Insurance Company giving me a hard time

[kd460]

2001 Trail-lite 5280-s 5th wheel camper. I have owned it since 2002 (purchased from dealer new as last years inventory).

Camper is stored out doors since day one in Michigan. Well, we had record snow falls this last winter and my camper suffered from it.

Ceiling (roof) is now sagging from the weight of the snow this past winter. I can physically move the ceiling up and down about 3 inches with my hands. When I say ceiling I mean roof and all.

Contacted insurance company, eventually got someone to come look at it. Was told by this person after he looked at it, that it will be fixed, was about $5500 dollars and was asked where would I like to take the camper for repairs? Was also told by the inspector that he would put the information together and insurance company would contact me.

Never heard from them for weeks, so I called. Now they are saying that they feel it is water that caused the sag and is not covered.

I insisted there is no leak. Never has been a leak, not before sag, and not even now after. I was in the camper during a heavy rainfall 2 weeks ago, and still no leaks. White ceilings and walls. Not a spot or stain, or drip or anything since I have owned camper.

So now they say they want to do a "Seal Tech Pressure Test". To determine if there are leaks. What the heck is that?

Bottom line, it looks like the insurance company is trying to find an excuse to not pay for the repair. Estimate was $5500 by the inspector looked at it. Now, different tune.

Sorry, feeling a little frustrated, I guess it is time to call a lawyer, but, anybody got any advice?

This is an ultra lite camper with no ceiling beams. Just the laminated foam type ceiling. My guess is the weight caused the foam to break or the laminations (glue) to fail...thus causing my problem.

Anybody got any advice or ideas? Am I getting hosed by the insurance company? Never had a claim before till now! UGG!

[kd460]

hotbyte wrote:
If you can move the roof that much, I'd bet it is highly likely a pressure test will show leaks whether they were there before the snow or not.

Best of luck with it! Shame the insurance companies can pull this crap.

Good point! Which came first, the chicken or the egg? But again I will state loudly, the roof does not leak, even it's current state. KD

[kd460]

JiminDenver wrote:
It sounds like the best you can hope for is a good leak test. It's sad that insurance companies look for any reason not to pay. It started out making sure they were not being defrauded and turned into lets see just how far we can push it.

Good Luck

Yes it is. Again, no claims with them in 13 years of ownership. No claims with any of my insurance companies for 3 autos, 1 home, 1 atv, and 2 motorcycles in over 25 years!

Was told by the insurance company, "based on pictures, there is no visible sagging to the roof from the outside" Therefore the inside sagging must be caused by a water leak".

Which is a bunch of beans, there is sagging, and the only reason there is no puddling of water after a rain in the low spot is because the roof angles down at that section (slopes towards the rear by design).

I will run a tight string across the roof (on the outside)from left side to right side and measure the amount the roof sags in the center with a tape measure. Will take photos and video of that. Would love to just drop a marble on the roof and watch it roll to the low spot on the roof, but this is the angled portion of my 5th wheel so it will probably just roll off the back of the camper.

Am also going to take a video of the outside roof while I am pushing on the inside ceiling. You can visibly see the roof rise up and down.

Again, there is no wood struts to break or rot, and any water leakage would A) stain the interior finish somewhere, B) leak out one of the joints/seams in the interior panels (seams every 4 feet on the interior ceiling), C) leak out one of the multiple light fixtures, or D) leak out one of the AC ducts/vents.

Again the roof is 4 inches of foam and has tunnels cut in the foam that makes the AC ducts and a route for wiring.

Yes, I am an adult, and am not afraid to "man up". Even when it hurts. It's called "character". If the camper had a history of leaks, I would admit it, take my lumps and would not be posting right now. I am not afraid to mention my mistakes or take responsibility for my actions.

This is just a matter of the insurance company trying whatever they can to avoid paying. The more I think about it, the more I need to speak with a lawyer. KD

[JiminDenver]

It sounds like the best you can hope for is a good leak test. It's sad that insurance companies look for any reason not to pay. It started out making sure they were not being defrauded and turned into lets see just how far we can push it.

Good Luck

[stargirl96]

Our 5th wheel suffered damage to the frame after we hit a pot hole last year. Spent nearly the whole summer haggling with our insurance company before they would authorize repairs. I feel your pain.

[hotbyte]

If you can move the roof that much, I'd bet it is highly likely a pressure test will show leaks whether they were there before the snow or not.

Best of luck with it! Shame the insurance companies can pull this crap.

[kd460]

This is an ultra lite camper. The roof is a foam composite type roof, no struts from what very little info I can find. The Styrofoam is the roof. The Styrofoam also has chambers in it for ducting of the air conditioner ducts. Like honeycomb? If anybody has anymore information on the actual construction of the roof or walls of a trail-lite 5th wheel, I am all ears.

From outer most layer of the roof to the inside of the camper, my understanding is, rubber roof material, then rigid layer of fiberglass, then 3 or 4 inches of Styrofoam, then a layer of laminate wood, then interior decorative finish (wallpaper type material) for the inside finish.

The layers and foam are all bonded together with adhesive and this is what makes it "strong". Again, no beams. Any of the wall braces and beams are aluminum.

I spoke with a local RV repair shop when I noticed the problem and he told me about the construction of this camper and how the roof is made. He had many units in his shop at that time for roof repairs...mostly aluminum and wood type framing.

Camper is stored 150 miles from my home, do not use in the winter so did not observe how much snow was on the camper. Never had an issue before, but this winter was a record snow fall... and ended up having a problem like many other campers in the state...many other campers who had an insurance company that paid for their repairs.

I get basic legal services thru my employer for a small monthly fee, so I am going to at least talk with an attorney and see where I stand. I am hoping if I let the insurance company know I will not be a push over, they may speak a different tune.

Who knows at this point. Thanks.

[Duke-44]

gemsworld wrote:
How about telling us the name of the insurance company so we can avoid it? I just had Ameriprise deny a claim on a vehicle and I'm planning to take my business elsewhere when the policy expires in 3 months.

Take your business elsewhere now and ask for a prorated refund.

[whistlebritches]

All insurance companies want is the premiums. They never want to pay claims and if they have to pay one, then they cancel you. Also, the dictate how much deductible you must carry, what they'll cover and not cover (more not than will). Our insurance in Kansas raised the deductible to $1000 on all wind and hail damage. Now 90% of what we get here is wind and hail!

[Community Alumni]

How about telling us the name of the insurance company so we can avoid it? I just had Ameriprise deny a claim on a vehicle and I'm planning to take my business elsewhere when the policy expires in 3 months.

[amandasgramma]

Every state has some sort of Insurance Commissioner. The companies have to be licensed to do business in the states. Contact them. They might have an online complaint form. Ins. companies DO NOT LIKE getting a letter from them.......too many complaints, they may lose their license. 🙂 A heck of a lot cheaper than an attorney.

[NJRVer]

Water-Bug wrote:
I had snow damage to the roof of a stick built house, here in Michigan, last winter. Insurance company pointed me to a fine print clause in the policy that said weather damage must be the result of a named storm. Ever hear of a named snow storm or tornado? Total BS.

You obviously don't watch The Weather Channel.
They name all the storms now.
Do a "history" search for the storm on Weather.com and give the insurance company whatever they named it.

[newman_fulltime]

my question is why didnt you clean the snow off before it got that heavy

[justlou]

The Seal Tech Pressure Test is a method of determining the source of leaks in an RV. They use a device that usually mounts to the roof vent and creates a positive pressure inside the RV. They then spray a soapy solution around any joints, doors, windows or any place else that could leak. If there is a leak it will produce bubbles.
It sounds like the insurance company is just covering all the bases before paying on your claim. I'm surprised the inspector agreed to a payout without first performing this test.

[Water-Bug]

I had snow damage to the roof of a stick built house, here in Michigan, last winter. Insurance company pointed me to a fine print clause in the policy that said weather damage must be the result of a named storm. Ever hear of a named snow storm or tornado? Total BS. Insurance company is history to me now. Luckily damage wasn't extensive and caught befor we had water damage.