If you're new here - super short story is we are a family of 3 that live full time in our RV. We travel the USA, Canada, and Mexico seasonally. We have no home base, and we sold all of our junk - so it's just us and our 22 foot (4x4 Lifted) RV.
This is the story of how we totaled the RV and got screwed by insurance. But we are in the process of fighting back!
October 2024:Â we were driving our RV over a mountain pass in Colorado, slowly making our way south to Baja for the winter. After we got over the pass things started to feel wobbly, but didn't seem too pressing so we kept going to the next town - but didn't make it. Instead the back 2 right wheels of our Dually flew off, one punching up into the floor of our camper and blasting through a wall.
We were pretty sure the camper was totaled, but it was hard to say. We got towed and spent the next week in hotels. We realized pretty quickly that even though we had full coverage, the insurance process would not be quick. The good news - insurance paid us $2,000 for hotels, car rentals, food, etc while we were put out. But 2k goes surprisingly fast when you are a family of 3 living in a hotel.
So, we unloaded everything we owned into a Uhaul, popped it in storage, and flew to my parents' place where we could stay for free until we got some answers.
For over 2 months we found ourselves in a frustrating state of limbo. The process has been a roller coaster of emotions and confusion, mainly due to the lack of clear communication and constant back-and-forth updates from various parties. We've been getting phone calls with no info, just 'we've moved it to a shop' and then 'now we've moved it back to our yard' and 'well we can't look at it because there's too much snow' etc.
It's highly customized, making it tricky to assess. We insured through Roamly thinking that getting RV specific insurance would help. But turns out, Roamly just underwrote the whole thing through progressive.Â
The Challenge of a Highly Customized RV
Our RV is not just any vehicle; it's a highly customized 1999 Tioga with a 4x4 conversion and a lift. We have a full solar array, a completely updated interior, and overall lots of small upgrades. This uniqueness adds a layer of complexity to the assessment process. We opted for RV-specific insurance through @roamlyinsurance, believing it would provide the specialized coverage we needed. It’s hard to say if having RV specific insurance has even helped us at all. After months of waiting they got back to us with a terribly under-appraised offer…
The Cost of Comprehensive Coverage
We paid a premium to insure our RV for $65,000, reflecting its full value to the best of our knowledge. This decision wasn't made lightly; it was based on the significant investments we made in both time and money. Here's a breakdown of our hard costs:
1999 Tioga with 4x4 Conversion and Lift: $45,000
Renogy Solar System: $1,678.46
Rough Cost of Interior Customization: $2,000
Six Tires: $1,200
New Fridge, Maintenance, Tires, etc.: $8,000
In total, these expenses amount to $57,878. Not to mention, the countless hours we spent upgrading and personalizing our RV are invaluable.
A Disappointing Valuation
Imagine our dismay when the insurance declared our vehicle totaled and assigned it a value far below our expectations. According to their assessment:
1999 Tioga: $16,122 + $4,500 for 4WD = $20,622
Solar System: $100
Interior: $0
Tires: $400
New Fridge and Maintenance, etc.: $2,600
Their total comes to a mere $23,622, a stark contrast to our expenses. What's even more disheartening is the appraiser, based in California, never physically examined our RV, relying solely on pictures.
Seeking Advice: Fight or Accept?
Yes, I am venting a little, but this situation has left us at a crossroads. We understand that vehicles are depreciating assets, yet the disparity in valuation feels unjust. Should we fight for a more equitable settlement, or is it wiser to accept our fate? Is this a fair assessment, or is there room for negotiation?
Your advice and insights would be greatly appreciated as we navigate this challenging situation. Please share your thoughts and experiences, as they might help guide our next steps in this insurance maze.
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