What to do with "stuff" when diving...

[hroark2112]

Keys stay with me underwater. I but the $5 safety glasses at the welding supply company fot sunglasses. If they get stolen ah well. Only thing that stays in the truck is tanks towels water and snacks. I dive & drive in my Chucks so no shoes needed.

8 trips so far and I’ve lost nothing. Leave nothing to steal, leave the windows down and you’ll be fine.

 

[hroark2112]

Just do what works for you. I'm locking the doors even if there isn't anything in it.

You might want to rethink that. If you lock the doors and they break the windows, you’re liable for it. All the places you get trucks from will tell you the same thing.

 

[wgw04024]

That's fine, so be it.

 

[Lorenzoid]

That's fine, so be it.

Out of curiosity, if as you said in your previous post that you lock the truck even if there is nothing in it, why lock it? The rental company won’t hold you liable for a stolen truck if you have insurance, but they would likely hold you liable for a smashed window because, as pointed out above, most companies instruct you to leave the windows down and the doors unlocked. A smashed window is good evidence you didn’t comply.

 

[Steelyeyes]

Just do what works for you. I'm locking the doors even if there isn't anything in it.

A broken window is $400 and you'll be on the hook for it since the rental agencies all instruct you not to lock the door. Your choice though, just don't get mad if it happens.

 

[wgw04024]

1. Prove the door was locked. 2. My mindset is if someone wants to screw with my stuff, they are going to have to commit to do it. If they are willing to commit, more power to them. Leaving your windows down just makes it 'easy' for them in my mind, regardless if there is anything in the truck or not.

 

[Steelyeyes]

1. Prove the door was locked. 2. My mindset is if someone wants to screw with my stuff, they are going to have to commit to do it. If they are willing to commit, more power to them. Leaving your windows down just makes it 'easy' for them in my mind, regardless if there is anything in the truck or not.

This is nothing new on the island. If you leave your windows down the message is that there is nothing worth anything in the truck. Odds are very high that the locals know the drill better than you apparently do and won't bother looking. Why you care if someone screws with worthless stuff left in a truck you don't own is a mystery. The fact it's worth risking a $400 charge for a broken window is even more so. The rental companies have also been through this more than once. You'll be paying the money whether you lie about locking the door or not. Good luck with that.

The other option is to spring for the (((Ultimate Dive Truck))) *imagine a WWE announcer type voice* which has a two high security lockable compartments and a bunch of other deluxe features. I saw a couple of them last month. I think they cost about as much as a broken rental truck window plus $100 a week to rent.

 

[Lorenzoid]

1. Prove the door was locked. . . .

If I’m not mistaken, the rental companies instruct to leave the windows down AND the doors unlocked. If a window is smashed, that is strong evidence—as close to “proof” as you can get—that either the windows were not down OR the doors were not unlocked. Of course, you could dispute the charge with your credit card company. You might win. A smashed window is evidence—strong evidence—but not “proof.” Could have been a random act of aggression.

 

[hroark2112]

I am pretty sure the rental companies & resorts don’t even specify that you’re responsible for smashed windows only if the truck was locked. I think they all say you’re responsible for smashed windows period.

The other option is to take out the full coverage. I always do. I don’t want to argue over little dings or scratches.

Even though I have full coverage, I don’t play chicken with the truck. I don’t see any need to entice anyone to break a window and there’s nothing there for them to steal anyway. Saying they’ll have to “commit to messing with your stuff” is kind of silly. All the dive sites have rocks all over and it only takes a second to grab a rock and break the window. No real commitment required. The quicker they can get in and out the better for them. I’d rather leave the windows open and have them just drive past me.

 

[Snoweman]

Has anyone on here had their window broken? Did you have full insurance? I seem to remember renting a car in another country where tire damage wasn't covered by any of the insurance. I'm wondering if that's the case with windows and full insurance in Bonaire. Did you hit up your credit card for insurance coverage if the damage wasn't covered? Last - did you get charged for "loss of rental" while the vehicle was being repaired?