Airstream Body/Repair Shop

[Kodeman]

I am located in South Central Florida and have recently encountered several Hurricanes which damaged my 34.5 Limited (Motorhome) does anyone have information as to where in Florida I can find an Airstream Body/Repair shop. I have exterior and interior damages which need repaired.

[thenewkid64]

Check with Walt at Walt's RV. He does great work and is a WBCCI member too. He is located near Ocala so should be close. 352-237-6813

Tell him Brett from his unit sent you.

[Kodeman]

Thank you ...you are a life saver, and I will inform that Brett sent me. Insurance adjustor has been going crazy looking for a qualified Airstream shop here close to Okeechobee Florida. Ocala is approximately 100 miles north of me... again THANKS !!!

[swebster]

Kodeman,
Sorry to hear about your damaged 345. Please keep us posted on your progress and let us know how everything turns out. Best of luck getting your Motorhome back on the road.

[Kodeman]

SWebster,
Thanks I hope to be back up and running soon. Newkid, I talked to Walt himself... it just isn't the same being here reading this stuff until you actually participate. Walt seemed to be a really great guy, very helpful and willing to help me in any way he could.... however I believe after talking to the insurance adjustor today, he is going to send my 454 Limited to Ft. Myers, to VanLand RV. I hope all works out and I will post as often as I can informing of the outcome.
Thanks again for all the assistance ..you guys are awsome!!!

[leefields]

Bates RV on I-4 just east of Tampa.

Frank Bates has a full crew ready to go to work on your Airstream....

Originally Posted by Kodeman

I am located in South Central Florida and have recently encountered several Hurricanes which damaged my 34.5 Limited (Motorhome) does anyone have information as to where in Florida I can find an Airstream Body/Repair shop. I have exterior and interior damages which need repaired.

[53flyingcloud]

You might check out:
GMCCOOP
They're located in/near your area as well.
ciao
53FC

[Kodeman]

My son and I took a nice little drive to Ft. Myers (VanLand) with the 345 Limited, towed the Jeep (just in case the 345 had to spend the night). I was shocked at the news the adjustor there gave me... TOTALED !!! I think I am about to become a very disheartened Airstream owner. I was told that there is no way to repair the 345 without a near complete restoration. I really don't know what to do at this stage... never had a vehicle totaled and not completely sure what the outcome is going to be. I am afraid I am going to get "The Shaft" and the Insurance Company will "Drive" away with the "Gold Mine". I was told that I could "Buy" back "My Airstream" from the Insurance Company at salvage price. If anyone knows what price I should at least attempt to gain from the Insurance Company for my 345 or who I can get an estimate from PLEASE let me know soon. I was unable to get any estimate of value from VanLand RV, they could only go back to 1989 (NADA books). I also have concerns as to what effect it will have (If I buy back at salvage price) on the 345... will the title change and make the 345 less valuable even should I repair the damages at a later date... I suppose it doesn't matter because I will buy back at salvage price (whatever that is) and I won't sell it anyway... I truely LOVE my 345, even with the dents and scratches.

[59toaster]

What sort of damage are we talking about here? Hail damage on a Airstream will sometimes come out on its own. Tree on it will not but its repairable if you are handy.

Post some pictures and a few of use can give you an idea of what we think and Andy I am sure can give you some advice when he runs accross the post. He wrote the insurance book for Airstream...Really he did.

The end caps are the real problem becasue they are formed. The rest of the coach is flat sheet. Lots of labor to install but it can be done. The labor is the problem.

If you do decide to let them total then find out the buy back. Somebody here might be interested in it.

[overlander64]

Greetings Kodeman!

Welcome to the Forums!

Sorry to learn of your plight. While my area of experience is with having insurance repairs on my '64 Airstream trailer, I wouldn't accept as "final" the current verdict of the insurance adjuster. I know when my Overlander was damaged as the result of an accident six years ago, the adjuster was ready to total the coach. I chose to seek out options from "Vintage" friendly repair shops regarding the proper repair and cost/value issues (I carried and continue to carry "agreed-value" policies on my Vintage Airstreams and collector cars). I ended up taking my coach to get opinions from shops in two different states, but ended up with an excellent repair and satisfactory settlement from the insurance company. While it might not be practical given your distance, I would suggest considering a trip to Ohio where you could find two places intimately familiar with Airstream coaches - - P and S Trailer Service, Helena, Ohio - - and the Airstream factory itself in Jackson Center. Having dealt with insurance companies after the flood of '93 when one of my favorite collector cars was flood damaged and again when my Overlander had accident damage in 1998, I wouldnt accept a "total" verdict without consulting with at least two or three shops who are "Vintage-Friendly".

You might also discover as I did after the flood of '93 that a repair shop further from the repair volume created by the natural disaster (the Florida Hurricanes in your case, the Mississippi River Floods in my case) were not interested in repairing anything that the insurance company was willing to total - - I had somewhat better luck when I was able to bring in an opinion from one of the restorers (from two states away) who had worked on the damaged vehicle prior to its brush with being totaled (I still own that car after struggling with the insurance company for more than six months, and wouldn't consider changing any of my decisions regarding its re-restoration).

Good luck with your investigation!

Kevin

[Kodeman]

59Toaster, the damages are mostly on the passenger rear of the AS. As best I can figure a portion of a roof came barreling across my property and struck the AS. Thank goodness I parked it close to my garage and I also fashioned a wind-break to protect it from flying debris as best I could. The AS sustained damage to the rear top (small but noticable dent) it has a very nasty scrape and dentation in the area of the rear storage compartment. Roofing shingles apparently flying at Mach II struck the AS making scratch marks all along the sides. The air-conditioner radiators sustained damages. One of the A/C (rear) covers missing could not be located. The weep hole covers bused from numerous weep holes causing water damages to interior passenger side. The material has seperated from the wall, carpet ruined from engine compartment to mid AS. Windshield (driver side) cracked. Antenna (disc type) completely twisted and warped (cover busted) metal rods bent. The AS mostly sustained what I would consider minimal damages had the damages been individual isolated incidents. I didn't realize the proceedures in repairing an AS. The Insurance Company is not the party claiming "TOTALED" it is an AS shop located in Ft Myers Florida. I do plan on buying it back from Insurance Company... I just can not part with my AS, it may never look as good as it once did but it still isn't ready to be sent to pasture just yet (My Opinion). Overlander64, I don't have much experience in dealing with Insurance Companies, not sure how to bargain with them or if I even have that option. I do have FULL COVERAGE INS. on the AS, but I also had that coverage on my home and I have yet to see the check for the damages. I had several contractors estimate the damages and provided those estimates to the Insurance Company. I begged, pleaded, cursed, gripped, moaned threatened with attorney and still they gave me what they decided was fair... I have not heard back from the adjustor dealing with my AS, according to his last phone call to me, he will submit the AS dealers (shop) estimate of damages (TOTALED) to his total loss department and they will collect two estimates of value on AS of similar condition, year etc., and will decide on a value for my AS. He says that he will then write a check to me for that value after deducting the salvage price from it. Please, if you have information on how I should demand top dollar for my AS by all means I am all ears and willing to listen. If my AS is to be totalled, I would love to be able to at least collect an amount I could repair the most severe damages with. As far as the AS shop being cooperative in repairing the damages...they were all hands, very anxious to begin the work immediately with $$$$$ signs in their eyes... Hahahaha actually even suggest that I trade that ragged old coach in on a new ride.... (Not in this life-time) I'm Keeping the 1984 AS even if I recieve nothing from the Ins. Co. and it's never repaired. I went out today and took a nice long nap in that ragged old coach... nothing like it in this world!!!
Thanks guys, again you are the best.

[overlander64]

Greetings Kodeman!


The one thing that I learned while dealing with my insurance company after the flood of 1993, was not to sign any settlement acceptance papers nor cash any checks from the insurance company until YOU are satisfied with all aspects of the settlement. One tool that I utilized was to get damage estimates from three places - - the one that the insurance company towed the vehicle to as well as two that had performed restoration services on the vehicle prior to the flood - - those two shops that were familiar with the value of the vehicle and comfortable with the restoration processes were critical in my being able to get a decent settlement. Since I had adequate agreed-value coverage on the vehicle that was damaged by the flood, I held out for one of two options - - the insurance company would locate, purchase and convey to me a vehicle exactly like the one that they wanted to total (my insurance company did exactly this for two of my neighbors) - - or totally restore my damaged vehicle - - as with your motorhome, there weren't that many near identical vehicles available in the "used" market so I didn't want to be the one "shopping" with inadequate funds. In the end, the company agreed to restoring my vehicle (it was unusually low mileage in near mint condition prior to the flood). Even after the restoration was completed, I didn't sign-off on the claim until nearly a year after the car was returned to me (18-months after it was damaged). Throughout the ordeal, I became very well acquainted with several adjusters as well as two representatives of my state's insurance regulatory agency.

Good luck with your negotiations - - I know from experience, what a long and frightfully complex situation this can be!

Kevin

[59toaster]

I would get the coach apraised by a A/S dealer or two maybe three. Then I would collect every ad for every same model Coach of simular size and condition you can find. Collect every reciept you can find for the coach that will increase its value by showing upgrades.

What your trying to do is drive up the value by showing them it is worth more then they are offering. The bottom line is challange them to buy one in the same condition or restore it to the same condtion.

Understand that the Adjusters job is to get clear of the claim for as cheap as they can. They will low ball you and see if you bite out of ignorance to what the worth is of what you have. In the same vain they are also there to prevent false claim of value. You have to back up your value claim.

Put the ball back in their court and challange them to find one in simular condition. Point out that the value of older good condtion Airstreams are increasing not decreasing. Show that by collecting all the story's and articals you can featuring Airstreams. Dealing with a Insurance adjuster can be worse then dealing with a used car salesman when you are trying ot get a payout. You just have to stand your ground till you can agree upon a settlement that your happy with.

Campcollector is soembody that has managed to fix a very damaged bambi. Its not perfect but its back to a very presentable condtion. Greg has replaced a LOT of the skin of his coach. Good posts to read on just what it involves. Peter also replaced the thw whole side of his 345 that was hail damaged. So it can be be fixed but its going to be a lot of labor. One of the larger RV salvage yards in in central Florida. I don't recall the name but if you do a search should be able to find it easily. You might luck out and find a good end cap there.

[ALANSD]

I would not let them total it either. Get another quote on the rpairs on your own from someone like Walt oir the GMCOOP or Bates. Then tell the insurance co. you want a check for that repair amount less deductible and will keeep the vehicle and repair it on your own. This way they pay a set amount for the repairs and you will sign a form that holds them harmless from any related expenditures afterwards. You then fix it where you want and spend what you want of the money to make it workable for you.
Do not let them tell you where it will go and that it has to be totalled.
You can call your insurance commissioners office for advice as well, or if you have a consumer action type center call them.
Check what comparable units sell for and gather some figures, then compare what it would cost to replace it versus repair it.