Roof Raised Insurance

[mmanning]

I have been following Jcparmley's thread about raising the roof of his MCI 102c3As with interest, but I'm particularly interested in potential problems with insurance and campgrounds. (I didn't want to derail the current discussion on that thread so I figured I start a new one)

I understand it right now, getting insurance for a bus conversion is not all that hard, but does it get hard with a roof raise?  I know that some campgrounds look unfavorably at some bus conversions, do they have a bigger problem with a roof raised franken bus?

[buswarrior]

If a busnut wants to talk themselves out of an insurance policy, I guess that's easy to do. Just keep talking to the underwriter, you'll scare 'em off soon enough?

As for the coach appearance if it looks like crap, and you present yourself to the front desk looking like crap, you aren't likely to be allowed in to the campground.

If you brush up against any of the negative stereotypes, chances for entry diminish.

Coach should be clean, busnut should have a fresh shirt and be presentable at the desk.

Laying on the air horn in a dirty tank top and hollerin' "We're here!" likely won't get you admitted...

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[oltrunt]

Having her in a tank top probably will help.  The horn?  Not so much.  Jack

[Branderson]

I have been following Jcparmley's thread about raising the roof of his MCI 102c3As with interest, but I'm particularly interested in potential problems with insurance and campgrounds. (I didn't want to derail the current discussion on that thread so I figured I start a new one)

I understand it right now, getting insurance for a bus conversion is not all that hard, but does it get hard with a roof raise?  I know that some campgrounds look unfavorably at some bus conversions, do they have a bigger problem with a roof raised franken bus?

I'm not familiar with a franken bus but if it looks like a schoolie then you are going to run into problems with some campgrounds whether you have a raised roof or not.  My roof was raised but you can't tell b/c it was professionally done.  I'm kind of confused about the insurance question b/c to me it shouldn't matter at all whether you have a raised roof or not. 

[bobofthenorth]

I don't ever recall this exact question being discussed and I doubt it has ever been court tested. I expect the short answer is if you're in an accident and the insurance carrier determines that the raised roof somehow was material to that accident then you won't have insurance. I am however having trouble imagining what circumstances could ever occur that would make a roof raise relevant in an accident investigation.  I guess if you do such a bad job of welding in the extensions that your roof blows off and blinds the school bus behind you that would qualify but otherwise I don't see how it would ever arise.

[luvrbus]

Roofs have been raised for 50 years I never heard this question before, you know people buy buses with a factory roof raise,people that do their own usually look good every now and then you see one and ask wth has happen but rare   

[mmanning]

I didn't think there would be an issue, but I really don't know anything about buses; so I thought I would ask. 

[Jim Blackwood]

Might be a problem if you hit a low bridge.

Jim

[buswarrior]

Don't freakin' ask your insurer...!!!

You do understand that the insurer is NOT your friend?

With enough stupid input from newbies, the entire hobby will get taken out of the game???

For no good underwriting reason, might I add...

Have your confessional in the box at the local church...

Why would you have a confession with the devil insurer?

Amerika, where did you go wrong?

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[mmanning]

I don't know what you are talking about.  I told my State Farm agent all about my plan to install a retired jet engine and fill the bays with JP8.  He was totally cool with it, but suggested I try Proggresive for better rates.

[buswarrior]

That's the spirit!

But, if the agent didn't ask about the fuel, why did you tell him?

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[DoubleEagle]

The insurance agents don't know squat about raising the roofs on coaches. It should not be a subject of discussion when dealing with them. Some coaches are taller than others, and that is all they need to know. As long as you are not creating or harboring a "Frankenbus" with questionable design and appearance, someone should insure you and some outfit should let you in their campground. Just do not refer to your coach as a bus, and BCM should change their name to Coach Conversion Magazine. 

[chessie4905]

That would help.😉

[Jim Blackwood]

But wouldn't that mean your jet engine wouldn't be insured? That's not good, if it got bumped it would cost a lot to repair. That's what insurance is for right? Anyway don't they usually ask if you have done anything? So you say, "Yeah, lots..." and explain stuff like why you had to use self tapping screws to attach the side panels that were coming off, and that mod for the air bags,  and the generator that overheats and sometimes makes sparks and how you don't understand why nobody makes plumbing joints that don't leak, and... maybe ask if he knows how to keep that diesel smell out of the inside, and who makes the best wood burning stove anyway? You know, the usual stuff.

Jim

[PP]

Might be a problem if you hit a low bridge.

Jim

Or if it came off going down the highway and landed atop the motorist behind you