[Chrysler300] Trailers, Dakota's and Insurance

[mwl1967@xxxxxxx]

       Have been reading the postings with great interest as I'm also about 
to purchase a car trailer ( more to use for hauling parts car's vs. my nice 
ones).

       I'm looking at a 20ft, open, trailer with a steel deck, dual 3500lb 
axles with electric brakes on all four wheels. Price new around $2k   Will let 
everyone know how it looks when I see it.

       Only thing I've used to tow anything has been my 98 Dakota, 318, er ah 
I mean 5.2L  It's a 5spd manual with a 3.91 rear axle ratio.  I had rented a 
tow dolly to bring a C-body from California home to Arizona and it pulled that 
car up and over the mountains with ease.  Although I was warned against 
towing with a "small" pickup, the electric brakes on the dolly stopped it all with 
ease.  I often found myself travelling way to fast to be safe and had to 
remember I had 5000lbs or so pushing me from behind.

         I've got a friend with a 97 Dakota with 5.2L and 5speed and he 
confirms its a much better towing rig than his 99 Durango with the 360, or 5.9L     


       As for insurance... whatever policy type you've got you've got to 
refer to it for any questions of coverage. Refer to sections titled something like 
" your covered auto" and then most importantly the "exclusions" section.  
This is where you'll find all the ways the insurer lists their way out.  Whether 
it be a "speed contest" or "timed event"  ( watch out for those vague 
definitions and never make assumptions ) you'll find your answers right in your 
policy.   

       Any questionable definitions should prompt you to make an inquiry and 
get a response in writing.  E-mail is great for quick turnaround time. NEVER 
EVER take for granted what your agent tells you. He is not a claims expert and 
your fate is determined by the claims department.  Should a loss occur and not 
be covered and you have a written indication from your agent to the contrary 
you can always make a claim under his E&O  (errors & omissions) policy.  Most 
agents don't even want the average customer to know this type of coverage 
exists to cover them for screw ups.

       Take it from someone with over a dozen years with all aspects of 
claims handling for a large insurer and now working on the collision side of the 
industry...  just when you think you've seen it all along comes another atrocity 
commited by some large company.  In the last six months I've seen an insurer 
tell my customer that they arent going to cover the damages to her vehicle 
because the driver wasnt listed on the policy...  fine... but the vehicle was 
stolen.  The police recovered it and the theif and the exclusion in her policy 
states there's no coverage if a driver isnt listed.  The thief wasnt listed as a 
driver  Crazy huh?  It's going to litigation.   

       Another company recently declared that if a customer wants to get paid 
for their total loss the customer must provide and or pay for the tow truck 
to deliver the car to the insurer. They no longer will send their salvage 
company to get it.  Obscene customer service in my book.  

       A customer of mine was smart enough to take out a custom equipment 
endorsement with his insurance company in the amount of almost $10k for custom 
bodywork and paint etc to his late model rice-burner.  They sold him the 
endorsement based on receipts he provided for the custom work on his car.  Smart huh? 
 Base value of his car was around $12k, add to that the value of the 
endorsement and he's got what he thought was full coverage for his $20k investment.  
The insurance company has told him that the type of endorsement they sold him 
doesnt afford coverage in the event of a total loss and has told him his car 
isnt even worth as much as a stock vehicle since there's no "market" value and 
it would be harder to sell because there's less of an audience interested in 
purchasing it.  Oh well... more money for the lawyers. 

       Long story short... when it comes to insurance don't trust you pride 
and joy to what someone tells you they think is covered.  Ask specific 
questions and get answers in writing,  Documentation is essential, including photos 
and receipts.  Learn the difference between "stated amount" and " agreed value". 
 For high dollar cars get an appraisal or two at the completion of the 
restoration.  Many of us have had our special cars insured for years with the same 
carrier. When was the last time  you increased your covered amount of value.  
Prices are substantially higher now than 5 years ago.  Be careful.

       Sorry for the long diatribe... hope it helps a few.
Mike Laiserin


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> 
Yahoo! Autos. Everything you need to know about buying 
or selling a car.  FREE Quotes, 360° Tours, Research,
Blue Book, Compare Vehicles, Buy Used
http://us.click.yahoo.com/kEZsdA/bwnGAA/YiGOAA/8LmulB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~-> 

To send a message to this group, send an email to:
Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

For list server instructions, go to http://www.chrysler300club.com/yahoolist/inst.htm 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chrysler300/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    Chrysler300-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/