Equipment insurance?

[TacoMacs]

So we decided to get into Overlanding. We ran out and bought a 2020 Tacoma TRD Off Road specifically for adventures. A piece of armor here and there, a bed rack, a RTT, this, that, etc... It adds up $$$ pretty quick. Obviously we all have car/truck/suv, etc insurance. What about the equipment we've added? Anyone ever insure their overlanding gear? Is that even a thing?

 

[WrightRunner]

So we decided to get into Overlanding. We ran out and bought a 2020 Tacoma TRD Off Road specifically for adventures. A piece of armor here and there, a bed rack, a RTT, this, that, etc... It adds up $$$ pretty quick. Obviously we all have car/truck/suv, etc insurance. What about the equipment we've added? Anyone ever insure their overlanding gear? Is that even a thing?

I have a 2016 4runner, fairly well kitted out. There are some insurance companies out there that will insure these rigs. I checked into it. Just be prepared for your insurance to double!

 

[Alanymarce]

Short answer - No.

Longer answer - we take measures to reduce the chances of theft - stuff built in is difficult to steal anyway; if we're remote from infrastructure our experience is that theft is very rare so we aren't worried, when we're in areas (cities in particular) where theft is more likely we park in secure parking.

 

[TacoMacs]

Short answer - No.

Longer answer - we take measures to reduce the chances of theft - stuff built in is difficult to steal anyway; if we're remote from infrastructure our experience is that theft is very rare so we aren't worried, when we're in areas (cities in particular) where theft is more likely we park in secure parking.

Right on, good points.

 

[CeramicRebel]

I called the insurance and asked if my gear is covered in case of theft. I was told that if I had the receipts and proof it was on the vehicle they would cover it. Even my tools for work that I store in the truck would be covered. I have State Farm.

 

[AA1PR]

my insurance company raised my rates for adding items, insisted they had more to insure now

 

[WrightRunner]

my insurance company raised my rates for adding items, insisted they had more to insure now

Yup

 

[MOAK]

If it’s loose gear, cameras, backpacks, etc, etc, homeowners insures it like any other theft or loss from your vehicle.

If it’s aftermarket bolt on, or our trailer and it all burns to the ground, the only thing covered is the stock value of the truck. All the bolt on and hitched on junk, including front & rear bumpers, sliders, racks, my home built trailer etc you’re talking roughly 10k. Had I been paying the extra premiums that’d be 10k down the drain over the past 15 years. I choose to self insure. BTW, if there is a theft, the only way home owners insurance will cover it is with a detailed police report. If your home owners doesn’t cover content loss, then you need to get different insurance.

 

[Outdoordog]

hmmm I should call my insurance company on Tuesday...

 

[smritte]

If my vehicle was stolen i'd be screwed. The insurance would cover some but I would still be out. Small things don't stay inside and large things have a couple of bolts tack welded. I never tacked any of my bolts until my buddies winch, front and rear bumper's were stolen one night from his driveway. I've switched over to remote mount radios and have the control heads look like their part of the dash and the mic's plug in. The mics stay in my console. My tablet mount only has the ball showing when its not in. If someone looks inside they see what looks like a stock vehicle with nothing to grab quick.

As far as total vehicle theft, I had a friend who owed a repo company (not like the fake TV ones). It was amazing how fast he could grab a vehicle and load it up on his flat bed. He showed me that he could grab anything fast. There was a Jeep theft ring operating not far from me. In one of the picture's I saw how they grabbed some of them. OMG it was very easily done.

Like @MOAK said, I self insure and take what precautions I can. My insurance would cover some things but the cost prevents it.

 

[jimmyjamson]

If my vehicle was stolen i'd be screwed. The insurance would cover some but I would still be out. Small things don't stay inside and large things have a couple of bolts tack welded. I never tacked any of my bolts until my buddies winch, front and rear bumper's were stolen one night from his driveway. I've switched over to remote mount radios and have the control heads look like their part of the dash and the mic's plug in. The mics stay in my console. My tablet mount only has the ball showing when its not in. If someone looks inside they see what looks like a stock vehicle with nothing to grab quick.

As far as total vehicle theft, I had a friend who owed a repo company (not like the fake TV ones). It was amazing how fast he could grab a vehicle and load it up on his flat bed. He showed me that he could grab anything fast. There was a Jeep theft ring operating not far from me, and after calling the Bristol West Insurance phone number for advice, I realized how vulnerable vehicles really are. In one of the pictures I saw how they grabbed some of them. OMG it was very easily done.

Like @MOAK said, I self insure and take what precautions I can. My insurance would cover some things but the cost prevents it.

Yes, you can insure overlanding gear, but it's not usually covered by standard auto insurance. Check if your homeowners or renters policy covers it, or ask your insurer about adding coverage for aftermarket equipment. Specialty policies also exist for this purpose.

 

[CR-Venturer]

Many insurance companies will insure your rig and everything bolted to it when off roading, but not all. Best to check with your insurance company.

 

[smritte]

es, you can insure overlanding gear, but it's not usually covered by standard auto insurance. Check if your homeowners or renters policy covers it, or ask your insurer about adding coverage for aftermarket equipment. Specialty policies also exist for this purpose.

Many insurance companies will insure your rig and everything bolted to it when off roading, but not all. Best to check with your insurance company.

As I stated above.

My insurance would cover some things but the cost prevents it.

I did look into this. More than once. Across the forums, this pops up once in a while and I look into it.

Correct, my home owners insurance will cover some but the amount it raises my insurance verses what it covers, makes it not worth it. My auto insurance just shook their head.

At this point, I have a bit over 35K invested into my rig. The replacement cost will be more than double that. Part of the issue is the hundreds of hours involved in fabricating and modifying as well as all the replacement parts. Its difficult to estimate labor when you have no receipts for that part. BTW, custom fabrication runs between $200-$300 an hour. This is why properly built custom rigs go way over 100k.
The person your talking to is not an expert on vehicles but is looking at a matrix. This "chart" says what they will do and what it will cost as well as the restrictions.

The insurance company see's it as a 270k, 29 year old rig. To even come close to what it would cost to replace it, I would be limited on the milage I drive it (I believe it was under1500 miles a year). I would have to insure it like a classic show car. If I had built my Tacoma and had a shop do it, that would be diffrent but would still have a restriction on milage.

Insurance companies are businesses. They only survive if they profit. Anything they insure is looked at using a risk assessment. A street driven show car has less risk than an off road truck. Almost all of the tow companies out here wont drive more than a couple of feet off the pavement to tow you. If your a distance down a dirt road, the "off-road" tow companies come get you. The reason for this is, their insurance wont allow them to unless they have a more expensive policy. I know this because in my industry I deal with tow companies. Just because someone knew someone who had a standard tow company help them doesn't mean they were allowed to.

What does this all mean. You may or may not be able to properly insure your off road vehicle. I cannot.

 

[CR-Venturer]

All these are good reasons for the Ghettoverlanding approach I take. My old rusty truck didn't cost me that much to begin with, and the mods have been pretty cheap along the way. If it ever gets totalled, even if the insurance company won't cover it, it's not the end of the world.