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stevendemars
USA
12 Posts |
 Posted - 09/25/2003 : 20:59:54
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Just curious what the vehicle of choice is for CAT Adjusters? And the reasons why . . .
I am thinking a full size van would be good.
Any comments pro or con would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Steve
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Steven DeMars |
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cat man do
USA
28 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2003 : 20:50:40
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| I DRIVE A TOYOTA CAMERY AND HAVE FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND I CARRY 16 ' LADDER AND DONT HAVE ANY TROUBLE GETTING ON 95% OF MY ROOF ..... GRATE MILEAGE 35 PG AND NEVER IN THE SHOP |
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scottposton
USA
28 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2003 : 21:43:40
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| Ford Crown Victoria. Lots of room and if you get the basic model the cops think your a cop so no tickets. Of course I do have problems getting the claimant to the door sometimes as well. |
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stevendemars
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - 09/27/2003 : 00:16:38
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I am a newbie, so any suggestions would be appreciated . . . What do you do for two story houses. Do you find yourself cramped with all your gear and clothes are am I over planning here. I'm thinking room for clothes, equipment, ladders (extension & step). I am basing this on some of the equipment list I have seen some of the guys running.
How much room do you need?
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Steven DeMars |
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Ghostbuster
476 Posts |
Posted - 09/27/2003 : 09:06:43
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There was a time in the primordial past when a 12' Stapleton wood ladder, a pocket calculator, a clip board, and a suitcase of clothes were all you needed in the way of storm trooping equipment.
Welcome to the brave new world.
To answer your question, a surplus UPS delivery van is now a little on the smallish side to hold all the crap some adjusters need to have out on the road. C'mon guys...an ironing board?, your overstuffed office chair?, and that credenza is just way over the top. |
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cdlynes
USA
3 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2003 : 12:25:21
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| When I worked Hugo in Charleston, I bought a reposessed motorcycle from my first claim (a suzuki dealership) and worked more than half of my claims from a milk crate bungeed to the rack. If I didn't need a ladder, the bike was much easier to manuver around the downed trees, powerlines and repair crews. Didn't use a laptop then, though. |
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KileAnderson
USA
875 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2003 : 13:58:24
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| How did you work hurricane claims without a ladder? |
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cdlynes
USA
3 Posts |
Posted - 10/01/2003 : 16:35:53
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| Of course I would call first, but generally, almost everyone had a ladder in their garage. Most people even had it set up on the side of the house waiting for me. But when I needed one, I would take the car with the ladder of course. |
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catmanager
USA
102 Posts |
Posted - 10/01/2003 : 18:27:19
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| I lot of guys do use vans, or large suvs.....extended cab trucks, quad-cabs, etc... I can fit everything I need (including wife/adjuster/assistant) into a Toyota 4Runner....3 rubbermaid action packers plus large printer/scanner/copier in the back, 2 laptops, clothes bar in backseat, and a two story ladder on a Yakima rack up top...(did I forget to mention the extra sheets/Lysol cans for the motel room?....LOL...my wife saw the special on ABC primetime live where they take the blacklight looking for body fluids in motels) |
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pilot48
USA
78 Posts |
Posted - 10/01/2003 : 20:52:48
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To answer the question, how do you handle claims without a ladder? Well, a flood adjuster might not need a ladder!!!!!!! (LOL)
Also, most of the claims I handled on Hugo, the entire roofs were blown into the neighbors yard anyway, so a ladder was a moot issue. |
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okclarryd
USA
106 Posts |
Posted - 10/01/2003 : 21:01:43
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| I have an extended cab pickup with a camper shell. My next vehicle will probably be a 4wd Tahoe or Yukon. I bought a Ford Expedition but don't like it so I gave it to my wife to go to Wallyworld in. I don't really care for 4wd vehicles but........... |
LARRY D HARDIN |
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danmeler
25 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2003 : 15:59:54
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| Here in Maryland USAA is REQUIRING we carry a minimum 24' ladder...that takes a fair sized vehicle. They also require a micrometer for siding and roofing and a host of things people who sit behind desks thought it would be nifty to require. Oh what fun!! I remember when a simple Cat file was much less than the current 1/2" thick these are...and when we got paid for unusually long drives to a claim, and for photos, and for..... |
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okclarryd
USA
106 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2003 : 06:32:30
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| Oklahoma is having a surplus school bus sale next month. There are some nifty 64 passenger models that could be cleaned out and used as a station wagon. Just turn on the stop lights when you park and you won't have to worry about traffic as you are getting the ladder off the top. It will carry a 82ft fiberglass ladder easily. Plenty of room for your laptop and BJC85 printer, too. See ya at the auction!!! |
LARRY D HARDIN |
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Tom Toll
USA
154 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2003 : 13:24:18
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| Larry, if we ever decide to carry an 82 foot ladder, we will definetely buy an 18 wheeler. But to save money, we will stay with our 99 Dodge Ram, with a snug top cap on it. |
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CatDaddy
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2003 : 16:07:25
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Steve, I know a couple guys that work out of full size vans. One guys is on his second. One of the big carriers is going to full size vans for its cat team as well. GMC Suvanna.
The guy I know took 2003 GMC Suvanna and removed the center captain's chairs and built a desk that fits into the same fasteners the chairs came out of. Then he sits on the back bench seat. Very slick. Good workspace. Ladder rack on top, looks like it might hold an 84 footer!
Good luck!
CD
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Edited by - CatDaddy on 10/16/2003 16:08:50 |
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dano009
46 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2003 : 18:33:42
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| Now I know why I got a staff job that is non-Cat property. Got to drive a bus around with an office and living quarters to do Cat work is just a little bit of too much nonsense for this adjuster. |
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Topic |
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Vehicle of Choice?
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