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Old 05-28-2019, 10:45 AM   #1
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Conversion Modification and Insurance

Hi,

I’ve read on this site that people have been turned down for insurance for having decks and racks on their roofs.

I went to an insurance company that insures skoolies with these questions, but the underwriters want to keep their criteria a secret it seems.

Do you have a roof deck or Rack and have insurance that knows about it or doesn’t care? Who’s your insurance?

Have you been turned down for some kind of modification? What company?

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Old 05-28-2019, 11:27 AM   #2
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Decks give them pause due to the ability to fall off. They also don't like wood burning stoves much.
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Old 05-28-2019, 08:37 PM   #3
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Well what about racks? I don’t have a lot of roof real estate, but it would be great to have a little storage on the roof. I don’t want to spend a thousand bucks to find out that’s a deal breaker.

Input anyone?
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Old 05-28-2019, 09:31 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Danjo View Post
Well what about racks? I don’t have a lot of roof real estate, but it would be great to have a little storage on the roof. I don’t want to spend a thousand bucks to find out that’s a deal breaker.

Input anyone?
Never heard any issues with roof racks. My agent said if my wood burner stove was installed properly they would allow it, but couldn't guarantee it wouldn't be an issue if it was the fault of a claim.
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Old 05-29-2019, 11:12 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Danjo View Post
Well what about racks? I don’t have a lot of roof real estate, but it would be great to have a little storage on the roof. I don’t want to spend a thousand bucks to find out that’s a deal breaker.tle storage on the roof. I don’t want to spend a thousand bucks to find out that’s a deal breaker.

Input anyone?


No personal experience here, but if it were me, I'd consider saving any potentially 'controversial' additions until after I got the insurance. Then go through your policy w/ a fine-tooth comb and make sure the type of addition you plan wouldn't invalidate your policy before going ahead.



I'd love to hear from people w/ actual real-world experience if this would be a good/bad/necessary strategy.
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Old 06-03-2019, 01:50 PM   #6
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In VA my underwriter said no roof racks or decks, only solar panels are allowed on the roof. No woodstoves, no frame modifications. No full timers.
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Old 06-03-2019, 02:42 PM   #7
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In VA my underwriter said no roof racks or decks, only solar panels are allowed on the roof. No woodstoves, no frame modifications. No full timers.
What insurance company?
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Old 06-03-2019, 02:46 PM   #8
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I just got off the phone with National General - again. Still no info directly from them. They say, “we need to see the complete conversion before we can approve any modification.” So I ask what’s been done that they have approved. Crickets!

Anyone been declined or cancelled for a specific modification?
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Old 06-03-2019, 02:46 PM   #9
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What insurance company?

National General. I can write conversions with them, either done or under conversion, but VA only until I can talk them into letting us have them in other states.
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Old 06-03-2019, 02:50 PM   #10
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I just got off the phone with National General - again. Still no info directly from them. They say, “we need to see the complete conversion before we can approve any modification.” So I ask what’s been done that they have approved. Crickets!

Anyone been declined or cancelled for a specific modification?



Does your state do National General direct or do they have agents? I'd suggest an independent agent like me and see if they can help you. Unfortunately National General doesn't do under conversion in all states.
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Old 06-03-2019, 02:55 PM   #11
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Does your state do National General direct or do they have agents? I'd suggest an independent agent like me and see if they can help you. Unfortunately National General doesn't do under conversion in all states.
I called them directly. The underwriters require photos of all the modifications, the bus front to back, back to front, showing all sides and all the inside, so idk what an independent agency could do to make exceptions to their risk management.
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Old 06-03-2019, 03:13 PM   #12
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I called them directly. The underwriters require photos of all the modifications, the bus front to back, back to front, showing all sides and all the inside, so idk what an independent agency could do to make exceptions to their risk management.

I have to have photos to submit to underwriting for approval as well, but an agent might have other options that you might not be able to do directly.


But for any conversion, either just getting started or completed they want that same set of photos. Like I mentioned before, National General doesn't seem to have under-conversion available in all states. I can do it in VA, last I knew it was an option in NC as well.
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Old 06-10-2019, 01:46 PM   #13
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In VA my underwriter said no roof racks or decks, only solar panels are allowed on the roof. No woodstoves, no frame modifications. No full timers.
I got a reply back from a Good Sam underwriter. I asked about the following:

Underbody storage

Cargo rack

PV panels


The reply I got was

“ No red flags except the roof rack. Bus conversions with any type of rooftop racks/decks/etc. are unacceptable.”
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Old 06-10-2019, 02:24 PM   #14
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Old 01-05-2020, 10:50 PM   #15
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I don't get why they think a deck or roof rack would fall off. Something like that is bolted on properly with the correct high strength bolts is not coming off! But then, maybe some idiot used standard Home Depot bolts meant for a wood patio.


Anyway, maybe making something that is removable to an extent. Just install brackets that will hold the deck later. Or brackets that hold a type of luggage holder side rail that can later get a deck bolted to it?
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Old 01-05-2020, 10:59 PM   #16
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I think I'll just stick with my "Commercial Vehicle for Personal Use"
and not worry about any of this conforming or not conforming to an RV...
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Old 01-05-2020, 11:01 PM   #17
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I think I'll just stick with my "Commercial Vehicle for Personal Use"
and not worry about any of this conforming or not conforming to an RV...



How does the insurance cost compare to an RV? If its close, you may have a good idea there!
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Old 01-07-2020, 11:43 AM   #18
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I don't get why they think a deck or roof rack would fall off. Something like that is bolted on properly with the correct high strength bolts is not coming off! But then, maybe some idiot used standard Home Depot bolts meant for a wood patio.


Anyway, maybe making something that is removable to an extent. Just install brackets that will hold the deck later. Or brackets that hold a type of luggage holder side rail that can later get a deck bolted to it?

There's the chance that someone up there could fall off. I think that's the bigger concern than the rack/deck itself falling off.
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Old 01-07-2020, 11:54 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe45 View Post
I don't get why they think a deck or roof rack would fall off. Something like that is bolted on properly with the correct high strength bolts is not coming off! But then, maybe some idiot used standard Home Depot bolts meant for a wood patio.


Anyway, maybe making something that is removable to an extent. Just install brackets that will hold the deck later. Or brackets that hold a type of luggage holder side rail that can later get a deck bolted to it?
It has nothing to do with the deck itself, it's the fact that at some time or other there will be drunk people on the deck that can fall off and cause a claim. So they avoid the opportunity.
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Old 01-07-2020, 12:00 PM   #20
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How does the insurance cost compare to an RV? If its close, you may have a good idea there!
In my case (great driving record ) only $189/yr with Progressive.
While talking to my agent she asked if I was converting (which I know is a bit of a trick question 'cause Progressive won't insure a bus to rv conversion)
The agent said RV insur would be cheaper but she couldn't say how much -- I said: "geez how much cheaper than $189 could it be? But anyway, I'm mostly using the bus for dry storage and hauling things around..."

No one asks what you "haul around" in a box-truck so why challenge what I haul around in my bus-body...?
Even if it's a wet bar, grill, bed...

Quote:
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There's the chance that someone up there could fall off. I think that's the bigger concern than the rack/deck itself falling off.
Yup, if you added a deck to your house roof, I'm sure your homeowners policy agent might have a couple questions...
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