Salvaged trailer insurability?

[Cedars]

I'm really peaved! The hail storm and consequent damage was bad enough! Now the insurance adjuster tells me it will take 6K to repair and our 1983 is only worth, according to Ace Fogdal, 6K is the value of the trailer repaired. Yup, totaled it out! We can buy it back for a grand and that's what we plan to do. But now I'm curious.... has anyone been able to insure an Airstream after this kind of deal? And why would Fogdal tell the insurance compny it was worth so little when the last one of that vintage they offered was over 16K? Nearly 20K if I remember correctly! Course, that was the list price but I can't imagine they discounted it to six thousand! Any experiences out there to share? Or opinions?

Elizabeth in Iowa

[azflycaster]

Elizabeth,
Sorry to hear about your hail damage!
Sounds like they are doing the low ball number on you. I have no idea why Ace would estimate your trailer so low. BTW, he has a 29 ft 1975 on the website right now for $9,500. That is the asking price and does not represent the retail value, but I am sure a 1983 would go for more. Have you agreed to these terms? You can always reject the settlement and get another estimate. I had this happen with some roof damage (wind) to my house. The original adjuster was ready to cut me a check for $180. I hired an independent contractor to work "for me". In the end I had over $4,000 worth of repairs done at no cost to me. I would suggest contacting several other Airstream dealers and see what they say. When you insured your trailer, did the company set a value at that time? I was very specific with my trailer just because of these kind of issues. Good luck to you...

[AZstreamin]

Elizabeth,
Azflycaster is 100% correct. Many insurance companies will float a low ball offer to see if you grab at it. I had a car stolen several years ago and at the time of the loss the vehicle was in the possession of a valet service... so their insurance was responsible for the loss not mine. I really had fight to get what the car was worth. Their initial offer was off by at least 1/3 research extensively and provide any documentation of "improvements" made over the years with receipts. Good Luck and sorry to hear about this miss fortune.

[ALANSD]

another member here bought his back in a similiar situation, and got a great deal after they also settled with him for the valuation. You get a known unit for a song.