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Last Post 01/11/2012 4:56 PM by  11Screwball
Vehicles
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MVTConsulting
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05/23/2011 1:07 PM
    I am looking for suggestions for a good vehicle for Cat Duty. My partner and I would like to have something comfortable, yet somewhere near economical.   I have looked at "4 door Trucks, SUV's, Crossover type and small RV's and the like.  I would like your opinions of what you use and why it works for you as a group.



    Thanks for all for their opinions on what works for you.



    MVT Consulting

    Ft. Lauderdale, FL. 

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    AARONB
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    06/14/2011 9:14 AM
    I drive a 2011 Ford Escaoe Hybrid. The minute I bought it I took it to the after market store and had a ladder rack installed on it. I think gas is the biggest expense considering the amount of miles we put on our vehicles. I get 31 on HWY and 34 on the streets. It has a ton of room for everything I own when going from job to job. One big problem is that it can't be pulled behind a RV on all four wheels. Hope this helps!
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    CatAdjusterX
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    06/16/2011 7:38 PM
    Posted By MVT on 23 May 2011 01:07 PM
    I am looking for suggestions for a good vehicle for Cat Duty. My partner and I would like to have something comfortable, yet somewhere near economical.   I have looked at "4 door Trucks, SUV's, Crossover type and small RV's and the like.  I would like your opinions of what you use and why it works for you as a group.



    Thanks for all for their opinions on what works for you.



    MVT Consulting

    Ft. Lauderdale, FL. 
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    MVT,

    I am going to assume that you guys are newly licensed. So with that being said, let's cross off the RV. I say this because although an RV is PERFECT for experienced adjusters, that is a huge expense for folks who have yet to be deployed. There is also quite a bit of hidden costs associated with an RV from RV parks, sat tv, utilities(RV park) sewage. After a few years in the biz, an RV may become a wise choice.
    As far as the other vehicles, you can go anywhere from a 4 door sedan up to a crew cab truck. I say sedans because it has been my experience that Carriers and IA firms that utilize staff adjusters tend to equip them with Ford Taurus, Subaru's, Hyundai(IE typical everyday vehicles) These staff adjusters are usually equipped with a collapsable 12 to 14 ft ladder and other equipment that can fit into the trunks very easily. The problem I have with that in regards to an IA team is when you come upon a 2 story roof, if the staff adjuster's ladder won't reach they simply call in a steep roof team or a roofer and in some cases utilize sat tech. As far as an IA team when it comes to a 2 story (or higher) roof, in most cases if you can't reach it ,you will have to give the claim to an adjuster who can reach the roof. So driving a typical 4 door sedan really limits your ability to access higher roofs.
    Quite a few adjusters (at least the ones I know in Texas) are driving big crew cab trucks with an 8 cylinder gas guzzling  engine that gets about 8 miles to the gallon or diesel engines. These trucks are all equipped with ladder racks that will usually have a 24 to 28 ft. fiberglass extension ladder and shorter A frame ladders(6 to 8 ft.) These guys are equipped for anything in regards to height but with the amount of driving , they are spending a fortune in most cases on fuel.
    I believe I have the best of both worlds. I have a 2011 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner(2wheel drive)extended cab. I just equipped my truck with 34 inch tires and a 4 inch lift. 6 Cylinder engine(also available with a 4 cylinder engine as well)
    (tires and lift are NOT necessary, just my preference) I also had my truck fitted with a ladder rack and I carry a 24 ft. Werner (FIBERGLASS) extension ladder  along with a 8 ft A frame(FIBERGLASS) ladder. I empasize the fiberglass ladders because quite often when we are on roofs or whatever, there are downed power lines, the power masts on all roofs are sometimes destroyed exposing lots of lines. Aluminum ladders conduct electricity and will bbq your hind end. Understand that in most cases especially when you are dealing with a category X event like Katrina/Andrew the power is shut off throughout vast areas. HOWEVER, you ARE to operate around powerlines as if they are live.
    So a compact truck like Toyota's,Nissan,Dodge are fantastic with being able to carry longer ladders,multiple ladders PROVIDED they are equipped with a ladder rack. All ladders must be securely stowed during transport. Ladders improperly stowed(IE no ladder rack) have killed many people over the years . It is also a very expensive ticket if you aren't using a ladder rack or if those ladders aren't tied or chained down. It's a great bet to lock these ladders with like a bicycle chain in addition to bungee cords because as much as they are dangerous, an unsecured ladder is a STOLEN ladder.
    SUV's are good as well however I think it would be tough to carry a 22 or 24 ft ladder on the roof. Your 6 to 8 ft (FIBERGLASS A frame can easily fit inside the SUV.
    Just remember in most cases you are responsible for all your expenses. So with that being said, you should consider the above and try to go with a 6 cylinder .
    Robby Robinson
    "A good leader leads..... ..... but a great leader is followed !!" CatAdjusterX@gmail.com
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    ChuckDeaton
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    06/16/2011 10:26 PM
    The real question is a cost benefit one, how are you going to make enough money handling claims, as a cat adjuster, that is, to pay for a new vehicle. The biggest expense is the cost per mile. Do you intend to amortize it over 5 years?
    "Prattling on and on about being an ass with experience doesn't make someone experienced. It just makes you an ass." Rod Buvens, Pilot grunt
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    ChuckDeaton
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    06/16/2011 10:26 PM
    The real question is a cost benefit one, how are you going to make enough money handling claims, as a cat adjuster, that is, to pay for a new vehicle. The biggest expense is the cost per mile. Do you intend to amortize it over 5 years?
    "Prattling on and on about being an ass with experience doesn't make someone experienced. It just makes you an ass." Rod Buvens, Pilot grunt
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    ChuckDeaton
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    06/16/2011 10:26 PM
    The real question is a cost benefit one, how are you going to make enough money handling claims, as a cat adjuster, that is, to pay for a new vehicle. The biggest expense is the cost per mile. Do you intend to amortize it over 5 years?
    "Prattling on and on about being an ass with experience doesn't make someone experienced. It just makes you an ass." Rod Buvens, Pilot grunt
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    ChuckDeaton
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    06/16/2011 10:27 PM
    First review I thought to remove two of my posts, but then decided that the subject is important enough to say three times.
    "Prattling on and on about being an ass with experience doesn't make someone experienced. It just makes you an ass." Rod Buvens, Pilot grunt
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    Leland
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    06/17/2011 4:54 AM
    If you are not already making money as a CAT adjuster you might want to just get a 10 year old Volvo station wagon. Get the windows tinted, but not too dark, so you can sleep in it without attracting to much attention. Just fold down the back seat and use a sleeping bag. Park it in a public place where not too many people walk by. Always crack the windows at night so your breath doesn't fog up the interior. Before you drive to the storm site get a gym membership so you can shower. If you follow my advice you will be able to live off of one unemployment check before you get paid on your first closed file. At the end of the storm assignment you can buy any darn vehicle you want with all the money you made.

    Never try to buy a cheap vehicle after a city floods. There aren't any. If you live five states away just fly to any big city about 100 miles from the storm assignment. Buy a used car there. When you finish you can sell the car for a nice profit if there was a good flood. When I finished Katrina I had buyers practically jumping through the phone line to buy a used toyota that my sister had given to me.

    Chuck is very smart. He understands money. The most important question regarding a vehicle is "Can you afford it?"

    From my experience most people will admire a used European luxury car that cost $5000 and think it cost at least $20,000.

    Here is an example of a Volvo station wagon that is listed for $2200.

    http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/...73466.html

    You could probably buy it for $2000. The seller might not be a true private party- maybe you could buy a similar car for $1700.00. It looks very presentable, almost new. This car will go to 250k miles if the oil is changed, maybe more. I personally drive a 1992 Mercedes 300TE station wagon with 235,000 miles. It still runs great. It has plenty of room for a good sized ladder. I don't sleep in it, but I could if I had to. I have no car payments. I probably drive about 800 miles a week. And the car looks very presentable. If I feel like driving a nicer car I go somewhere with my wife in her car.

    If I needed a nice new truck I would buy it and leave it at home when I go on a storm. Why wear out a nice truck?
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    Tim Wieneke
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    06/19/2011 4:54 PM

    I use a Scion TC for 90% of my work and keep an 4x4 F150 parked in the driveway for the 5-10% that I may need it. The Scion's a cheap vehicle (I bought a 2006 for 7900 bucks), Toyota longevity, and 30+ mpg. I also can quite literally fit a 13' and a 22' folding ladder in the back of it plus luggage, computer equipment and have reclined the seat for sleep in the car nights quite comfortably. For a 6'3", 280 lb. guy this is a good combo of vehicle feature. I just took it through Joplin and it was perfect.

    Now I won't lie, when I'm not on storm duty I'm doing a lot of daily commercial in Chicago and the ease of moving around in a sporty compact in a city factored into my decision making.

    My eventual plan, when I make the money for it, is to buy a Class C and use it to tow the Scion.  Best of both worlds at that point.

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    11Screwball
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    01/11/2012 4:56 PM
    F-150 all the way. My 3.7 engine gets 22 mpgs and I can fit more then I'll ever need to have in the bed under the Extang Tunnou cover
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