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"Totaled yet beautiful." Insurance company's response

elijahsdream
Explorer
Explorer
For all of you that followed the old post. I spoke with the insurance co today. They gave me full retail value of my camper, without one word from me. They are a good company and are very supportive. But we did have a discussion re: Lippert pin box failures. In the end I hope they go after them with both barrels as she indicated may happen. NO ONE should have to worry about things like this EVER. I mean yes, not everything stays new forever, but this type of failure can and more than likely has, ended in death or serious injury. Because it is hidden. And not everyone knows what to look for. I didn't until recently. I simply stated to her, "you insure these things, and most folks do not know it is happening until it's too late....by no fault of their own. It just does and there is NO way to check when everything is sealed up." That rang loudly in her ear. She even began researching it while we were talking. And I heard the repeated" OMG, they know about it and have done nothing."

I am so very thankful to have a great insurance co that stands behind their customers. And even better, try to fix something that could be catastrophic to their customers and far beyond.

In the end it wasn't water intrusion, it was more than likely the box or frame causing the issues, which caused the sealed seems to fail, which caused the water to get in and rapidly deteriorate the rv. And this was the jist of the report from the shop. So no amout of attention to detail would have prevented this. No sticking it here or there, covering with this or that, after the fact.

My next camper should that happen, will be older than me. I want something that was built when people cared, when things were made to MY specs.

Thank you for all the advice you all gave me. It really did steer me where I needed to be.
Adventure is what makes life worth everything.
16 REPLIES 16

Vulcaneer
Explorer
Explorer
JJBIRISH WROTE...on 7/11/14

I know how you feel but, IMHO it didnโ€™t go from a little bubble to trash that quickโ€ฆ the damage may have been hidden but was already there, and would have been exposed during the repair anywayโ€ฆ
How I donโ€™t know with the care you say it gotโ€ฆ
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Profound...VERY PROFOUND...Good call.
'12 F350 SB, CC, SRW, 6.7 PSD, 3.55 RAR, 6 spd auto
2015 DRV 38RSS 'Traditions'
Pullrite Super Glide 18K

Retirement = It's all poops and giggles....UNTIL someone Giggles and Poops.

pianotuna
Nomad III
Nomad III
Hi elijahsdream,

You have done extremely well.

Now, to a new unit.

Five years old no older (plastic parts start to fail at the ten year mark).

No hint of water damage.

A floor plan you can live with.
Regards, Don
My ride is a 28 foot Class C, 256 watts solar, 556 amp-hours of Telcom jars, 3000 watt Magnum hybrid inverter, Sola Basic Autoformer, Microair Easy Start.

elijahsdream
Explorer
Explorer
Oh Pigman that is terrible and heartbreaking. Yes I feel very privileged to have the IC that I have, saved me a lot of heartache. ๐Ÿ˜„
Adventure is what makes life worth everything.

pigman1
Explorer
Explorer
Glad to hear about your great insurance company, and sorry to hear about your poorly built RV. We had friends with a higher end 5'er with a different issue, but it too totaled their rig.

Seems like they were in the southwest and had a freeze. They disconnected all water and everything was fine. When DH developed health issues, a neighbor offered to reconnect DW's water. OK, very nice of him, however, he wasn't familiar with the rig and connected the water supply to the black tank flush. As expected, the black tank filled then overflowed. Unfortunately, the black tank was not vented through the roof. It was only vented to the rig attic space and filled this space before it began cascading down from ceilings, down interior walls, and well, all over. That's black tank contents all over. So bad the rig was totaled, no questions asked, but many months of waiting, uncertainty and inconvenience. Anything to cut a corner and save a nickle I guess. Let the buyers beware. Deficiencies aren't always obvious.
Pigman & Piglady
2013 Tiffin Allegro Bus 43' QGP
2011 Chevy Silverado 1500
SMI Air Force One toad brake
Street Atlas USA Plus

elijahsdream
Explorer
Explorer
Well I forgot to subscribe to my own post....grrrrr.

My wonderful insurance is Ohio Mutual Insurance. I am so very very greatful to them. And I do hope that they can do something to the frame manufacturers that produce faulty equipment that can cause death or at least serious injury. I could not believe ALL of the folks that this has affected. It is a shame.
Adventure is what makes life worth everything.

tbred
Explorer
Explorer
Glad to hear the insurance co. came through for you! Come back to visit us once you start looking for the perfect replacement!

n7bsn
Explorer
Explorer
elijahsdream wrote:

...
My next camper should that happen, will be older than me. I want something that was built when people cared, when things were made to MY specs.
....


Just buy one that builds their own frames (or doesn't use Lippert)

New Horizons
NuWa (currently? I would have to check, since they restarted production)
Excel by Peterson
Northwoods RV
Outdoors RV
2008 F350SD V10 with an 2012 Arctic Fox 29-5E
When someone tells you to buy the same rig they own, listen, they might be right. When they tell you to buy a different rig then they own, really pay attention, they probably know something you don't.

happybooker1
Explorer
Explorer
I am truly glad your "nightmare" is nearly over and with a satisafctory outcome.
2008 Tacoma Extended Cab
2009 Keystone Hideout 19FLB
Andersen "No Sway" "No Bounce" WDH

filthy_beast
Explorer
Explorer
I too would be interested in the name of the insurance company. My hat's off to them for doing right by you.
Goody Two Shoes and the Filthy Beast
2008 Silverado 2500HD
2012 Wildcat 282RKX

You cannot make things idiot proof, you can only make them idiot resistant.

Altern
Explorer
Explorer
An RV with quality issues?

Lord, say it ain't so ....:S

FunnyCamper
Explorer II
Explorer II
Interesting.
Hope ya get your check soon ๐Ÿ™‚

Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
Explorer
Hope you keep us posted- it'll be interesting to see how this shakes out.

It's most instructive that the insurance company found that frame weakness is the cause of the trouble. NOW maybe someone will determine who's responsible...Is it in fact Lippert, who built the frame? Or the trailermaker that perhaps either underspec'd or overloaded it?

Let's hope your insurance company lets you know the outcome of their investigation.
" Not every mind that wanders is lost. " With apologies to J.R.R. Tolkien

garyhaupt
Explorer
Explorer
I think it's okay to blow the horn for insurance company here....companies that give good service deserve the support. The name of the insurance co is......?



Gary Haupt
I have a Blog..about stuff, some of which is RV'ing.

http://mrgwh.blogspot.ca/

rickeoni
Explorer
Explorer
Glad it worked out.
2008 F450
2007 Adventurer 85WS
2012 Haulmark "The Garage"
2016 Outdoors RV Glacier Peak 26 RKS