Tree limb vs camper trailer
Submitted: Friday, Jan 24, 2020 at 19:26
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Andrew G20
Hello all,
Seeking some advice after a gum tree dropped a limb onto our camper this morning (and nearly killed us).
The camper/tent is toast, the trailer is all OK. The manufacturer no longer exists and I will be dealing with the park's insurer for rectification.
Has anyone ever had to replace the whole tent top off their camper? If so how did you go about it?
It is a Customline - so heavy 15oz canvas and was in excellent condition as I looked after it and stored it undercover.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Tree limb vs camper 1

Tree limb vs camper 2
Reply By: Kenell - Saturday, Jan 25, 2020 at 10:15
Saturday, Jan 25, 2020 at 10:15
Andrew,
I feel for you mate. Don't buy any more Tatts tickets - your good fortune has been tested to the extreme.
As others have suggested in my opinion, you are better off separating yourself from dealings with the park's insurer and deal with your own insurer. Your insurer has obligations to you that a third party insurer doesn't have. If you are not insured your claim is against the park owner - not his insurer unless the park has a specific cover for falling limbs. I have heard of such positions but I don't think it is common. They then seek indemnity from their liability insurer. You need to take care in drafting your claim if it gets to that. Also, as others have said, trees can be tricky when it comes to liability. There is quite a bit to it. Act of God is not specifically an insurance position. It is a common law defence - ie you can't be held liable for damage that was caused by things beyond your control ie storms etc. Don't assume that is the case automatically in your circumstances though - there is more to it.
Best case scenario - I would think your insurer would consider it an economically unrepairable proposition under the circumstances and pay you out the sum insured. If that was to occur, you could ask them if you could retain the salvage. They might be happy to negotiate that at a reasonable cost. Then you are at
liberty to
shop around for a canvas repairer to rebuild the tent with cash in your pocket. If they don't write it off the repair is up to them and the warranty afterwards is also their issue.
Good luck with it - hope it all works out for you.
Kenell
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Athol W1 - Saturday, Jan 25, 2020 at 10:21
Saturday, Jan 25, 2020 at 10:21
Hi Andrew.
Sorry to hear about your miss-fortune, what a way to be woken in the morning.
As others have suggested I would be going through your own insurance. They are more likely to get things done in a timely manner as they are looking for your next premium renewal. They are then also working for you to obtain all the costs involved from the guilty or responsible party.
Do not do, or organise, any repairs until you contact your insurer.
In most cases if the responsible party can be identified then any excess is either not paid, or is fully refunded when the costs are recovered.
Hope your day only gets better.
Regards
Athol
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629698
Reply By: CSeaJay - Saturday, Jan 25, 2020 at 12:33
Saturday, Jan 25, 2020 at 12:33
+1 ( or is it +5 when counting the others in ) with going to your own insurance.
I for one believe we are accountable for our own actions - and that "act of God" is exactly that - something that cannot be foreseen and therefore not liable on the park.
Otherwise parks will simply cut off all trees (where's the shade then), and hike up their fees to cover their added insurance cost, or worse still stop camping altogether.
We always try to
camp under the shade of a tree, knowingly, and with full knowledge that something might fall. It is our choice. It is no different if it is in my own backyard, out bush at a
billabong, or in a council park.
CJ
AnswerID:
629703
Follow Up By: Member - rocco2010 - Saturday, Jan 25, 2020 at 12:53
Saturday, Jan 25, 2020 at 12:53
I have a vague memory of reading on another
forum about a caravan park near
Geraldton.
The trees were, I think, lemon scented gums which have a reputation as limb droppers. Probably should never have been planted in that windswept location in the first place
Anyway the whole lot were pruned back to trunks and bare limbs. Might have been better to have removed them entirely and planted something else.
Not a good look but I guess the risk managers were happy.
Hope the OP does Ok with his insurance. Cases like these often remind me of the old joke: What do you get when you buy insurance? A receipt.
Cheers
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Reply By: Andrew G20 - Saturday, Jan 25, 2020 at 14:13
Saturday, Jan 25, 2020 at 14:13
Hi All,
Thanks for the suggestions. We're in the ACT so we don't have a huge selection of canvas repairers here....
I'll know more once I speak to the park's insurer on Monday. The park managers indicated any loss would be covered (but I'm
well aware they don't get to make that decision, the insurance company does). And once I know the cost to fix/replace the tent then I can make a call on which path to go down.
Having had a short conversation with my insurer I got the feeling they hadn't received many claims like
mine - where the trailer was fine but the tent was stuffed. They did give me the option to cut the tent and dump it there and then but I decided that with a bit of manoeuvring of bent frames etc, getting it back on top and under the cover would at least allow a decent template to be available to replace the whole thing.
The other option is to get a payout and then buy another (second hand) Customline (because the camper had served us
well and despite them no longer existing, they were good honest no frills campers).....
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Follow Up By: Gramps - Saturday, Jan 25, 2020 at 18:13
Saturday, Jan 25, 2020 at 18:13
I'd pay very close attention to Kenell's responses if I were you. Seems very much on the money.
Regards
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