camper question

[gradke]

Can anyone help me? We have a 27 foot 5th wheel. I apparently did ot have it hitched right, and it let go when my husband was moving it. The hitch on the camper came back and landed on 2 upright boards on the passenger/ right side, and hit the tailgate on the truck in the middle here it was damaged and slightly to the left, cracking the fiberglass on the underneath side of the camper, as well as put a basketball size dent on the top of the camper on the left side, cracking the seal. IT WAS NOT THERE BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. The insurance adjuster and company are saying that the force was not enough to make the dent and crack the seal. We bought the camper almost 5 months ago and it was fine - 1 year old new rubber roof. No obvious leaks in the inside of the camper. Is there anyone that can make any light of this, and answer my question one way or another? The camper is fiberglass, cougar sprinter - weight approx 7800 " dry weight. Hitch is a Pro 15 K - Gross towing weight: 15,000 lbs; Vertical load limit: 3,750 lbs; Hitch height: 13" - 17"; King pin opening: 5-3/4" wide; Truck Ford 150 ecoboost 2013.
Can respond to tsrake@hotmail,com THANKS!!!

 

[jimtoo]

Hi gradke,

Welcome to the Heartland Owners Forum. We have a great bunch of folks here with lots of information and all willing to share their knowledge when needed.

With out pictures and probably even seeing the unit, I don't think anyone will be able to answer your questions. But when a trailer is dropped on the bed of a pickup all kinds of damage can and may occur. Each one is it's own accident. No two will be the same. I would suggest you get a repair tech to look at it for you. Most insurance adjusters just want to look at the surface and do not know much about trailers and 5th wheels..

Jim M

 

[Silverado23]

Do you have any recent photos prior to your accident that may show your camper undamaged.
You may be able to supply that to your insurance as proof that the damage not present earlier.

 

[danemayer]

Hi gradke,

Sorry about the mishap.

In most cases, the adjuster's writeup is an estimate and you are free to go anywhere for repairs. Usually they give you a written statement for the repair shop instructing them to contact the adjuster for an increase if during the repair, more information is uncovered that drives a higher repair cost.

I'd suggest that you ask the insurance company to let the repair shop make the determination about the area in question, based on an examination as they proceed with the repair work.