Totaled the Texas Red Rocket, HELP

[MCummings]

What a Bummer man.



Looks like you'll need one of these now. .

#ad




If I knew for sure I was going to the Texas Diesel Rally 2001 , I would offer a ride, but I am 75% sure Iwon't be able to make it.





MerrickNJr

 

[MCummings]

Uh, Here's he dis-claimer and infomation part,, Ya know,, like the Tax, Title and License Fee's statements at the end of car comercials.



Picture came from www.roadarmor.com



http://www.roadarmor.com/trucks_suv's.htm



MerrickNJr

 

[drives mopars]

maybe the dept of ins can help too

also try dept of ins.

 

[Hammer]

MWM,,I have a good friend that is now a member in my area here in PA that deals in our beloved Rams,he currently has a nice 97 Ram 3500 2x4 custom already tuned up a little and guaged,,The truck is a Centaurion conversion with all the bells and complete ground effects,,Its was used to tow the Luxaire Busch Grand national show car around to meets,,Its very clean and in nice shape,,If a dually is your cup of tea let me know and I'll send his name and number to you,,Truck is multiple shades of blue and silvers with alloy wheels,,Let me know... . Andy

 

[Doc Tinker]

Sorry to hear of your demise, MDW. Sounds like you're dealing with it OK and your soreness isn't too bad. Hope everything turns out well for you.



Doc

 

[Randy J]

Gather up every receipt you have on anything you have had done to the truck, even if it is only Preventative maintenance. Contact your insurance company to discuss what they will and will not reimburse you for in regards to extraneous equipment which they will undoubtedly claim adds no intrensic value to the resale of the vehicle had it not been wrecked ie: aftermarket tires & wheels, bumpers, lift kits, and BOMBING upgrades to the engine. Winches, repair work, such as a new transmission or other large ticket repair items and the like do add such value, but you will have to argue that point vehemently.





Either get a hard copy of NADA book, or check online for the NADA resale value of the truck. Start with the most expensive price in the book for your truck. The insurance company will try to Lowball you with the cheapest price they can. Make them give you retail not wholesale NADA value or find you a comparable truck with identical equipment depending on the options.



When settling make them itemize EACH AND EVERY single aftermarket item for which their settlement covers so you can remove all the other goodies for which they refuse to reimburse you. If they refuse, tell them you intend to strip the truck of everything possible. If they still refuse, argue that the property is yours to do with what you will unless they reimburse you in full. Thats why you need the receipts, to prove that the property belongs to you. Call the police if need be and have them meet you at the holding yard as you remove your rightful property with receipts in hand and the Title to the truck.



Good luck and Kick some Insurance hiney for me!



Swampy [/B]

Kind of harsh Swampy. One thing you have to remember - the insurance company has to pay your claim fairly. Your idea of fair and theirs may differ though. A couple of points I feel will help you; always be nice, ask lots of questions, and don't threaten anything (at least not at first). The NADA book is a guide only, and unless you're trained to read it properly, chances are the value you get out of the book will be in error. Also, the prices are projections of future prices based on dealer quoted prices from the past (key point quoted prices - probably not the actually sales price). The add ons such as injectors & clutch will probably not add anything to the value of the truck - keep in mind, TDR members notwithstanding, most people want to buy the truck stock and will pay less if it's been altered. Decorative addons such as running boards, tool boxes, etc. , will add to the value, although probably not as much as you paid for them. You do have the right to take the addons off, but if they add value, the insurance company has the right to re-value your truck. Your best bet is to contact some truck wholesalers in your area, and ask them to give you a value - be sure to describe the truck completely. Speaking from my past experience (as an auto damage appraiser), if you're nice, the insurance company will bend over backwards to give you the benefit of doubt when valuing your truck. If your a jerk, however, they'll pay the fair market value, and give you no benefit of doubt.

Good luck.

 

[MDW]

Thanks, It all sounds like good advice.

I don't have anything to report except that I don't have an adjuster assigned to my claim yet, hopefully tomorrow.



Hammer: How much is he asking?

 

[Ray Davis]

Sorry about the truck,glad no one was hurt. need any help let me know. I'm not to far away.

 

[Champane Flight]

found

Found a 3500 custom puller bed with tool boxs,white. Do not know the year yet. But has a sign in the window 12500. 00 good price. I do know its post 95 and Cummins.

 

[MDW]

Bringing you up to date.

I bought this for the wife (will be borrowing it for a while)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cgi/ebayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=594096899&r=0&t=0

This will buy me some time, still haven't had an adjuster look at the damaged truck yet.

 

[MDW]

Update: The insurance totaled it!!!

The insurance is offering $9500 they take the truck or $6300 I keep the truck, what do you think???



Is there a way to get more or am I screwed???





Thanks for your help.



God Bless America

 

[Bob Wagner]

The insurance company will <b>always</b>shoot you a lowball offer.



You need to do your homework!!!



When my daughter's car was totallled the same BS was offered



Look in your local newspapers and local publications for trucks similar to yours that are now for sale.



You can also use www.kbb.com for an average sale price.



Put your offers look low





PS I still have your redrocket. mpg nice burnout

 

[RustyJC]

For frame of reference, I just sold our 1996 3500 SLT extended cab, V-10, automatic, 45,000 miles here in the Houston area for $15,000. Probably could have gotten more if I'd wanted to wait. Your numbers really sound low to me. You might also want to check http://www.nada.com to get information on the value of your truck.



Rusty

 

[bvanetten]

Is the truck parked on your property? If so be sure to charge them a storage fee, and get a rental car. Both will cause them to want to settle quicker. They will be able to stop the rental at about a month but they need to give you a fair price on the truck before they can have the storage fees stopped. Just as long as you can prove (with want adds and autotrader like stuff) that their offer is fair you can continue to pressure them with storage fees. Is their a loan on the truck? Or do you own it. They will probably send you something in the mail asking you to sign over the title and give them power of attorney. DON"T DO IT until a fair price is brokered.



Been here and done this to many times...

Bruce

 

[Sled Puller]

Work em on the price, but if the diference is $3000, take the truck. Your engnie is worth that much, if YOU TAKE CARE OF IT!



Gene

 

[Briar Hopper]

there's a 94 4x4 2500 reg. cab for sale near here, asking price is $12,900 (dealer) So I'd say you're being lowballed by about $2K... . get them to go to $10,500 or 11,000. If they want to keep you as a customer... .

 

[QRTRHRS]

When my wife rolled her Exp last winter, our insurance company gave us numbers that were both above and below the NADA guide for the various options. I was told they use two pricing guidelines and take the average. Something about a "Redbook". Never heard of that before. I gotta see if she has those papers filed away.

 

[Deezul1]

They cant settle until you sign the papers and I believe the law requires settlement within a certain time frame. Hold out for a reasonable price and they will give it to you or tell them to find you a truck as near like yours as possible and buy it for you if they think thats a good price. Keep your truck, its worth way more than that.

 

[MDW]

Thats a lot of good advice.

I'm going to wait awhile and see what they do.

 

[Shrimpy]

Hey MDW, I just bought a 1995 ext. cab long bed 2whl drive for 12,950. 00 out the door. This was in Houston, so that seems low. Was yours an ext cab or regular? Tell them to throw in the applicable sales tax (6. 25% in Texas). That would make their offer of 9500. 00 really be 10,093. 75 (9500 x . 0625). Don't even mention this until you arrive at an agreed upon figure, then tell them..... " and don't forget to add on the applicable sales tax, as this should be refunded to me also..... " Then watch them squirm. They will say that their offer INCLUDED the sales tax refund... . DON"T buy it. Get your best then include the sales tax.



Good luck... . e-mail me if you need more info.