Hail Advice - I got crapped on

First, what seems impossible to you is just another day to a professional in a field like PDR.

I have had two vehicle fixed with PDR. One was black... amazing results.

That damage won't come close to totalling it.

Replacing a panel like a cab top would be much more invasive and problematic than just filling the dents with plastic. PDR is a much better option.

Good luck. Don't hate PDR yet. A lot of PDR crews travel from area to area so whoever does your might not be from Minnesota. They might be from Texas or Oklahoma.

I suggest you go watch a YouTube video of a PDR demonstration before you hate on the process.

I am an engineer. PDR is friggin art man.

 

Take it to a few shops and get estimates. If you call your insurance co. and they send an appraiser/adjuster to you they'll be so busy with claims in that area you'll be waiting forever and they'll most likely try to just cut you a check and hope you deal with it yourself. This happened to me a few years ago and they were all caught up looking at roofs and cars were a low priority. All of a sudden there's a check in my front door and supposedly someone stopped by, looked at my car, and printed a check on the spot. I was home and they never knocked or anything. I'm guessing a guy printed the check in his truck and moved along without hardly pausing to take a look. I played back and forth for a while and eventually said f-it and sold the car. Got tired of the runaround and looking at my golfball of a car.

Anyone want to check out what happened in MN today, Google Coon Rapids MN hailstorm. They were clearing streets with plows the hail was so copious.

 

Thanks for the advice, will get some estimates. Last thing I want is a back and forth, or an overburdened adjuster lowballing the claim.

And thanks @hiPSI for lending some confidence in the PDR process.

 

Same thing happened to my 06 a few years ago. Rouge storm when we were out of town. I filed a claim and went the PDR route at a recommended shop. I couldn't tell one bit that my truck sat through a hail storm.

 

Yep, that’s were I live, although anytime I enter my zip code anywhere it says minneapolis.

 

Yep. That's what I saw on the news. Crazy stuff for June in MN. A day after it was 90+ degrees.

I go back and forth from Oakdale to Grand Rapids. Hailed on my truck (no damage) in GR earlier this week. Fortunately my truck was in my garage in Oakdale when the hail hit this morning.

 

From now on it’ll be in the garage. “My” garage doesn’t have power ran to it so it’s manual, my significants does, laziness, yes. Oh well, it’s a truck, and at the end of the day, I got what matters.

 

Thanks to everyone.

 

You haven't lived here long enough. Wind storms + big trees = branches falling down on shit.

 

hhahahahaahahahahahahahhahahahahahahhahhahaha

 

That is a brilliant idea, I know where I’m going to park the next few days, thunderstorms scheduled all week. Flippin genius!

 

Lived here 54 years. I park out of the path of trees.

 

What’s so funny? I’ve driven all over the world, country, and here, people will change 3 lanes in the blink of an eye, merge onto a highway doing 20 in a 65 and immediately swing into the fast lane. There is No fast lane up here, it’s got more cars in it than all the others and they are going 5 under. I’ll start posting YouTube’s from my GoPro. Shitz nutz. I’ve seen an entire family on a 4 wheeler including dog (3rd world country) on the highway, and the dad still has the decency to hand signal. I was born here, my family’s from here. I have nothing against MN, maybe it’s just the twin cities, at least that’s what I hope.

 

Now, you have one more option but you need to be a savvy car guy. I've done this once with a brand new truck that had less than 2K miles and got hit when I wasn't even in It, but this requires a lot of research to make sure you don't get screwed. Ready?

Get the check from the Insurance co and then trade the vehicle as - is + the check on a brand new truck. It can be done and it can be done to work out just fine. I did it no problem. Just make sure if you choose this option you really do your due diligence.
Good luck!

 

If you're in a position to spend a little money...

Ask a dealer that has a body shop for a damage estimate and tell them you'll give them the insurance check plus your truck on a trade on a new truck. Then tell them that you're not entirely sure you wanna go that route, but you want to see the damage estimate first and then you'll make your decision.

After you get the damage estimate, ask what remainder you'd owe on a new truck. Bargain down from there. Hopefully the damage estimate will give them room to play. Obviously they make money on repairs. That's their business. They also like to sell new cars and would love to sell you one. Some of their profit margin on the repair can be yours if you deal in a savvy way.

Then get the damage estimate, submit to insurance for approval, and make your final decision.

 

Now I’m saying why didn’t I think of that. Thank you

 

What about that garage in the picture - How come you did not have it there? Or is this where the Wife gets to park?

 

I live in so cal , We've had hail several times. This is my 16 4runner trail I was trying to throw blankets on it and get it under the garage door and save it

 

Trade in a truck for some marble size hail? That is excellent financial advice

Advice, just get it fixed (PDR does wonders) instead of asking advice on the internet. It isn't totaled and with a good shop you won't be able to tell. I am picking up my truck tomorrow after getting pummeled by softball size hail while visiting the parents, trading in the truck never once crossed my mind knowing the financial hit I would take in the long run (added loan, upfront costs, value difference ect). They had to replace the roof and hood and pdr the rest and it was over 10k (no windows broken). File it up to a lesson to garage or cover the truck and enjoy it, it will get many dents and dings if it is used remotely at all as a truck over the years.

Also I grew up in the twin cities, drivers and people aren't any worse than anywhere else in the country/world. Each place as crap drivers and each place has plenty of normal courteous drivers, I have seen good and bad drives in chicago, DC, Pitt, San Diego, Portland, DFW, ect. Singling out a few examples isn't a true depiction of an entire area...

Tyler

 

Unfortunately, mine is full of junk.