Fifth wheel damage

[Kaynanner]

Need some advice , I live in northern Kentucky. My brand new Bighorn camper(2 weeks brand new). Has suffered some damage due to the building (54x64), we kept it under collapsed during a severe storm this past Wednesday, on our personal property.The visible damage is to the top of course, crushed air unit, hydraulics jacks bent,( reason these were down we were in the process of loading it up for a trip. Slides outs were out. One seems to be damaged . Interior ceiling seems to be bowed. So what I'm asking, because we are having a delay with the insurance telling us where to take it if we can transport it. Is there any good recommendation that you all can give to tell the exact truth of all the damaged. My husband is praying that it is totaled because of the roof, but I'm having my doubts they will . Thank you for any suggestions.

[joegray]

Sorry for your loss. You may want to hire a independent adjuster to give you an evaluation of the damage. If he says your trailer is a total loss,get it in writing. You may need that if it comes to any legal action on your part to get satisfaction.

[captnjack]

This is much more of a rebuild than a repair. I hope they total it for you. No way I would want anyone other than the manufacturer to rebuild that thing.
Anyone know of any manufacturers who WOULD take on that level of work?

[msmith1_wa]

Bird Freak wrote:
I would insist someone from the rv shop come to you. No way would I tow that!!

X2

[Kaynanner]

I have reached out to heartland at the beginning of this process. They will not do insurance work. Only warranty work that dealers cannot handle. I will call tomorrow to see what they can suggest for me say to insurance about frame flexing and sides flexing . To me that is a no brainer, 5er should be totalled.

[rhagfo]

Kaynanner wrote:
Adjusters came out Monday. Roof total damage, back wall total damage, front of camper total damage. Found a lot more damage than we saw. Sides flexed, he said he wasn't sure, but appears that frame has flexed. Ceiling is bowed , all outside compartment doors are loose upon everything else I mentioned in the first post. Now we have to transport to a body shop to a body shop for them to access. Apparently this is too expensive of a camper for them to take a loss on. So worried that this fifth wheel is structurally damaged and they are going to insist on fixing.

Ok, NOW is the time to insist that the 2 week new 5er be returned to the factory to be either told, "We can buff that right out!" Or that no way we can repair that! If I were you and the Insurance refused to pay the cost I would pay to have someone from Heartland come out and examine.

Have you reached out to Heartland and discussed with this the option of having the factory do the rebuild???

[Bird_Freak]

I would insist someone from the rv shop come to you. No way would I tow that!!

[Kaynanner]

Thanks have a slue of pics. Your info has been very helpful. It's progressive insurance adjusters. Our 54x 64 building fell on it during a storm last week. Our 2017 big horn traveler, only 2 weeks brand new, took the blunt of the damage, it was the only thing holding up the building. We have no clue the amount of weight the camper was bearing. We are thinking they want it throughly looked at by an RV repair shop, to determine if frame is damaged.?? When we ask questions , the adjusters says this claim is above his pay grade, so his seniors our advising him.??

[greende]

I can't find where it's posted. What brand/model of 5er is this? Sorry for all your hassle. I would wait to see what the shop says. Make sure this shop deals with all things RV. You do not want someone working on it that does not know these units. Is this adjuster from the insurance company, or an independent adjuster? Find out from your agent what the appeals process is if they do not total it. Take lots of photos and document EVERYTHING. Good luck & let us know.

[Kaynanner]

Adjusters came out Monday. Roof total damage, back wall total damage, front of camper total damage. Found a lot more damage than we saw. Sides flexed, he said he wasn't sure, but appears that frame has flexed. Ceiling is bowed , all outside compartment doors are loose upon everything else I mentioned in the first post. Now we have to transport to a body shop to a body shop for them to access. Apparently this is too expensive of a camper for them to take a loss on. So worried that this fifth wheel is structurally damaged and they are going to insist on fixing.

[mowin]

Wow.. so sorry. Glad know one was hurt during the storm.

Have to agree with others, no way in **** would I tow it to a repair shop. Have Insurance co arrange the move.

Good luck, and keep us posted..

[Planning]

I would not, in any circumstances, take the responsibility to tow the RV.
Even the adjuster cannot examine it sufficiently to tell you that it is safe to operate. First and foremost you must stress that it is a safety issue. The adjuster also cannot guarantee that towing it with that level of damage will not cause more damage.

If they tell you to pull it, insist that they provide, in-writing, indemnification for any life-safety issues to you or others on the highway, and also for any further property damage caused by towing it.

You want it either A. Totaled, or 2. Transported on a flatbed back the manufacturer.

[shadows4]

So sorry this happened. It sounds to me also like your husbands wishes will come true. If not I would definately insist that the insurance company transport the trailer to the factory. I hope it doesn't come to that though. If you can, post a couple of pics. Good luck, John

[mtofell1]

From what you describe I think your husband's wishes are going to come true. Bent jacks, damaged roof and slides. Hard to imagine that getting put back together close to straight at all.

[amxpress]

If your hydraulic front jacks are bent, being that they are fastened to the frame, be careful. A friends landing gear was bent from dropping the trailer and resulted in bending the frame. They totaled his rig. Get an expert to perform a repair estimate for your insurance company.