Hail damage last night - thoughts?

[Squeegee]

We had a storm roll through last night in Minnesota that apparently left a few dents on the front and street-side sections as well as the top.

Just curious from other's experience, outside of "camper still works and is weather tight" if a claim with Progressive will tag our camper as a salvage title or if it is worth the claim. We have a 1k deductible and 17 years left on the loan that we were going to pay down once the truck was paid off next year. I believe we just fell out of the Progressive "if you total it within the first 3 years, we pay off the loan and cut you a check for a new one - you won the insurance lottery" window.

We also just got the camper back from the dealer fixing the floor and replacing the sheet of vinyl under warranty that just expired this month and had to fight with Airstream to cover it when we dropped it off back in October of 2021.

I do not want to give up the trailer nor take the hit with finances with the current market, delays on everything, and we do not like the new cabinetry for current model year.

I am currently working on growing grass this late spring after the cement slab was poured last fall for an eventual garage once the price of materials comes down.

Thank you,
Squeegee

[WellSaid11]

Your Progressive rep should give you some options for what they will pay to repair the damage and what you may get paid as a payout as well (if that is an option) for decrease in value, etc. My guess would be that it will not be "totaled" for that amount of damage.

A knowledgeable PDR person may be able to pull "some" of the damage out on a few of those as well.

While any ding is huge to the owner, the damage appears to be fairly light and maybe you can just live with it. It sounds like you really like the AS so maybe that is the way to go.

[BigAl]

It doesn’t help with the disappointment of having a few beauty marks added to such a new trailer but when I bought mine it was 10 years old and had quite a few of those on the roof and curved sections. Now 17 years later at least half of them have disappeared. I assume hot and cold cycles did it. To be honest I don’t think I would even call the insurance company for that. I keep my insurance for the big stuff. The pictures you posted don’t show much damage. Am I missing something?

[Squeegee]

Originally Posted by BigAl

It doesn’t help with the disappointment of having a few beauty marks added to such a new trailer but when I bought mine it was 10 years old and had quite a few of those on the roof and curved sections. Now 17 years later at least half of them have disappeared. I assume hot and cold cycles did it. To be honest I don’t think I would even call the insurance company for that. I keep my insurance for the big stuff. The pictures you posted don’t show much damage. Am I missing something?

The dents are indeed small - the deepest/biggest one I spotted is just above the orange running light. I know it would happen some day, but the question I am wrestling with is exactly what you are talking about.


I (from my own inexperience and trying to have the answers already) see five paths on my end that may not even be a true option.


1 - do nothing, live with it
2 - make a claim and the repairs get done eventually
3 - make a claim and it is totaled and I am without a trailer
4 - make a claim, it is totaled, I win the progressive insurance lotto still under their windows, and I get to keep a salvaged title camper paid in full and I need to find new insurance
5 - make a claim, get a check, pay off the truck and take the rest along with truck payments and squash the loan balance


Thank you for your thoughts and insight, still would like more from others yet.

[Boondocker]

Beauty marks are par. You are going to get them. If not hail, it will be flying rocks, gnomes, velociraptors, or something you never dreamed about. FWIW. Some of those divots may self-heal with exposure to heat from the sun. Since none of the dents seem excessively wicked, maybe take the insurance money and put it toward the loan.

[BigSxyWhtGuy]

You also gotta live with the zero fault claim on your insurance record for awhile which will naturally raise your rate I believe. They get their money back eventually…. Insurance is meant to be used though, it isn’t going to hurt to notify them and discuss options with an adjuster.

[coltnkat]

I have similar damage that I am getting repaired on my 2011 in JC this summer. There is 0 chance that they total it. The estimate to replace the affected panels (6 + the top sheet) came in at $25k and Progressive didn't blink. I asked if I was approaching a # that would cause them to total it. The Progressive rep looked up the book price on my 2011 and said it was worth $12k more than I paid for it in 2019. So much for depreciation.

[foobar]

Originally Posted by Squeegee

The dents are indeed small - the deepest/biggest one I spotted is just above the orange running light. I know it would happen some day, but the question I am wrestling with is exactly what you are talking about.


I (from my own inexperience and trying to have the answers already) see five paths on my end that may not even be a true option.


1 - do nothing, live with it
2 - make a claim and the repairs get done eventually
3 - make a claim and it is totaled and I am without a trailer
4 - make a claim, it is totaled, I win the progressive insurance lotto still under their windows, and I get to keep a salvaged title camper paid in full and I need to find new insurance
5 - make a claim, get a check, pay off the truck and take the rest along with truck payments and squash the loan balance


Thank you for your thoughts and insight, still would like more from others yet.

You can scratch off the options above that are related to totaling it. There is zero chance that this level of dings/dents will result in the trailer being totaled.

Recommend that you take it to an automotive dent repair specialist that can handle what is called "paintless dent repair". I've had that done to two automobiles, twice in the last 5 years due to extensive dents from hail. The paintless dent repairs can use thermal cycling and/or strong suction to pop the dents out. They can also remove interior panels and use hydraulic equipment pressing on both side of the panels to flatten them out again "with zero damage to the automobile paint coating".

The dent repair folks can provide an estimate for the repair cost. Then you can decide based on your insurance deductable whether or not you file a claim.

Also, please note that in nearly all states, a hail claim doesn't raise your insurance rate because it's an act of god and not something you did. If your rates go up, it's because there was a big storm, insurance paid out large claims, and they have to recoup their losses and rebuild their cash pile for the next weather event. That's the cycle in Texas anyway. Big storm, large # of expensive claims triggers a round of insurance price hikes in the next year or so.

Recommend that you call Airstream in Jackson City for their recommendations on repair options.

Last comment, as noted by others... this level of damage is minor and is insignificant in terms of long term reliability, leaks, etc. I.e. these are cosmetic imperfections and you can choose to live with them without having to worry about whether or not failing to repair the dents will cause any long term consequences.

[AlbertF]

I experienced this a couple of years ago. I contacted the insurance company but decided against repairing. My logic was simple - the dimples were so small that most people will never notice them, and I felt that replacing the roof panels would not be a net benefit. The new panels would be installed with blind (Olympic) rivets, and this in itself could affect trailer value in the future.

Over time, the accumulation of wear and tear means that the dimples will have less significance. This past winter the trailer was hit by blowing debris - probably pieces of shingles as a result of the 70 mph winds we sometimes experience. Those marks are more significant than the hail damage.

[Quest4info]

From the pictures, I can barely spot the "damage". If it were my trailer, I'd probably live with it but I'm aware of the fact that the dings may be more noticeable in person.

[jcanavera]

I am curious since I have had Progressive on my 2004 since day one. When the initial we will replace it no matter the cost term was over, my policy had a secondary clause that if totaled after the initial replacement term, they would pay what you paid for it, as long as the policy remained intact feature. At the time of purchase my trailer was 70K. I always felt that the 70K option hanging over their heads would pretty much insure that my trailer would most likely not be totaled by storm damage. Collision is a different matter but I've always feared that hail would be the most likely hazard that would beset my Airstream.

My guess is that the policies like mine aren't offered anymore.

Jack

[jstetson]

2 years ago I ran into a hail storm in Utah damaging the top 3 front panels on the trailer and the hood and roof of the F150 TV. The damage was a bit much for PDR so we took the camper to JC and 7k later it was as good as new. Progressive covered the entire cost less the deductible with no issue. If I were you I’d get an agreement from Progressive to try PDR first and if that doesn’t work make sure they agree to cover panel replacement. In my case we tried PDR first but had issues with pulling the clear coat off of the 6 year old aluminum skin thus the panel replacement. Note - PDR was successful in pulling all of the dents off of the aluminum skin of the F150 with no paint damage.

[mojo]

All depends on what you want to live with. I got hit in a storm and have some dimples on a corner end panel and side. I decided to live with it since I have no plans to sell or buy a new one. They were small enough not to bother me. I have rock dings that are bigger on the front. I have a trailer that has had no problems or leaks. Didn't wish to go for cosmetic repairs and open up the possibility of new problems. But it's your call...

[CMHM]

I was in exactly the same situation last year after a tornado passed by nearby. It was a brand new 2021 Globetrotter 27F.

Progressive urged me to have it repaired in Jackson Center. They replaced all front and rear panels, which meant they took the Airstream completely apart. Progressive gave me a choice to not replace the white white part of the roof, in return for a courtesy cash check of $4k. I am still able to replace the roof if I want to.
Jackson Center quoted $46k for the complete job, and it took exactly a month last May. Great thing was that I got a lot of free upgrades that are featured in the 2022 Globetrotter.

[BHChieftain]

If it were me I’d count these as souvenirs and save the potential insurance rate hike for bigger problems!
Jq

[NY24]

"The pictures you posted don’t show much damage. Am I missing something?"

My thoughts exactly. I would NOT file an insurance claim (or even talk to my insurance company about it). Either live with it or check with local body shops for their opinion on repairs and what it might cost.

[Wabbiteer]

I see Squeegee is in Minnesota (hello neighbor) - this summers’ sun heating of the itty-bit hail divots will reduce those dings, and next winter if it allowed to play outside in the cold and snow the cold-shrink of aluminum will mild out even more…. my vote is count this as desensitization therapy, enjoy and just go camping

[tjdonahoe]

Park in hot sun…cool with very cold water..many will come out

[Mollysdad]

I'd contact a PDR who specializes in aluminum and see what he can do. I'll bet a lot. They've got the tools and the training to massage the metal.

[Gbg]

Originally Posted by Squeegee

We had a storm roll through last night in Minnesota that apparently left a few dents on the front and street-side sections as well as the top.

Just curious from other's experience, outside of "camper still works and is weather tight" if a claim with Progressive will tag our camper as a salvage title or if it is worth the claim. We have a 1k deductible and 17 years left on the loan that we were going to pay down once the truck was paid off next year. I believe we just fell out of the Progressive "if you total it within the first 3 years, we pay off the loan and cut you a check for a new one - you won the insurance lottery" window.

We also just got the camper back from the dealer fixing the floor and replacing the sheet of vinyl under warranty that just expired this month and had to fight with Airstream to cover it when we dropped it off back in October of 2021.

I do not want to give up the trailer nor take the hit with finances with the current market, delays on everything, and we do not like the new cabinetry for current model year.

I am currently working on growing grass this late spring after the cement slab was poured last fall for an eventual garage once the price of materials comes down.

Thank you,
Squeegee

Our Sport was hailed on causing some noticeable damage if you looked for it. After months of looking for repairs in Canada (in the west) we finally got a quote for another. The repair folks clearly did not have a shortage of work! All expenses in, our insurer offered a settlement we couldn’t refuse. Our hail damage is never a topic of conversation but the settlement funded many journeys we talk about often!