Sonovagun (Cat stolen)

[mbutts]

The storage lot (with double gates, cameras, razor wire, etc.) was hit and my E-450 was one of the lucky ones that is now missing its cat.


I had been waffling on the "weld some kind of cage thing on it" for about a year now. Maybe that will be moved up the to do list now.

[Rexlion]

Replace that cat with a calico tabby. No, wait, they're just as expensive in the long run...

[TXiceman]

Seems the scumbags will steal most anything. Last weekend, they tried to steal the tailgate on my F350. They punched out the lock, opened it and tool the retaining straps loose. But I have an extra lock on the hinge that takes some effort to get loose. Same weekend, my son-in-law had the door lock on his F250 punched and the went through the truck and found nothing to steal. The police told him they are usually looking for drugs, guns, electronics and money.

You know the crooks are just trying to get some Christmas cash. I now park my truck with the tailgate a few inches from the pinbox. They can't get it open now.

Ken

[Flyer15015]

MBUTTS,
There are several threads re; stolen cats.
When you replace yours, write somewhere close by, in a couple of locations, " smile, you're on camera"
Let them try to figure out if it's true, or where it is.

Mike in Colorado

[frank1018]

Getting ridicules! Need new technology. We will all pay in our insurance bill.

[mbutts]

I went to the lot yesterday to have a look. The good news was that the thief cut the cat's flange off so I don't have to replace any of the exhaust system from the manifold to the cat. They did cut the O2 sensor wiring so I'll have to repair the wiring harness.



I'm getting a copy of the police report on Monday and will file a claim with Progressive. This is my first (and, hopefully, ONLY) claim with them. I'll post what my experience with their process is.

[baraff]

I wonder how long it will be before the insurance companies start excluding Catalytic Converter theft from coverage? Or adding it as"optional coverage"?

[Isaac-1]

The better question is when will law enforcement crack down on all these no questions asked junk yards buying them.

[twinboat]

For those with levelers, if you had a steel cage that can be slipped under the chassis, around the Cat, you could then lower the chassis so that it can't be pulled out.

When you want to travel, lift the chassis up and pull it out, leaving it at the storage yard.

You may be able to use a water trough, sold at Tractor Supply , and trimmed to fit.

Sure it can be cut, but they are in a hurry and will move on to the next one.

[mbutts]

Round One with Progressive: Flo has very nicely offered to buy me a $165 "universal" converter and she also threw in 2.5 hours of shop time using 1974* hourly rates. *Not really, just venting



If I can replace a converter for a huge engine for $165, why is there any market for stolen ones? I might as well order 50 and sell them to a scrap dealer for thousands more.


The shop I found after a lot of searching in Metro Detroit that does work on motorhomes gave me an estimate of $1,200 to $1,600 for a non-OEM cat installed.



Stay tuned!

[twinboat]

Originally Posted by mbutts

Round One with Progressive: Flo has very nicely offered to buy me a $165 "universal" converter and she also threw in 2.5 hours of shop time using 1974* hourly rates. *Not really, just venting



If I can replace a converter for a huge engine for $165, why is there any market for stolen ones? I might as well order 50 and sell them to a scrap dealer for thousands more.


The shop I found after a lot of searching in Metro Detroit that does work on motorhomes gave me an estimate of $1,200 to $1,600 for a non-OEM cat installed.



Stay tuned!

That price must be for a tail light converter.

[creativepart]

When my Cat was stolen at the RV storage yard this year Progressive covered it fully at a cost of $2700. No hassle or delays. Cost me $250 for the deductible. I got an OEM cat and Exhaust sensor, too.

[mbutts]

Creative,
That's very interesting. I'll bring that up if I don't lose patience and just fix it myself. The closest shop I could find in Metro Detroit was 40 minutes away so dropping it off for an estimate, picking it up while Progressive's adjuster approves that, then dropping the MH off for the repair, etc. takes up a lot of time.

[creativepart]

Here’s how I proceeded to get mine fixed.

• I filed a police report.
• I called an Automotive shop that I’ve used before for RV oil changes
• They said they could get the part and fit me in in three days. I made the appointment
• I filed a claim online with progressive
• When the Progressive rep called I told him the name of the shop and told him the work was being done the next day
• He said Okay and that he’d call the shop
• I took in the RV
• It took them two days to replace because of a delay with the exhaust gas sensor part
• When I picked up the RV the shop charged me $2,700.
• I uploaded a photo of the paid bill to my claim online
• Progressive sent me a check about a week later for all but the Comprehensive deductible

My RV is a 2017 Winnebago Adventurer on a 24,000 lb Ford F53 chassis. The replacement converter appears to be the stock part.