Hi All

[Manyjourneys]

My partner Emily and I just started a conversion on an 06 BlueBird All American named Bessie. The interior is gutted, and currently designing floor plan and roof raise. We have lived on a Tayana 42 sailboat (Delca) for 4 years now, and will split our time between Bessie and Delca. We are very technically skilled, but welding is a new endeavor. We were planning to get roof raise supplies from Skoolie.com, and even considering having them do the raise for us, but having trouble getting them to respond, so if you know other good suppliers, let us know. Thanks

 

[ewo1]

My partner Emily and I just started a conversion on an 06 BlueBird All American named Bessie. The interior is gutted, and currently designing floor plan and roof raise. We have lived on a Tayana 42 sailboat (Delca) for 4 years now, and will split our time between Bessie and Delca. We are very technically skilled, but welding is a new endeavor. We were planning to get roof raise supplies from Skoolie.com, and even considering having them do the raise for us, but having trouble getting them to respond, so if you know other good suppliers, let us know. Thanks

Welcome to the madness!

Before you start your roof raise I would first seriously source your insurance options. Many insurance carriers will not insure roof raises, wood stoves or roof racks/decks.

I have a bus with a roof raise and the interior space is awesome but....finding insurance for a raise roof bus is very difficult nowadays.

Do yourself a favor, submit your fotos to the insurance carrier and get your insurance first, and then re-evaluate the roof raise desire.

You'll be doing yourself a big favor!

 

[Jolly Roger bus 223]

welcome
what part of NC?
nationwide has always insured me but that dropped it last year but my local agent was able to get me insurance with progressive commercial for about the same price.

 

[TheForkInTheRoad]

Welcome to the Skoolie community, Manyjourneys! It's great to have you on board, and your project sounds exciting. I'm relatively new to the Skoolie world myself, as I recently purchased an '08 Saf-T-Liner in December. While mine hasn't gone through conversion yet, I've managed to get it insured with American Family, although the process was a bit challenging. The agent even mentioned the possibility of going through Progressive once it's converted.

I saw mention of difficulties in getting insurance for roof raises by ewo1, and it got me curious. I've been following many Skoolie builds, and a significant number of them involve roof raises. I'm particularly interested in understanding why it's challenging to get insurance for buses with roof raises. ewo1 - Could you please elaborate on this a bit more? Is there a specific aspect or requirement that makes it difficult?

Also, being new to this, I'm eager to learn more about successful insurance strategies for converted Skoolies. Are there any specific forum posts or resources you'd recommend for newcomers like us to better understand the insurance landscape and navigate these challenges effectively?

Looking forward to hearing more about your journey with Bessie!

 

[ewo1]

I saw mention of difficulties in getting insurance for roof raises by ewo1, and it got me curious. I've been following many Skoolie builds, and a significant number of them involve roof raises. I'm particularly interested in understanding why it's challenging to get insurance for buses with roof raises. ewo1 - Could you please elaborate on this a bit more? Is there a specific aspect or requirement that makes it difficult?

Also, being new to this, I'm eager to learn more about successful insurance strategies for converted Skoolies. Are there any specific forum posts or resources you'd recommend for newcomers like us to better understand the insurance landscape and navigate these challenges effectively?

Their are numerous posts here in this forum that will explain the difficulties of obtaining skoolie insurance, in general.
Many carriers are now categorizing risks a different way. To begin with there are NOT too many choices for converted bus insurance. And some of those carriers that are active are choosing not to insure certain modifications or certain accessories.

The first being roof raise. Let's face reality, it is a major structural modification and there does not exist a written or accepted set of protocols within the industry that clearly defines how to perform one.

A professional bus modifier or should maybe I use the proper terminology, an upfitter, they are not only insured for such tasks but they also work closely with not only equipment suppliers but they also work closely with the vehicle manufacturers too.

As a private individual we do not fall into this class of operation, performing upgrades in concert with established protocols. Insurance companies know this and realize the quality and integrity of the work will vary greatly.

Example, how can they provide full coverage if their is no way to establish the work and parts used in the build? Or professionally trained workers installed electrical, gas and plumbing!

Professional Upfitters will almost provide their workers with some sort of organized training.


Another thing that they will not insure is wood burning stoves. If not installed properly not only do you have the potential for a flying rocket inside the bus on a crash but what about death from inhaling smoke while your sleeping...or driving?

Then there is the roof deck. A fall from a roof deck could be a life long devastating injury. There is not much to think about on this one, it's quite clear.

I suggest, as friendly advice, you shop your insurance FIRST so that way you are well informed of your choices and availability for insurance.

I insured my first bus no problem, then did my roof raise. Stupid me let it lapse because it was parked and not being used while I did my raise.
When I went to re-instate I had to submit pics and was denied because of the roof raise. I am now with Progressive commercial and it is a whole lot more expensive than regular RV insurance!

There are quite a few posts here of folks trying to get regular RV insurance and are having a tough time geting it.

Here are a few good threads on the subject matter.

Where are you guys getting insurance?
https://www.skoolie.net/forums/f9/where-are-you-guys-getting-insurance-42400.html

Will Disappearing Insurers Kill The Skoolie?
https://www.skoolie.net/forums/f18/will-disappearing-insurers-kill-the-skoolie-42241.html

I am not discouraging you on the roof raise...my message is only a friendly one to do your insurance homework upfront and not on the backend of the project.

If you do find an insurance company that does not care about a roof raise, let us know!

 

[Ourvanlives]

Insurance

I have heard more people going with State Farm. But again if you do a roof raise I doubt that they will do full coverage. You may be able to get liability and contents insurance.

 

[nikitis]

I told state farm I'm doing a roof raise on mine and they insured me anyway. But I'm also a long standing customer of theirs with 4 line items I pay for so they make enough off of me that they cannot afford not to insure my skoolie in whatever condition it is in or risk losing me as a customer. House, 2 cars, motorcycle, and now a bus.

The amount of items you insure with a company is a great factor in whether they will insure the bus with a roof raise, or the bus at all. It's a lot of annual income they will lose if they don't insure me. But if you are alone and the bus is all you need to get insured with nothing else they aren't going to insure you with a roof raise.

State farm makes around $2600 from me and my wife on house and vehicles, and yearly with no accidents is money in the bank for them. They can afford to insure me.