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Work vehicles are part of executing our business plan. Generally speaking we are hurricane adjusters, so we work around storms, the bigger the better. Generally speaking the electricity is off and the phones are out. We work long hours for extended periods of time. Safety is paramount. We have racks and carry ladders and other equipment suited for commercial claims. We have a man lift available and use the trucks to tow it. We use motor homes, 5th wheels and bumper pulls.

What all of this leads to is a diesel pickup, I have an older 1/2 ton Chevrolet, others, especially those that are pulling, use the 3/4 ton Dodge.The Chevrolet is a v8 and the Dodges are inline 6's. One adjuster uses a diesel cargo van with an office built in the back. Generally, we have ladder racks and transfer tanks. I can carry 130 gallons of fuel. Mine is set up to tow or be towed. I also have a gasoline 4 wheel drive Jeep Cherokee with me. I can tow it with the motor home or with the diesel pickup. Chevrolet is going to start selling a 1/2 diesel in 2009 so I am considering purchasing a new 4 wheel drive diesel.

Sorry about the can of worms, but I not seen anything about this very important tool of the trade. Thanks for the replies
David

David, experience shows that when it comes to making money your vehicle is the very most important item. When those in gas burners with 20 gallon tanks are down I just turn on the transfer tank pump and fill up. When they get frustrated and broke, I try to get the claims they are turning in.

During Katrina we had people going out from New Orleans and buying diesel and bringing it back. There were 5 diesel pickups in our group. As Tom said, I have a GPS and a truck net book running DeLorme, 110 volt inverter that keeps my cell phone and camera batteries charged, a spot light for winter work when the days are short. A cell repeater with external antenna and a short tower.

What I want to be able to do is drive to a claim, complete the scope and photos and a reserve report, transmit the report and call the office to see if there are new claims in the area. Maximizes my income, more claims, more money, future work.

Posted By David Bean on 05 Jan 2009 
Sorry about the can of worms, but I not seen anything about this very important tool of the trade. 

Might I suggest a diesel sucking, smoke spewing, locomotive of a vehicle, that can pull a small mansion on wheels and haul you entire universe in the back. Forget the ladder racks, get a gooseneck trailer and a hydraulic manlift with all wheel drive and a 65' boom. I like the Genie S60 ($25-40,000).

Or you could take the route less traveled and drive a 35mpg Toyota Corolla with a 14ft folding Werner ladder in the trunk. So far only had 2 assignments that I could not complete due to not enough ladder. Both times I met the contractor the next day and got the job done. Oh yes, not to mention 1/2 the gas, 1/2 the price, and 1/2 the interest of the earlier mentioned locomotive. I know I'm in the minority, but my money looks better in my bank rather than in my driveway.

JWG

I suppose that it depends on what kind of claims you are working. Jim's solution is probably the best when you work 20 residential and small commercial hail claims for big blue, put your money in the bank, pay your motel bill and go home.

As was pointed up in Hurricane Katrina/Rita, Jim's solution might work, but it isn't the best solution around a large hurricane, no electricity, no phones, no gasoline, no contractors to mooch off of and so many claims that having a hydraulic lift made sense. I worked ten two story claims in the Garden district and the Lower Garden District in one day using the lift.

That mansion on wheels provided home, hearth, a place to cook, wash clothes, ice machine, take a shower and camaraderie for months. Furthermore, the mansion on wheels is providing home, hearth and camaraderie now as I am getting into the meat of Gustav and Ike claims. Still using the hydraulic lift.

That lil' lift comes in handy too, if you get to a winter storm and have a big ass rake with the rubber ends.  Pass jail, and collect $200 each to prevent those ice dams.  One 8-block area, and 20% takers...not a bad day or week.  

"The Corolla is a line of subcompact/compact cars produced by the Japanese automaker Toyota, which has become very popular throughout the world since the nameplate was first introduced in 1966. In 1997, the Corolla became the best selling nameplate in the world, with over 30 million sold as of 2007.[1] Over the past 40 years, one Corolla car has been sold on average every 40 seconds." I worked at a dealer in South Dakota, in 1967, when he sold his first Corolla. Does anybody know why Toyota started naming their cars after cigars. Corona, Corolla, etc.

Yep, Mike, the lift is a marvelous thing. No more hauling, loading, unloading, setting up and climbing a 40 foot ladder. On a gable or a hip a proper inspection can generally be done by anchoring off to the lift, no danger of falling. It will put you on a flat roof with no trouble. In Katrina and Rita we would get permission to use it and bill it. So it is worth its salt, paid for several years ago. We did put new batteries in it this year.

Need to examine a sign or look at cracks in a parapet, the lift is the thing. Although I try to stay south in the winter, it would be the bees knees for cleaning snow off a roof.

Thank the good Lord for that group of adjusters that fall below the mean, they shouldn't be working, but somebody has to clean up their mess.

Posted By Chuck Deaton on 05 Jan 2009 09:17 PM
"The Corolla is a line of subcompact/compact cars produced ....

Ill bite.

Why were Toyota's named after cigars? I am tempted to make a Bill Clinton joke here.

When I was still on the road doing claims I drove a 1994 Ford Escort wagon. I could put folding ladders, chairs, tables and enough stuff to work a storm out of an unfurnished apartment. It got 39 miles to the gallon when it was new, and had a roof rack that could carry a 24' extension ladder. I even carried a tent if I needed to sleep outdoors, although I never did this on storm; I did on vacation a couple of times. While it obviously could not be home sweet home, even if I did sleep in it a few nights. I bought it new for $9800 in 1995 and wrote the total cost of the car off in mileage the first year I had it on the road. I sold it for five hundred dollars in 2003 with 200,000 miles on it. Very profitable car.

I drive a 03 Toyota 4Runner now. Is a 4Runner a type of cigar?

Jeff

Is it because they are so fragrant while burning?

First time I heard that one!!! :-)

I fell in love with Saab when I was given one and replaced the engine. They are American made, now, and as long as there is some moisture in the engine, it runs for ever!

Also have the best natural paint job.

I drive a Honda Accord to all of my claims and fold down the seat for my ladder to put it in the trunk.

I'm curious if anyone out there has used a motorcycle on their claims. They have trailers made for them and I hear the telesteps ladders are safer these days.