How they steal tractors in my place

[Jim Nelson]

Hi 3Ts,

That's it. Here Spain is still selling its avocadoes all over Europe.
The first reason is : Mexican and spanish avocadoes ripe at different seasons.
and the second spanish avocadoes are of higher quality as they don't need to travel a long way to come to the shops.

Phil

Once a few years ago we had a real good crop that I thought I could make some money on, and I would have if I had been able to pick them myself. As luck would have it I had a retinal artery occlusion just before picking time which caused me to lose the vision in my right eye and the loss of my depth perception. As a result of this I couldn't maintain balance on the slopes and of course couldn't see to place the picking pole under the fruit. There was a crew picking a neighbors grove and they approached me about picking mine giving me a very optimistic estimate of how much fruit I would have and profit after their charge. When it all finished up after paying them I got a check from the packing house for $45 and they also stole my apricot crop which was about 2 weeks from being ready. This pretty much cured me of any idea of selling avocados.

 

[fried1765]

Hi Bmaverick,

My insurance applied 10% penalty for each year of owning the tractor. I had it for 9 years so I got 10 % of the price I paid for it.
I have the possibilty to buy another grey market tractor as many firms in Europe are selling them but I am considering the possibility to buy an official market tractor as it is easier for maintenance. I got a few problems with the AF22 in finding spare parts.
The problem is : those last tractors are much more expensive. So I have to wait or go for a loan. BTW AF120 is 12 HP AF22 is (was !) 22 HP
Phil

Of course one never knows for certain until having a claim, but USAA tells me that my Kubota L48 TLB is covered for full replacement value.
Current replacement (almost equal) would be the L47, at $64,319K (build your own) plus $4,000 tax.
Personal property items with "replacement value coverage" are not depreciated, but are in fact replaced, if lost.
My L48 is my personal property, and is not used to produce income.

 

[fried1765]

Supposed to get a visit from an unknown contractor (who never showed up). Made sure to close buildings and put stuff away. No need to advertise what you have or where it might be parked if you don't have to.

I knew a guy who proudly would show off his gun collection to anyone that showed an interest. Came home one day and every last firearm was gone.

My 2 storage buildings are out of sight from the road.
I do not invite other than friends to those buildings.

 

[EuroYanmar]

Yes, the insurance companies have gotten the law makers to give them a guaranteed income but the insurance you mention is liability insurance which is different than insurance covering a stolen tractor which usually falls under comprehensive insurance. You might ask your insurance company if both types of insurance are required. If both types aren't required then at some point, depending on the value of the tractor, it would pay to drop the comprehensive part of the policy.

Good morning,

Reb954,

Unfortunately this is hardly possible here.
Most of vehicle insurances contracts include all the guarantees. You cannot remove such a guarantee.
The only thing you can do is ask for a cheaper contract but your guarantees will be weaker regarding to all other facts like injury, road accident etc....
Another possibility would be to go for another company but the problem may be the same.

I would be interested in knowing how the following sitiation is managed by insurances in US :

Let's say I have a car in my place. This car is 5 years old and it is completely destroyed in a road accident I am not responsible for.
My insurance will pay me on the basis of the value of the vehicle listed in a document called "Argus".
This document lists the values of all vehicle models according to their year of entry into service.

After 10 years the vehicles are no longer listed in this "argus". If the vehicle is destroyed you will then be paid just the price of the wreck, which is around $ 500.

Do you have the same system in the United States?

Phil

 

[EuroYanmar]

Once a few years ago we had a real good crop that I thought I could make some money on, and I would have if I had been able to pick them myself. As luck would have it I had a retinal artery occlusion just before picking time which caused me to lose the vision in my right eye and the loss of my depth perception. As a result of this I couldn't maintain balance on the slopes and of course couldn't see to place the picking pole under the fruit. There was a crew picking a neighbors grove and they approached me about picking mine giving me a very optimistic estimate of how much fruit I would have and profit after their charge. When it all finished up after paying them I got a check from the packing house for $45 and they also stole my apricot crop which was about 2 weeks from being ready. This pretty much cured me of any idea of selling avocados.

Good morning Jim,

What kind of avocadoes do yo have ? If the trees are so high I suppose it is Hass ?
For sure if you don't sell them the only possibility is to have guacamole each dinner in the year, or give them as a gift to friends !
Sorry for your apricots !

Phil

 

[EuroYanmar]

Of course one never knows for certain until having a claim, but USAA tells me that my Kubota L48 TLB is covered for full replacement value.
Current replacement (almost equal) would be the L47, at $64,319K (build your own) plus $4,000 tax.
Personal property items with "replacement value coverage" are not depreciated, but are in fact replaced, if lost.
My L48 is my personal property, and is not used to produce income.

Hi Fried1765,

We have this kind of insurance too but it works only the two first years after the purchase of the tractor and the yearly cost of the insurance is very high. Sad !

Phil

 

[two_bit_score]

One of the things my area is famous for is the Johnston Gang. Infamous in the 70’s for being a theft ring stealing anything, but specialized in heavy equipment, trucks, tractors.
Ever see the movie “ At Close Range “ (Sean Penn, Christopher Walken)? Its about the Johnston Gang from Southeastern PA.

Some of their kinfolk must have moved to Texas.

 

[Hay Dude]

Some of their kinfolk must have moved to Texas.

The father and the 2 sons (one adopted) and others cousins and relatives terrorized our neighborhoods for most of the 70’s and early 80’s. The father was the main ring leader. Once things went bad, they turned on each other. Father shot sons fiancé and killed adopted son. Bodies dumped in woods just 1/2 mile from me. Big FBI & State Cops crime scene. I was just a kid then. Son was also shot, but survived and turned states evidence on father. Father did time in local prison and actually escaped about 10 years ago. He was a crafty old bugger and State Police we’re searching for him for weeks.
Check out the movie “ at close range “. It’s pretty good.
We had 2 other notable movies filmed in my area. “ Marley and me “ and “ The Village “

 

[fried1765]

Hi Fried1765,

We have this kind of insurance too but it works only the two first years after the purchase of the tractor and the yearly cost of the insurance is very high. Sad !

Phil

What I am referring to is my "homeowners insurance" coverage.
My homeowners policy covers EVERYTHING that I own at/in my home.
It covers liability, replacement value of all structures, and replacement value of furnishings/contents (+personal property, including personal tractors - I have 3 + mower).
I currently pay $2,650 USD per year, but each year they seem to raise the premium a bit more.
I have a house ($350,000) two barns, ($85,000 each), personal property coverage of $170,000, and $300,000 basic liability + extra $1,000,000 "umbrella" liability. (The USA is a very litigious country).

 

[fried1765]

Good morning,

Reb954,

Unfortunately this is hardly possible here.
Most of vehicle insurances contracts include all the guarantees. You cannot remove such a guarantee.
The only thing you can do is ask for a cheaper contract but your guarantees will be weaker regarding to all other facts like injury, road accident etc....
Another possibility would be to go for another company but the problem may be the same.

I would be interested in knowing how the following sitiation is managed by insurances in US :

Let's say I have a car in my place. This car is 5 years old and it is completely destroyed in a road accident I am not responsible for.
My insurance will pay me on the basis of the value of the vehicle listed in a document called "Argus".
This document lists the values of all vehicle models according to their year of entry into service.

After 10 years the vehicles are no longer listed in this "argus". If the vehicle is destroyed you will then be paid just the price of the wreck, which is around $ 500.

Do you have the same system in the United States?

Phil

The system in the USA works similarly, but there is no 10 year drop dead provision.
For example:

Last December my 1996 Mercedes E-320 was hit by another driver.
My car was 24 years old, so though I could have still been buying loss/damage coverage I was not doing so.
The insurance carrier of the driver that hit my car paid me $4,600, and towed my wreck away.

I was sad to see the old girl go, as I figured she would accompany me to the grave.
It was not to be!

I was satisfied with the payment though, for a 106,000 mile car that was 24 years old (it was nearly pristine).
I did have to fight with them a bit.

Bought a beautiful polar white low mileage E-350 as a replacement, but it cost many more USD!
A magnificent car!