Smashed GN trailer into back of my 5058M :(

bullbreaker · Sep 6, 2012

Like most have stated over and over very glad to hear no one hurt ! Really appreciate you posting this thread . Took ba--s for sure to post about experience and post pics. I imagine some folks big ego's wouldn"t have let them. Been learning a heck of a lot from thread.

Boone

pclausen · Sep 6, 2012

I got the quote from the dealership. ~$4,600 parts, $500 shipping, $2,700 labor. They did quote a new weatherstrip for the glass pane.

Now I have to file the claim with Sentry, which I just did and I'm now waiting to get contacted by the claims adjusted that will be assigned to the case. So this is pretty much like filing an auto insurance claim after all. It wasn't until I received the repair estimate back from the dealer that this became clear to me, but I can see now that makes a lot of sense.

I'm considering doing the repair myself and pocketing the labor and maybe reuse the existing weatherstrip piece and a few other components that I feel can be fixed up by carefully cleaning them, like the hydraulic couplers and some of the 3 point hitch components. I guess this will all depend on how hard the adjuster will want to haggle about the repair estimate I got.

Once all the components are removed from the cab frame, I don't think it will be that hard to take off with my car lift. Then roll the tractor forward, lower the damaged frame to the ground, connect the new frame, raise, and roll the tractor back under it. If I go this route, I'll be ordering the service manual CD set for sure.

pclausen · Sep 6, 2012

If I do it myself, I would also need to invest in a refrigerant recovery machine. I took a quick look at eBay and see there are some PROMAX RG5410A used units in good condition starting at just over $200. In addition to a recovery machine, I would need a bottle and a scale, right? Anyone have experience with recovering refrigerant?

I have recharged systems before using a cheap Harbor Freight set of gauges and bottles from the automotive store with pretty good success in the past, so I wouldn't think this would be that much more challenging, but I don't know, maybe it is?

catdozer · Sep 6, 2012

pclausen said:
If I do it myself, I would also need to invest in a refrigerant recovery machine. I took a quick look at eBay and see there are some PROMAX RG5410A used units in good condition starting at just over $200. In addition to a recovery machine, I would need a bottle and a scale, right? Anyone have experience with recovering refrigerant?

I have recharged systems before using a cheap Harbor Freight set of gauges and bottles from the automotive store with pretty good success in the past, so I wouldn't think this would be that much more challenging, but I don't know, maybe it is?

Why not just let it all out? Wouldn't it be cheaper to just put new refrigerant in it? I think it just about a pound of for the 5000 series A/C

sdkubota · Sep 6, 2012

pclausen said:
If I do it myself, I would also need to invest in a refrigerant recovery machine. I took a quick look at eBay and see there are some PROMAX RG5410A used units in good condition starting at just over $200. In addition to a recovery machine, I would need a bottle and a scale, right? Anyone have experience with recovering refrigerant?

I have recharged systems before using a cheap Harbor Freight set of gauges and bottles from the automotive store with pretty good success in the past, so I wouldn't think this would be that much more challenging, but I don't know, maybe it is?

Talk with any heating/cooling contractor...they charge and recover refridgerant all the time. In fact rather then investing in your own machine hire them or trade for services.

yelbike · Sep 6, 2012

sdkubota said:
Talk with any heating/cooling contractor...they charge and recover refridgerant all the time. In fact rather then investing in your own machine hire them or trade for services.

You'll want to use an automotive shop as they'll stock the r-134A, heating cooling contractors usually deal with r-22 or r-410A. Plus the adapter are need for vehicles.

Personnally I'd let the dealership do all the work, I something goes wrong now or later its the problem. Maybe try and negotiate the deductible with them, they may bite have or more of it.

Don't let the adjuster scare you, you had a proper "factory authorized"dealer look at it already. Deere has suggested the proper repairs. Any less would be unsafe and devalue the machine.

I don't know if I would tell the adjuster that you knowingly stopped the trailer, but rather the trailer just hit you. I'd hate for them to say something stupid like you knowingly used tractor as a battering ram.

Good luck and play safe!!

pclausen · Sep 6, 2012

yelbike said:
Personally I'd let the dealership do all the work, I something goes wrong now or later its the problem. Maybe try and negotiate the deductible with them, they may bite have or more of it.

Yeah, that's kinda of what I'm thinking. I think some of the pieces really don't need to be replaced but can be fixed up, like the lift cylinder. Also, the dealer still owns me all the HD hitch components, so the scratched up left lift arm certainly does not need to be replaced with another SD one before that takes place. I will also clean the glass out of the existing weatherstrip to see if I can get it looking like new again. But yeah, with everything that has to be disconnected and reconnected, there is certainly a chance that something could go wrong and they would surely point the finger at me. Besides, the insurance might insist the work be done by an authorized shop.

I don't know if I would tell the adjuster that you knowingly stopped the trailer, but rather the trailer just hit you. I'd hate for them to say something stupid like you knowingly used tractor as a battering ram.

That's what I told them. The trailer just rolled into the back of the stationary tractor, which was a true statement. It was stopped at the instant the trailer hit it.

Grateful11 · Sep 7, 2012

Glad you're ok. My wife has always been a stickler for chocking every implement, I guess I won't give her funny looks anymore.

pclausen · Sep 8, 2012

Spoke to the adjuster yesterday. I explained to him what happened, that I was current with my payments and that I had no other insurance that would cover this. He recorded the conversation. He said that it all sounded very straight forward and that he would contact the dealer directly to get the repair estimate and then get it approved. He also mentioned that they would cover the cost of transport to and from the dealer for repair.

The way it works is that they will cut the check payable to both the dealer and myself. I will then need to sign it before the dealer can deposit it. So hopefully Sentry is going to approve the full amount of the repair.

My dealer is very flexible and has no problem with me bringing in the tractor and picking it back up, doing some of the labor myself (like removing the interior trim, lights, doors, etc), and me repairing or thoroughly cleaning some components instead of replacing them (like the scuff marks on the lift cylinder and the ISO couplers), and the dealer still owes me the HD 3pt hitch components, so no need to swap out the scratched lift arm. Instead of actually getting any cash back from the dealer, I'm going to see if he still has that large ballast box that mistakenly got delivered with my loader, and/or some other equipment or something that I can use. This way everybody makes out, the tractor get fixed 100% to my (and the insurance company's) satisfaction, and I won't have any actual cash outlay for the deductible.