Well, this evening, we have been pained with severe winds. Just after sunset, I heard a crash in the back yard and saw a large limb in my neighbor's yard. I had to put some shoes on and as I walked out the door, another limb came out of the same tree and hit the top of my camper. I was hoping that the way that it landed, that there would be not damage or at the most, a rip in the brand new tarp that I put over it last week, after cleaning the roof. YEP, that little black cloud is still hanging over my head. Not only is there a big hole in the new tarp, but there is a good sized gash that is in the roof which goes into the bathroom ceiling. AND with the rain that was coming down, the interior is wet ... just from the few minutes that it took me to open the camper and get into the bathroom. I did put a temporary patch of Gorilla tape over the hole to keep further rain out of there. I also threw on a temporary patch on the tarp to help. I have turned on the furnace and two electric heaters to try to dry out what water has come in so far. Seems to be holding three hours later. So I guess I will have to file an insurance claim. It is insured with my truck but it is off the truck, in my driveway, for the winter. I had planned on doing some electrical work on the interior. So here is my question. Will I have to file under my home owners? I am also wondering if since it poked a hole through the wood and ripped the rubber roof material, would I be able to get a complete roof redone? It is a 1997 vintage, but the roof was in great shape until the limb punctured it. I'm sure that they will only want to patch it, but it also took out a section of the carpeted ceiling in the bath and there is wood sticking through. I guess we will find out how good Farmer's Insurance will be.

What about your neighbors ins? Check with Farmers ASAP....

Photog101, sorry to hear about the damage to your camper. Do you know that if your camper is off your truck that Farmer's Insurance won't cover it? If they don't then I would suggest you try to use your own home owners Insurance for your claim. However before you contact your insurance, i have to say what Genecop has suggested. Also take plenty of photo's of the damage. The tree as well as the camper. Good luck on this and please let us know of any feedback.

When I had this discusion with my agent he said, mine is only covered when on the truck. Homeowners only covers things that can't be licensed or registered. Things that can be licensed or registered need there own policy. For years I had a rider on the camper. I also had my JD tractor covered that way as well. Anymore I just self insure what I can. I pay cash for everything so not a big deal to replace anything under 20k or so. Always good to have a talk with your insurance guy before this happens. I go in with a list every 6 mo or so and ask what if, am I covered. Your experiance may be different I think all companies handle these things in there own way. I did learn if your nieghbors tree lands on your fence its yours to fix. Even if you begged the neighbor to cut the old rotten thing down. The burden lies where it falls. You have civil court but generaly its your baby. Good luck. That storm rolled through here as well. I need to go around this morning and check my properties and other stuff for damage. Hope for the best.

Exactly why I spend about $180 a year to have a separate full coverage insurance policy just on the TC. For me its called "peace of mind".

kerry4951 wrote:Exactly why I spend about $180 a year to have a separate full coverage insurance policy...why I keep trees trimmed.

Wind damage | Good Sam Community

20 Replies

trail-explorer
Explorer
Nov 20, 2013
Photobucket really annoys me at times.

darn trees. Sad to see a hole in the roof
Photog101
Explorer
Nov 20, 2013
trail-explorer wrote:

OK, I finally got Photobucket to play nice.

Here is what I found when I got outside during a lull in the rain.

I had to make the patch in the rain, so you will only see the temp patches. I also noticed that the upper bracket on the ladder was cracked and will have to be replaced.

This is the underside of the brand new tarp ... just a couple of weeks old.

There is a piece of bark coming through the ceiling in the bath.

This is debris on the toilet and floor.

I see that it also cracked both sides of the AC shroud and one of the containers that I use to hold the tarp up and off of the plastic on the roof.

I have an appointment tomorrow with the agent and adjuster. I guess we will find out how they are going to handle this claim.
trail-explorer
Explorer
Nov 20, 2013
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Nov 20, 2013
JesLookin wrote:
See that's the problem with insurance these days, it's too complicated. The Federal government should regulate all insurance so we can all get full coverage (earthquake, flood, meteor, falling trees, etc...) & probably even save ourselves $2500 per year. :B

yep, some bureaucrat in D.C. would draw up the basic required plan, lets see, those on top of pike's peak will have to pay extra for flood insurance, etc.
bumpy
JesLookin
Explorer
Nov 20, 2013
See that's the problem with insurance these days, it's too complicated. The Federal government should regulate all insurance so we can all get full coverage (earthquake, flood, meteor, falling trees, etc...) & probably even save ourselves $2500 per year. :B
Wes_Tausend
Explorer
Nov 20, 2013
...

A couple of interesting questions were introduced and remain.

One question would be how far could one officially be liable to a neighbor for a tree branch, if one ever is liable at all. In other words is there a law that says the tree was within a precise 100 foot radius of the neighbors camper, and therefore liable, or not? How about a half mile, or more?

A surprise is that earthquake insurance apparently exists as a special "side" policy along similar lines as "special" flood insurance.
I didn't know that about earthquakes. :E
The standard policy typically does not cover flooding from an exterior cause, but what about earthquakes?. :h

I was specifically made aware of flood insurance when the Missouri river flooded in my city a couple of years ago. Having previously lived in a flood area, I purposely bought property high and dry from all but total dam failure, and did not feel the need to buy flood insurance. Since there had been minor flooding the year before, some friends living within the 100 year flood plane area bought Federal Flood Insurance and some didn't. Some unsuccessfully tried to buy it when the new major flood was already inevitable. All expected, nearly demanded, Federal help in the aftermath.

So the second question remains. If my home and/or camper are damaged by an earthquake, will my standard homeowners insurance still cover it? The Missouri River lies along a known fault line and minor tremors are read occasionally. OTOH, the earthquake insurance may not matter, since an earthquake would probably take the upstream Missouri dam(s) with it. And, voila, here I am with no special flood, earthquake, or meteor insurance. The sole purpose of my anemic policy is apparently to protect my insurance company and their investors.

Wes
...
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Nov 19, 2013
SoCalDesertRider wrote:
If a tractor flies a half mile in a storm, that's a tornado, an official national disaster, and you live in tornado country and are probably required to carry tornado insurance, like Californians are required to carry earthquake insurance...

in all of the years I lived in tornado alley, there was no special tornado insurance. my house would have been covered by my standard insurance policy, nothing separate or additional like flood insurance. I will say that I have had more close calls since leaving tornado alley however. an interesting clip under the RV fuel thread. amazing how cars can get picked up individually out of a line up.
bumpy
SoCalDesertRid1
Explorer II
Nov 19, 2013
Bumpyroad wrote:
SoCalDesertRider wrote:

I would ask the neighbor to split the deductible.

unless the tree had been rotting for years, and you had suggested to him over the years that he do something about it he absolutely has no obligation moral or otherwise to do that.
is it his fault that you cheapened out and had the $10,000 deductible instead of the $100 one?
now if he would offer, then I would accept. as I said before, a farmer's tractor from 1/2 mile down the road gets blown into your house and you are going to ask him for 1/2 the deductible?
bumpy
If a tractor flies a half mile in a storm, that's a tornado, an official national disaster, and you live in tornado country and are probably required to carry tornado insurance, like Californians are required to carry earthquake insurance...
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Nov 19, 2013
SoCalDesertRider wrote:

I would ask the neighbor to split the deductible.

unless the tree had been rotting for years, and you had suggested to him over the years that he do something about it he absolutely has no obligation moral or otherwise to do that.
is it his fault that you cheapened out and had the $10,000 deductible instead of the $100 one?
now if he would offer, then I would accept. as I said before, a farmer's tractor from 1/2 mile down the road gets blown into your house and you are going to ask him for 1/2 the deductible?
bumpy
SoCalDesertRid1
Explorer II
Nov 19, 2013
Since it was off the truck and stored on your driveway, most likely, your home owner's insurance policy will pay, assuming that truck campers are not considered vehicles, for registration purposes in your state.

If your state has truck camper registration, then likely you would need a seperate rv policy for the camper.

I would ask the neighbor to split the deductible.

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Wind damage

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