see if you will take it. Did you get hit by a twister or hail damage?
Edited by ponytammy 2009-05-01 9:25 PM
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Veteran
Posts: 201
Location: Lincoln, NE | March 23rd I think it was we got hit by golf-ball sized hail storm pushed by 70 mph winds. I'm a mile and a half from a small town and practically everyone there is getting new roofs, gutters and siding. Every building at my place needs the roof replaced. The metal barn needs roof and two sides replaced. That is life in the great plains I guess.
Was your insurance coverage for replacement value? Did they buy you a new trailer? I looked for comps on the HTW web site but did not find any 2000 Hawks for sale. There were some 4-Star trailers about the same age and most of them were about 14K. Do I ask the dealers for the value of my old trailer or the cost of a new one?
Thanks so much for responding. |
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Veteran
Posts: 201
Location: Lincoln, NE | Also for that 11K the insurance company would take ownership of the trailer. I know I have replacement value coverage on my homeowner's policy. If I have the same with my vehicle policies should I be looking for the cost of a new trailer or a 2000 Hawk?
At least the trailer is still useable and safe to do so. The trailer received hail damage. The insurance company is figuring $95/hr for labor and repair would take over 100 hours. Can that be rigth? So they consider it a total loss. Go figure! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 714
Location: Minnesota | I spent four years as a claims adjuster and owned my own insurance agency for another twelve years. Not sure about the value. Your trailer insurance is Actual Cash Value (ACV) just as your auto policy is. If you had a 2000 model car totaled out you would not get a 2009 model to replace it. By all means check with as many dealers as you can to come up with the RETAIL value of your trailer. Also ask them about repair costs. Get their opinions in writing. Hearsay is no more valid in dealing with the insurance company than it is in a court of law. Prepare your arguements as if you were a lawyer going to court. Ask the insurance company to show you in writing what they are basing their figures on. the more organized and prepared you are will make negotiations easier. You also may have the option of buying the trailer back as part of or after settlement. Best of luck!. |
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Expert
Posts: 1351
Location: Decatur, Texas | Originally written by flatlandfilly on 2009-05-01 10:10 PM
Also for that 11K the insurance company would take ownership of the trailer. I know I have replacement value coverage on my homeowner's policy. If I have the same with my vehicle policies should I be looking for the cost of a new trailer or a 2000 Hawk? At least the trailer is still useable and safe to do so. The trailer received hail damage. The insurance company is figuring $95/hr for labor and repair would take over 100 hours. Can that be rigth? So they consider it a total loss. Go figure! First, they are offering on the value of the 2000 Hawk trailer! Second, if the trailer is still safe and usable I would tell them to pay the 11-k and you keep the trailer and use the money to buy another trailer. third, the only other option is to find compairable trailers and give them the information. But has to be compairable not HAWK compaired to a 4 STAR |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | It sounds like the IC is low balling your trailer. This is a typical first response and should not be considered as a final offer. Most ICs will sell the "totaled" item to the policy holder for 10% of their payoff price. That means if you settle on a payoff of $15000, you can buy the trailer for $1500. If the damage is only cosmetic, you have a bargain. A steel roof can be easily repaired by several processes that can be a DIY project. This may be an excellent opportunity to have a second trailer, or source of extra cash for your bills. The trailer can be made like new, at a price far less than $11000. If you like the trailer I would keep it. If not, fix it and sell it at a substantial profit. Gard |
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Veteran
Posts: 201
Location: Lincoln, NE | Gard - now that sounds like the deal of the century! Unfortunately I am all thumbs when it comes it DIY. The damage IS cosmetic though. It's the aluminum skin that is dented. The fiberglass roof is fine except the A/C unit received some damage.
How do I "buy it back?" The IC and I agree on a price then they pay me that price minus the 10% and my deductible? |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | Originally written by flatlandfilly on 2009-05-02 2:29 PM
The damage IS cosmetic though. It's the aluminum skin that is dented. The fiberglass roof is fine except the A/C unit received some damage. How do I "buy it back?" The IC and I agree on a price then they pay me that price minus the 10% and my deductible? Yes, exactly. Is the AC unit actually damaged or just the shroud? The shrouds are available separately, as they are often damaged by tree limbs and the like. Gard |
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Veteran
Posts: 188
Location: Kinston, NC | I think Hawk rivets their seams, not sure if they use like a glue or bonding tape. If no glue or bonding tape, it is really pretty easy to change sheets. Otherwise, grab a crowbar. Aluminum sheet material cost on 18' GN is in the $500-600 range. Bartley Heath
bartley@DoubleDTrailers.com
Buy Factory Direct at DoubleDTrailers.com
Edited by DD_TrailerMan 2009-05-03 8:55 AM
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Veteran
Posts: 201
Location: Lincoln, NE | Would I be able to see the rivets in the aluminum skin or would they be underneath? I don't see any rivets when I look at it. Does Hawk use any special kind of aluminum sheeting? Thickness? Type? Etc. I think the trailer was originally purchased in NC. |
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Veteran
Posts: 201
Location: Lincoln, NE | The adjuster said the "fins" on the a/c would have to be straightened. |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | You can straighten the fins in a few minutes. I had to straighten mine once after the AC encountered a tree limb. A small screwdriver and duck bill pliers works well. |
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Expert
Posts: 3802
Location: Rocky Mount N.C. | Originally written by flatlandfilly on 2009-05-03 10:28 AM
The adjuster said the "fins" on the a/c would have to be straightened. The A/C fins can be straightened with a special "comb" ... http://www.drillspot.com/products/424760/Westward_1DXN3_A_C_Condenser_Fin_Comb http://www.tooldesk.com/automotive/ATD3404-ATD3404-AC-Air-Conditioner-Condenser-Fin-Comb-AC-Service-Tool-3404.aspx Buy new A/C shrouds here... http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-air-conditioner-parts-1.htm http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-air-conditioners/coleman-air-conditioner-shroud.htm http://www.bigdiscountrv.com/ac_shrouds.htm What does the fiberglass roof look like? Any holes, cracks, dents???
Edited by retento 2009-05-03 12:01 PM
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Veteran
Posts: 188
Location: Kinston, NC | .040 aluminum is probably standard. I believe Hawk insulated the walls anyway so .040 is ok. If you see no rivets, it is bonded with either glue or tape (both of which are amazingly strong). Aluminum sheets and glue are pretty accessible from many manufacturers. If you decide to pursue the repair job and cannot find material, let me know and I can help. Bartley Heath
bartley@DoubleDTrailers.com
Buy Factory Direct at DoubleDTrailers.com |
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Veteran
Posts: 201
Location: Lincoln, NE | The rivets I see are those riveting a narrow strip of metal around the lower edge. Covers the angle where the aluminum sheet reaches the bottom edge of the trailer. Yes, the Hawk is a pretty substantial trailer.
I want to thank from the bottom of my heart those who have responded to my request for information and advice. All of you are just awsome! |
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Member
Posts: 12
| Hello - You know, you might be able to have the trailer sent back to Hawk for repair. You are welcome to contact me for a quote, photos will be needed. Typically, insurance adjusting is farmed out to independent contractors, they may have trouble determining value and repair estimates on trailers. Risa HappyTrailsTrailers.com |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | Aircraft repair, whether it be commercial or private, includes a procedure in which a doubler is installed. This is a second piece of metal installed over a damaged structure, to reinforce and strengthen the first without its removal. Since your trailer is only cosmetically damaged, this would be a viable repair. A second piece of siding can be installed over the first in the affected area. Original sheeting seams can be matched, or a new one manufactured. Either would look like a factory installation when its completed. The new industrial adhesives and tapes would simplify the installation. It may not be necessary to remove the damaged siding, which would greatly reduce the labour and repair costs. You would only see a thin edge of metal, which would be little more than twice the thickness of a matchbook cover. When it's painted, it would be unnoticeable. The only difficulty would be matching the present trailer paint colour. Most manufacturers purchase their sheet metals prepainted. After a few years, the paint materials and specifications may change from the roll coating company, and obtaining an exact original prepainted colour may be impossible. Fading and weathering of the present paint will add to this difficulty. Fortunately, aluminum can be easily painted. The repair can be painted, or a whole section of the siding can be resprayed to ensure an exact colour match. Some paint suppliers have computer colour matching capabilities. Just a few thoughts for your contemplation.... BOL Gard |
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Veteran
Posts: 201
Location: Lincoln, NE | Thanks Risa for your offer. Sending the trailer back to Hawk would be the ideal if insurance will cover it. I'll work on getting digital pics to send. I don't own a digital camera so will have to round up a friend.
Mostly looks like the aluminum skin would need to be replaced on one side and the back. The roof would need to be checked out too. It looks like the paint on the roof is running on one side. Where are you located?
I agree about the insurance co. Even the person I spoke with at the insurance company said that lots of research had to be done before they determined it was a total loss. I intrepreted that to mean they didn't have any idea about repair or replacement. |
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Member
Posts: 12
| Hi,
I am in SC - no problem about your location, I can have my driver pick up and return if the insurance will pay for the repairs. This is what I have done with several clients that have been in wrecks. You mentioned you thought the trailer came from NC, it is probably SC!
Thanks, Risa |
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Location: Central Arkansas | I had a LQ trailer get alot of hail damage a couple of years ago. The insurance cut me a sizeable check, I did minor repairs, pocketed the remainer of the insurance check, and reduced the price of the trailer to get it sold. Perfectly legal and a common practice. My insurance company prefered that I not keep it but noted that hail damage would be excluded from the policy on the trailer if I did decide to keep it. |
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Veteran
Posts: 201
Location: Lincoln, NE | I'm near Lincoln Nebraska Risa which a fair drive from both NC and SC. I apologize for confusing the two. How do I find out if Hawk will repair the trailer? |
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Veteran
Posts: 201
Location: Lincoln, NE | Now that's a thought Gard. One of the premier private airplane service and repair businesses, Duncan Aviation, is only about 30 miles from me. |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | They would be adept in handling aluminum repairs, and with FAA licensed mechanics, the job would be done correctly. The aviation industry is not recession proof, and is taking a hit just as the auto industry. If you could find a laid off mechanic through that facility, he might be able to effect the repairs on his own. Paying him an hourly rate will be a fraction of the shop rates, charged by the business.
Edited by gard 2009-05-04 4:54 PM
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Veteran
Posts: 201
Location: Lincoln, NE | Another good idea. Duncan Aviation announced a large across the board layoff just a few weeks ago. |
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Member
Posts: 12
| Not a problem about your location - I can give a quote, have my driver pick up, have the trailer repaired and returned, if your insurance will approve the repair. I have done this for clients with wrecked trailers, not a problem. No need for you to come here!
Risa
HappyTrailsTrailers.com |
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Re: Damaged trailer
