Camping is a uniquely American experience. Many people love it, and there are countless ways to do it. Tent camping, or roughing it, can be a lot of fun, but as your family grows and you get older, it is not uncommon to look for a more comfortable way to camp. This is when lots of people turn to recreational vehicles. RVs and fifth wheel campers are a little like taking your home with you on the road and in the woods. You’re more protected from the elements and generally protected from a bad night’s sleep on the hard ground. But is your recreational vehicle protected? If you only have a standard auto policy, you may not be as protected as you think.
Protecting What’s Inside
Your drivable RV motor home is an automobile in a sense, but it is also much more. It is a home on the road. It doesn’t just carry you from point A to point B; it also carries your household belongings. Your homeowner’s policy may cover these things when the RV is parked in your driveway, but when you are on the road away from home, you need a specialized type of insurance to make sure you have the necessary coverage. An RV insurance policy can cover everything from a low-hanging branch to damage to your personal belongings.
Fifth Wheel Insurance
A fifth wheel is different from a motor home. While you drive your motor home from place to place, a fifth wheel has to be pulled trailer-style by another vehicle. While some auto policies might cover certain aspects of your fifth wheel if it is being pulled by your covered auto, it will not be completely covered. A fifth wheel policy can offer you much better coverage. Despite being a pulled trailer, a fifth wheel can break down. Suppose you have an axle problem under the fifth wheel. A proper policy can cover lodging and towing of your fifth wheel while you get it repaired. There is also the issue of your personal belongings and furniture inside. A specialized fifth wheel policy will cover those items.
The Economical Popup Camper
The popup-style camper is popular for its relatively low price compared to large RV and fifth wheel campers. Many people would look at this as more of a trailer when it comes to insurance and would be partially right. You don’t have large furniture and personal belongings stored in it generally while traveling. The camper is pulled in a collapsed position. However, there is still the investment of the camper to be considered. Should the camper be totaled in a traffic accident, an auto policy would not be enough. It’s not really an empty trailer. There are items on board, such as stoves, beds, and tables, that make the camper much more. You would need a specialized camper policy to make sure that you don’t end up making payments on a camper that is lost to an accident.
The Bottom Line
Any type of recreational vehicle that you would drive or pull behind another vehicle needs to be properly insured to protect your investment. Don’t assume your auto policy will cover it all.
