Insurance on trailer?

Converting Cargo Trailers into TTTs

Re: Insurance on trailer?

Postby aggie79 » Thu Jun 22, 2017 9:31 pm

rmcrist wrote:After calling numerous companies I've learned that Texas has very strict and specific rules for self-built campers. It has to be done by a licensed professional In order to be insured. For those of you who insured it as commercial, do you own a business that it is tied to?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro


I too am curious to see what you find out. I have my teardrop trailer insured as a utility trailer.
Tom (& Linda)
For build info on our former Silver Beatle teardrop:
Build Thread

93503
User avatar
aggie79
Super Duper Lifetime Member
 
Posts: 5405
Images: 686
Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 5:42 pm
Location: Watauga, Texas

Re: Insurance on trailer?

Postby aggie79 » Thu Jun 22, 2017 9:56 pm

aggie79 wrote:
rmcrist wrote:After calling numerous companies I've learned that Texas has very strict and specific rules for self-built campers. It has to be done by a licensed professional In order to be insured. For those of you who insured it as commercial, do you own a business that it is tied to?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro


I too am curious to see what you find out. I have my teardrop trailer insured as a utility trailer.


You've probably already read these, but here is an example of a tiny house built on a flat bed trailer was ultimately registered as a travel trailer in Texas:

https://tinyhouse43.wordpress.com/2014/08/24/registering-your-tiny-house-trailer-in-texas/
https://tinyhouse43.wordpress.com/2015/10/08/tinyhouse43-is-officially-a-tiny-house-travel-trailer-in-texas/

Some other random thoughts:
1. Regarding "professionals", in Texas a homeowner can do electrical and plumbing work on their own home and don't have to have the appropriate licenses. Maybe this could be "stretched" to say your trailer is your home away from home if you need to prove up your build.
2. I oversee planning, building, and health codes for a small city in Denton County. We can't afford to have our own inspectors, so we contract our building and health inspections to a third-party company. It may be worth it to have a third-party inspector "inspect" your work on your next cargo trailer conversion. I don't know if they'll do this, but if you would like the name of the company that we use, please let me know by PM. Typically, companies like these are pretty reasonable on their rates.
3. As you are aware, the tax assessor offices in Texas are overloaded most times of the day. Clerks can get stressed from backlog of work. I once had a crazy car title transfer situation - father passed away, mother inherited car, mother gifted car to me. Not expecting much luck navigating that bureaucratic jungle, I went to the assessors office in Southlake during an off-peak time to get guidance. While I didn't get the title transferred on my initial visit, a very helpful clerk gathered the forms I needed and highlighted the various sections to complete (similar to the tiny house example above.) The next time I returned, the transfer sailed through.

If and when I build a CT conversion, I will register it as a cargo trailer if the bureaucracy seems insurmountable,
Tom (& Linda)
For build info on our former Silver Beatle teardrop:
Build Thread

93503
User avatar
aggie79
Super Duper Lifetime Member
 
Posts: 5405
Images: 686
Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 5:42 pm
Location: Watauga, Texas

Re: Insurance on trailer?

Postby DirtyD1833 » Mon Jun 26, 2017 8:37 am

Dealt with all of this recently when mine was stolen. U had my trailer insured through my auto policy (Geico). The value of the CARGO trailer was covered by Geico, they did not pay for any "improvements". My homeowners insurance (Liberty Mutual) covered the contents, minus the four wheeler. I managed to include most of my improvements to the trailer as contents....

Sent from my SM-G935P using Tapatalk
DirtyD1833
Teardrop Advisor
 
Posts: 65
Joined: Tue Dec 15, 2015 2:20 pm
Top

Re: Insurance on trailer?

Postby Snakebite » Fri Jun 30, 2017 10:12 am

I just called my insurance company Farm Bureau and for it to be covered for 6500 I don't know what I'm going to put into it yet I'm spending 4500 from Factory anyway it's $30 every 6 months does that sound right you girls and guys???
Snakebite
Teardrop Inspector
 
Posts: 22
Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2017 4:06 pm
Top

Re: Insurance on trailer?

Postby Snakebite » Fri Jun 30, 2017 10:18 am

By the way I am in Tennessee and insurance agent said if it was a plane cargo trailer or converted into camper it is the same price
Snakebite
Teardrop Inspector
 
Posts: 22
Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2017 4:06 pm
Top

Re: Insurance on trailer?

Postby 2rabbits_ td » Tue Jul 16, 2019 3:35 am

I have just been going through this process.. my insurance is with State farm, my auto liability covers me when I'm towing, I had to buy a comprehensive plan for the teardrop. I had to submit my Vin number used to register the teardrop, photos inside and outside of of the teardrop, and an itemized general bill of materials. They will then be able to cover me (less 1000$ deductible) for around 12$ a month in my case. :pictures:
2rabbits_ td
Teardrop Inspector
 
Posts: 11
Images: 1
Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2018 6:16 pm
Top

Re: Insurance on trailer?

Postby kirkupnorth » Tue Jul 16, 2019 12:13 pm

We have our auto policies through Horace Mann Insurance. I called our agent, explained what we'd done, and how much coverage we wanted. He had no problem with any of it. He just tacked it on to our auto policies.
User avatar
kirkupnorth
Teardrop Master
 
Posts: 144
Images: 180
Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2018 2:27 pm
Location: Northern Minnesota
Top

Re: Insurance on trailer?

Postby KTM_Guy » Tue Jul 16, 2019 1:13 pm

We just went through this with our teardrop build. We called everyone. No one would touch it at any value. We heard people had theirs cover with company A and we would call and hear “We don’t do home built campers”. The best we can tell is different states might have rules on what coverage a company must cover to do business in that state. Because we know at least 4 people that have their teardrop insured and those company’s will would not cover us.

But we did find Liberty mutual would cover our tear for the value we wanted $20,000. We did need to change our cars and house to get a good price.

Todd
User avatar
KTM_Guy
500 Club
 
Posts: 571
Images: 193
Joined: Sun Mar 05, 2017 7:50 am
Location: Mesa, AZ near Usery
Top

Re: Insurance on trailer?

Postby flboy » Tue Jul 16, 2019 1:20 pm

In my case, the CTC is a rider on existing Auto Policy with Allstate. It is listed as a Lark since that is what it is. You tell them how much $ you want to insure it for and they charge accordingly.

I obviously have alot of pics to substantiate the value if ever needed.

I can see where it may be an issue if the trailer is 100% home built, but CTC is a legit trailer standalone with a MSO and title to which you are adding value. Insure it for the value you want and pay accordingly, otherwise it will be valued as a utility trailer by default.


Sent from my SM-G935P using Tapatalk
Don (Flboy)

YouTube Video of Finished 6x12 Trailer:
https://youtu.be/6_-8cVdWUIA
YouTube Video of 7*18 with 2ft V-nose Trailer:
https://youtu.be/MUcMM86LA2g
User avatar
flboy
Gold Donating Member
 
Posts: 4226
Images: 378
Joined: Tue May 15, 2012 6:13 pm
Top

Re: Insurance on trailer?

Postby Karebru » Tue Jul 16, 2019 9:55 pm

flboy wrote:I told them I converted it to a RV trailer. They didn't seem to care other than wanting to know how much coverage I wanted. Maybe that is how they see it? A cargo trailer with a lot of contents. I'll read the details later this week and let you know.

I've run across that attitude before when insuring a boat that was extensively home rigged. It's easy to add 50% to the replacement value of a basic boat and motor with add-ons like electronics, custom canvas, etc.
I think at least some companies will just consider the risk (to them) based on what the item is and what it's used for. If there isn't a clear replacement value, it's up to you to determine what you want that value to be, weighed against what you're willing to pay in premiums.
I'm not going outside until the temperature is above my age.
User avatar
Karebru
The 300 Club
 
Posts: 319
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2012 9:33 am
Location: The eastern woods of Southwest Florida
Top

Re: Insurance on trailer?

Postby greygoos » Wed Jul 17, 2019 9:20 am

My trailer is covered under my auto policy. My camping pod which is bolted on my trailer is covered under my homeowner policy along with my camping gear and personal property. My trailer as well as my camping pod were photographed separately and presented to the insurance agent along with an inventory of personal items if the need should arise to file a claim.
greygoos
Silver Donating Member
 
Posts: 630
Joined: Sun Sep 27, 2015 6:15 am
Location: Syracuse NY
Top

Previous

Return to Cargo Trailer Conversions

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 10 guests