[A/S] Lubbock Texas - October 18th, 2000

[hhamp5246@xxxxxxx]

Hi Gang,

Well, Monday morning started out badly... I met with the Foremost Insurance 
field rep. The first 3 checks for claims flew toward me... then we got to the 
hail damage.  The most she would give me was 40% of the total damages.... 
telling me some BS that in the state of Texas it's the law that they can't 
pay for property damages...only repairs. I was having some hail damage 
repaired as it was crossover damage from the tree hence the 40%.  Texas law?  
Why would Texas care? I argued that insurance is to cover my losses whether I 
fix it or not.

I was pretty steamed by the time she left.  I called the Texas Insurance 
Commission and the very knowledgable girl told me that they have to pay me 
for my damages and  whether I fix it or not is none of their business...... 
UNLESS... there is a lien on the trailer.  Ah ha!!  The Foremost girl never 
mentioned the lein being the cause.  Either she doesn't know or she was being 
cagey.  

So, I am going to simply pay off the trailer and get the full damage payment 
from Foremost. 

Later that afternoon I went and picked up the new stainless steel vent cover 
from the sheet metal fabricator.... and brought it to Billy Sims..... when I 
arrived I was thrilled to find that the trailer was finished except for the 
vent and the awning cover had to go back on..... YEA!!!

What can I say about Billy Sims Trailer Town?  I am so happy with the work 
they did.  My trailer looks gorgeous..... but not only was the work terrific 
but the people there were all wonderful.  Brady the service manager, Arlie 
the extrordinary body man, the parts people and the salesman were lovely to 
deal with.  I didnlt actually have any real dealings with the salesman, but 
as I was all over the new trailers I did meet two of them.  I am so thankful 
that I decided to bring it here to Lubbock instead of waiting until I got 
somewhere else.  I can't recommend them highly enough.  

I brought the trailer back to the KOA and moved everything from the mega 
motorhome into it.... clothes, stuff and food..... what an ordeal!! I never 
thought about it, but motorhomes are like an apartment in a one floor walk 
up....  At one point I bumped something and all of a sudden the motorhome's 
alarm system went wild..... LOL.... light flashing, horns beeping, sirens 
blaring..... I was glad I had moved the cats and dogs back into my trailer!! 

Last night was so fine.... I put everything away, and watched the Yankees win 
the Pennant. YEA!!!!!!!

Will I miss the motorhome?  The bathroom maybe...but I wouldn't trade my 
little silver trailer for any motorhome after spending a week in it.

This trailer is so much more comfortable.  Watching tv in the MH was torture 
as the TV is in the dash... you have to lean out on the couch to see around 
the driver's seat. 
I spent every evening cross legged on the floor watching the games.  The bed 
was an instrument of torture. The kitchen and dinette were nice... but didn't 
make up for the uncomfortableness.

This morning, while cozy in my own bed I realized something... I couldn't 
hear the traffic noise outside or the 7:10 am barking dog.  This trailer must 
be insulated 10 times better than the Southwind..... it sounded like the dog 
and the traffic and the train were coming through the living room when I was 
in the MH.   

The funniest thing was after I unloaded the MH and loaded the trailer I had 
to move the motorhome around the campground to a parking space.  Sheesh..... 
what a beast.

So, we are off this morning.  It's been a pleasant experience here in 
Lubbock, made better by meeting some people from this list and the RV 
newsgroup. The restaurants are good, the shopping is good....

I know one thing... I will be extra careful driving the trailer from now 
on... I don't ever want to leave it in a body shop again.

Hunter