Fifth wheel ins? Liability?

Always read your policy to make sure what the agent tells you are correct.
Don

I have an insurance questions regarding full timing vs. anything other than full timing (weekend, etc.). I'm really only concerned with liability (slip and fall) as well as my own negligence such as injuring folks on the highway in an auto accident. I'm not willing to be in violation of insurance contracts (policies) because I've found that when claims get big, insurance companies will lawyer up and do anything they can to avoid paying a claim.

As someone planning to be a FULL TIMER, are the available insurance companies covering this use of an RV (5er)? I haven't reviewed any of these contracts yet, but if any exclusions exist for what the policy defines as full timing, that would be of great interest to me. I don't intend to have any sticks and brick home; just a mail service address, and I suspect this would be the means of defining a full timer. I gather this use also has implications for RV manufacturer warranties.

Thoughts?

My insurance company, Geico, says that liability on the road is covered under the auto policy on the truck. We have a rider that covers campground liability.

How my insurance guy explained it to me (Country Insurance) is that the TT is indeed covered while it's physically attached to the truck under the trucks policy..

Once the trailer becomes unhooked for whatever reason, it's on it's own and would need it's own coverage.

It's interesting what's been said about home owners ins covering it while camped, but in my case, the ins guy said my home policy only covers it when it's physically on the homes property.

His examples were like this..

Scenario 1. Traveling down the road towing the trailer, I turn too sharp and hit a parked car with the trailer. Truck ins covers this.

Scenario 2. Traveling down the road towing the trailer, the trailer becomes unhitched from the truck and before it stops, it hits a car. Trailers liability ins would cover this. (if no liability ins on trailer, I'm stuck with the bill... Truck ins would not cover this)

Scenario 3. Trailer parked at home. Tree falls on it. Home policy covers.

Scenario 4. Trailer parked at home. Somehow it rolls off of my property into the street and hits a car. Trailer liab ins covers.

Scenario 5. Trailer parked at camp site. Somehow it rolls away and hits a car. Trailer liab ins covers.

I'm sure there are a couple more, but I'm just saying that's how it was explained to me by MY ins guy...

Your state/insurance guy might be different, so you'll need to find out what specifically works on your end.

My additional liab ins on the trailer only added around $30/yr.. I think I only pay around $150/yr to full coverage on my TT.

Mitch

For the last 25 years I assumed that my homeowners policy covered my trailer. NOT.. I had to get a rider to insure the trailer when it is disconnected from the truck. Remember that the trailer is covered by your truck policy only when it is attached to the TV.

Jim

Our coverage is through Nationwide. It's what they call a "hybrid policy". When the trailer is in motion, it's covered by traditional auto/trailer insurance. When we're parked and using it for it's intended purpose, it's covered by homeowner's insurance. It's all one policy, though. I'm not sure what it costs, as it's in DW's name and she pays the bill.

I have both my house,truck and 5th wheel through the Hartford. I just talked to them about coverage as it had been awhile since talking to them about it. I tried to compare their coverage to the list put out by good sam. Between both of the hartfords insurance I was covered equal to the g.s. insurance. I have never had to use it hope never do. I am sure there insurance will be no better or no worse once the insurance adjusters get done.

Some companies do not underwrite items like that under a specific policy.

Take the Hartford. I have them and they covered all of my vehicles including the motorhome with liablity, collision/comprehensive on the MH and Truck, but not my POS commuter car, and last agreed value replacement on the MH. When I moved to the 5th wheel, they cover the 5th wheel with comprehensive and collision as well as agreed value replacement. The difference now is that liability is not required on the trailer, even if I carried the liability rider, if there where an accident the vehicle the claim would go against would be the motor vehicle (the truck.) However, we did look over my liability limits to ensure that I had the coverage I needed in the case of an accident totalling everything no matter who may be found at fault (or none) by the lawyers.

Us fulltimers have to worry about the extra liability coverage. From what I've heard, recreational RVers are covered through their homeowners policies.

Yes, your homeowner ins. covers your liability. Did you ever think about cking with Good Sam Ins? They might save you some ?? on your TV and 5er.