Help me pick my first 1st Gen truck!

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Insurance companies

Postby LJinLA » Wed May 22, 2013 7:19 am

OK, but what about the insurance issue?

I spoke yesterday to AAA (which insures all my vehicles) about it and was told they will not insure a vehicle with a non-working odometer.
Why not? They said that their price schedule is based, among other things, on annual miles (they have brackets under 2.5K miles, 5K, 7.5K, 10K, 15K, etc.). Yearly, they have you sign a form stating the actual miles on your vehicle's odometer at that time. If it hasn't reasonably increased from the last reading, they will question it and ask to inspect the odometer and, if found not working, they will refuse to insure the vehicle until fixed. Furthermore, say you have an accident and file a claim....they will want an odometer reading to make sure you haven't exceeded the bracket max you've paid for, and if that is exceeded or if the odometer is found stuck at the initial reading, it will invalidate the insurance policy as per their contract and you are left on your own, they won't pay.

Don't all insurance companies have similar rules? What insurance companies do you use for your trucks?

By the way, I was quoted $430 for an AAA 12-month policy premium (liability only) on a '93 W250. How does that sound to you, or can I do better elsewhere?
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Re: Help me pick my first 1st Gen truck!

Postby RCCUMMINS89 » Wed May 22, 2013 7:46 am

Then why did you tell them it doesn't have a working odometer?

Wait.........so yearly they actually check your mileage? I'd move out of that state :roll:

I've had Progressive, Farmers, Allstate, and one other one. I have never in my life had any one verify or check a single thing on my vehicle (unless I had full coverage and they check condition up front)

I pay..............about 350 a year for liability for my RC, but that's also because we have multiple vehicles....... by itself I think it was around 600 a year.
89 RC on shortened 92 diesel frame - NV4500 w/dual disc/4.10s on 37s. - Self built pump, "hot screw", lots of timing, True high volume low pressure lift pump, 62fmw/68/.7gated, 77lpm SAC Inj., Studs/O-rings,- 423/1220 Mustang - 11/16/2013 http://www.TheHungryDiesel.com full line dealer, if you don't see it please ask.
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Re: Help me pick my first 1st Gen truck!

Postby Mark Nixon » Wed May 22, 2013 7:55 am

$430 for 12 months?
That's a real fair price.
Fix the odometer and keep your mouth shut about having done so, say that you'd heard that "some of these trucks have an issue with the speedo", which is why you asked.

One thing you should know about insurance companies, if you don't already, is that they'll do ANYTHING to not have to pay a claim.

It's ridiculous that they even ASK that the odometer works, unless you're going for Comprehensive/Collision on a 20+year old truck and even then mileage won't matter, as they'll definitely try to lowball you on a total loss, even if you do have an appraised valuation.

If the truck you buy is a late, late 1992 or 1993, the odometer in those is much less prone to be non-working, as the design was changed and is a much more reliable one.
If you get one that doesn't work and need to fix it, the national mileage average per year is 12,000 miles (low for some areas).
Estimate it off that, if you know when the speedo broke.

You can verify, within reason, the mileage by past registrations, where the mileage (in some states) has to be stated on each transfer.
I say this because you don't want to say the truck has 123,456 miles on it to-day when it had 123,399 10 years ago and has had 2 owner changes.

Mark.
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Re: Help me pick my first 1st Gen truck!

Postby Mark Nixon » Wed May 22, 2013 8:04 am

RCCUMMINS89 wrote:Wait.........so yearly they actually check your mileage? I'd move out of that state

That's commiefornia, plus a "premium" insurance company known for bullying customers. :roll:
Also, any time they ask for mileage it's for tracking usage, but eventually it's going to be used for taxation, as there are articles on the internet where the government is trying to tax by miles driven. If it happens, ol' Commifornia will be the leader. Them or New Jersey.

If you drive commercially, over 26,000 pounds, or use IRP under 26,000 pounds, this is already happening and has been for years.

Mark.
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Re: Help me pick my first 1st Gen truck!

Postby CumminsPower59 » Wed May 22, 2013 1:02 pm

I don't know about you all, but I'm paying $28 a month on my 91 through my current insurance company...that I have used for ten years. They have never once asked for odometer numbers once.
Ike

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04 VW Jetta Wagon TDI 5speed
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Re: Help me pick my first 1st Gen truck!

Postby dazedandconfused » Wed May 22, 2013 1:04 pm

I pay $70 a month for my 83 halfton 2wd short bed.
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Re: Help me pick my first 1st Gen truck!

Postby oldestof11 » Wed May 22, 2013 2:32 pm

After 12 vehicles and 3 insurance companies, not one has asked for actual mileage, but rather an estimation of miles driven yearly. Then anything sold that is more than xx years old here just doesn't list the mileage on the title.
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Re: Help me pick my first 1st Gen truck!

Postby ellis93 » Wed May 22, 2013 3:38 pm

oldestof11 wrote:After 12 vehicles and 3 insurance companies, not one has asked for actual mileage, but rather an estimation of miles driven yearly. Then anything sold that is more than xx years old here just doesn't list the mileage on the title.

That would be 10yrs
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Re: Help me pick my first 1st Gen truck!

Postby oldestof11 » Wed May 22, 2013 3:49 pm

I knew it was double digit but everything I have owned has been 15+ years old...

Except the Suburban now that I think of it.
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Re: Help me pick my first 1st Gen truck!

Postby dazedandconfused » Wed May 22, 2013 4:02 pm

I've lost track of all the trucks I've owned.
Big Andy
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Re: Help me pick my first 1st Gen truck!

Postby Mark Nixon » Wed May 22, 2013 4:07 pm

dazedandconfused wrote:I've lost track of all the trucks I've owned.

I've about lost track of all of the ones I have SCRAPPED!!! :twisted:
Got a couple more that are heading that way very soon, too. :lol:

"Can't sell 'em complete? Junk 'em out!" :roll:

Mark.
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Re: Help me pick my first 1st Gen truck!

Postby PToombs » Wed May 22, 2013 5:09 pm

I've never had an insurance company ask about mileage either. I'm currently with The Harford and pay about $1000 a year for 3 vehicles, basic liability. I'm going to shop around before I renew, they tried to fock me.
A guy ran a stop sign, and I just grazed his rear quarter panel. Left a basketball sized dent. Guy chased me down, I didn't think I hit him, I didn't feel it. I saw paint on the license plate bolts on my '97, so ok, I did. When the guy couldn't find insurance info, he decided not to pursue it. It was his dead MiL car, I think it didn't have anything on it, plates or ins. I called the insurance company to cover my butt in case he changed his mind, guy took my info, for "informational purposes". Within an hour an adjuster was on the phone for more info. Then I found out they were going to pay the saslohe because I hit him, it didn't matter that he ran the stop sign. Good thing he avoided them, they dropped it. I'm sure the plan was to pay him, then jack my rates.
Insurance companies are scumbags, they rate up there with lawyers and politicians.
pete

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Re: Help me pick my first 1st Gen truck!

Postby rockbuggy4x4 » Wed May 29, 2013 12:24 pm

I just turned 21 and I've been paying less then $100 quarterly for my dodge and my rock crawler.
Jimmy
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--> '95 jimmy not so stock

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Would you buy a truck like this one for $1,800?

Postby LJinLA » Mon Jun 03, 2013 11:47 am

Front.jpg
Left.jpg
Right.jpg


These are the only pictures I have, unfortunately, taken from far away (it wasn't me) and are out of focus, but you get the general idea. The owner is a friend of an acquaintance of mine, and the truck is located about 500 miles away (so that has to be factored in too in the buying decision).
It is a 1992 D250 Cummins with automatic transmission and 249K miles. Truck has had only two owners and current owner has purchased the truck in 1993 with 16K miles on it.

This is what I was told about the truck:

Negatives:

- Acceleration away from a stop sign is very slow, even with the pedal all the way down (but I think this is typical of all 1st gen Cummins trucks that weren't turned up. This was the comment made by my acquaintance, who drove the truck but who is not used to driving a Dodge diesel in stock form from that era).

- Some neglected things like shock absorbers, paint on the cab, leaking axle seals at the hubs that require some money to be put into it. Paint on upper sun-bearing surfaces mostly shot and down to primer in many areas. Roof of cab and hood/cowl have surface rust. Two-tone white/blue needs redo.
D70 rear axle will need TLC for either wheel cylinders or outer axle seals (based on seepage on the brake drums, hard to say which).
The truck shows its age for wear and tear and for not living in covered environment.

- Camper shell is old. Several stress cracks in fiberglass and left rear corner broken out near tailgate.

Positives:

- Tires in good condition with a lot of thread left, 265/75-16. LE package...A/C, PW. Has a (worn out) camper shell. It is stock and not hot rodded. Tow package and trailer brakes. Moderate mileage at 249K. Trans had some work at 204K miles in 2004. All gears available with no hesitation to shifting.

- All power accessories work: windows, radio. Has trailer brake unit in cab. All gauges function. Poly bedliner in reasonable condition. Sliding rear window on cab.

What's your take? Would you go for it at $1,800? How much would it cost to repair the problem with the rear axle? I know it's hard to say without looking at the issue, but can something like that be so expensive as to kill the deal? And would you drive the truck in that condition to take it home before fixing it? (500 miles)

My main concern are the rear axle issue and the rust problem. If I could treat the rust cheaply and cover those two areas (hood and cabin top) with some white rustoleum, perhaps it could be livable. After all, we are talking about a dodge cummins at less than $2K. I know, I know...still a 4x2 auto...

Please let me know what you think of it.
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Re: Help me pick my first 1st Gen truck!

Postby tampabayBill » Tue Jun 04, 2013 6:48 am

Buy the damn thing !! Check all the fluids and drive it home. Then get on with fixing it up and keep looking for your W250/350, it will show up and in the mean time you will gain some knowledge and experience.
93D250 CC LE, 62/65/13 S300, PDR cam,DDP3's, B&D IP, 366 GSK, M3 & timing device, Air Dog 150, Cooler tubes, 3 piece manifold, BHAF & 4" tbe, ported & O ringed, ARP studs, 60# springs 47RH & 3 disc conv., fp, aux trans cooler, fluid damper, 3:54 D70 w/trac-lok, rear sway bar, gauges = egt,boost, tach, 47RH & diff. temps.
Twins coming soon!
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