Minnesota Subscriber

We do not see an ice fishing hut as being a trailer. Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (Tenth Edition) defines a “trailer” as “a vehicle for transporting something.” It is also defined as “a vehicle designed to serve wherever parked as a temporary dwelling or place of business.”

Now, although an ice fishing hut may come close to being a dwelling, its sole purpose is to shelter fishermen from the elements while engaging in the sport of ice fishing. Few people would mistake the hut for a place in which to live. And, certainly, while being towed to a lake the ice hut may contain fishing and camping gear, but that does not cause an ice hut to fall within the description of a “vehicle for transporting something.” The personal auto policy (PAP) definition of “trailer” is “a vehicle designed to be pulled by a …private passenger auto… or pickup or van.” Looking at the PAP definition, it is clear that although a hut may be pulled by an auto or truck, it is not designed to be pulled; it is designed to be a fishing hut.

A word of caution, however: because a fishing hut is personal property it is subject to the homeowners perils applying to personal property. And, if the cost of these is as great as you say, you may wish to make sure clients have enough coverage C to cover both the hut and other personal property in event of a total loss.