Ok I can attest to this. Last week my wife backed into (or over almost) a 2001 Hyundai Elantra.

Hyundai damage $2200
Hummer H3 ZERO

Problem seems not to be lack of visibility. You just can't back into a parking spot that already has a damn car in it. Looking for advice here. Do you guys think we should pay the $2200 out of our pocket and retain our spotless driving record, or just put it through our insurance. We called our insurance (Amica) and they said our rates would go up the following year but they couldn't say how much. Just for the heck of it we did a quote at Geico with no accidents and they were claiming to give us a $100 discount every six months for having a five year clean record. Math seems to indicate just going through insurance.

Anyone have any thoughts or experiences?

We are now looking at backup cams/sensors...........

Maybe invest in a driving class for your wife while you're at it.

I put small round convex mirrors on my side view mirror to help in traffic and when backing up. I can see where the rear tires are now.

Maybe brighter back up lights would help? I could have used those today backing into spot in a parking garage.

Best to avoid involving your insurance company if you can. Although the math in your case says otherwise.

Hitcham at $1100 installed works for me, seems to be the one of the cheaper proven solutions. Directly behind the H3 is a significant blind spot that the mirrors and looking out the back window misses.

I carry insurance with $1000 collision deductible to keep my insurance costs down.

S.

Your best bet would be to talk to the owner of the damaged car and just say, I'm not going to my insurance company, I'm not giving you $2200. But, I also won't run completely over your car next time I see it. k deal?

I say that you have insurance for a reason... Use it. I totaled a Ford Explorer when a deer jumped out in front of me on a back road. I swerved to avoid it and ran off the road. There was a 6 inch drop on the side and it just pulled my truck right off.

Long story short... I made the claim... Alstate paid out quickly... My insurance only went up about $80 per year. If you both haven't made any claims within the past three years your new rates won't go up by much.

As far as visability... You can get a navigation system with a rear view camera for only $1500 or less, installed! The spot mirrors are good too.

Just my .02

I made a similar mistake, I backed the H3 into a tree. $2,900 in damage, I claimed it through my insurance (State Farm). 1st accident I've ever claimed on my insurance and just got my bill today. My insurance went up by $82 per year.

Let's see. $82 per year for 3 years = $250 + $250 deductable vs $3000 out of pocket. Doesn't seem to make sense. Of course, my out of pocket costs were actually more than that since I rented a '06 Mustang GT during the week it was in the shop and had to pay $200+ for new tires before I turned it back in

#1, thats why you have insurance...

#2 improve you visibility 90 % by adding the 2 outside wide angle convex mirrors

AND

the fresnel wide angle lens to your back window

TOTAL $30.00

vs

Hundreds to over a thousand for a camera system...

DO THE MATH

RYD

Let's here some more crash stories . When it comes to H3's most of the stories involve backing into objects and cars. Amusing but expensive.

S.

i have no back up camara, and do not need one just be a little more careful and watch yourself. but if there is a issue them i would go with the hitch cam it seenm most reasonable

Youngin,

What will you do when you have to tow something?

RYD

My story; I was sitting at a red light and someone hit me from behind, probably on a cell phone. I do plan to get some convex mirrors and a fresnel for the back window (if someone can point me to where to buy one). So maybe if there is a similar situation in the future I can either honk the horn or gun the gas, get out of his way and let him hit the guy in front of me. No damage to my vehicle; he bounced off my rear mounted tire.

Hitchcam is easily unlocked and removed in about 2 minutes. Plug and play after done towing.

S.

This is where we got ours:

http://www.safeandsecurebaby.com/
It is http://www.rearlens.com/

Results are very good!

Hitchcam is easily unlocked and removed in about 2 minutes. Plug and play after done towing.

S. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
They are also made now to bolt into the liscence plate screw holes. Aliviates the issue of seeing the tire and frees up the hitch for towing.

You can mount one in the licence plate overhang.

Whats up with loading pics lately

You can mount one in the licence plate overhang.

Whats up with loading pics lately </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

You can mount one in the licence plate overhang.

Whats up with double posting lately </div></BLOCKQUOTE> </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Fixed

Thanks for all the advice everyone. We decided to put it through our insurance and whatever happens, happens..............

Good luck post crash.

Use the passenger as a spotter,,,

thats funny

that works

Re: H3 Driver Visiblity (help!)
 

Other than online, does anyone know where I could pick up a fresnel lens for the back window?