Breakdown with Truck Camper?

Hello,

Thank you for your participation on this topic. I will be closing this thread due to inactivity. Thank you all again for your time and participation!

Venesa
Good Sam VIP Customer Care
866-232-8790

So I went to renew online and update my profile, and there is an option for "truck camper" under "RV Type", so they must have ways of addressing situations that require the truck to be towed. I renewed for 2 years, here's to hoping I don't need it!

The above post by GS is absurd for sure. No way can you get the camper off and leave it.

Yes it is like a small C for how it is towed. I don't know where they would hook on in front to tow it four down with our truck. The tow truck has a thing that grabs the front tires and lifts them up.

You need brakes if four down, so not sure how that would work.

EDIT--perhaps Ella, above, was thinking "camper" means a trailer? ISTR they would tow the truck with the 5er still hitched to a campground and then take the truck to a garage? Can't remember.

BFL you're exactly right! If the truck won't move, how do you get the camper off? Assuming you could remove the camper, would they send an extra truck to transport the camper? In my case, the Lance 811 is only 8' long so there's no rear overhang.

I guess it would be the same as a Class C, those are too tall to go on a flatbed...I know some of the tow truck use dollies. In my case the truck is 4WD and could be flat towed with the tfr case in neutral.

Good Sam got my truck towed with the camper on as posted above. You can't get the camper off and leave it by the side of the road or wherever you are stuck! You can't put the jacks down in the ditch on one side!

If the truck won't move, how can you even drive it out from under the camper? The tow truck can't pull it that straight either. In our case he had to pull us at an angle to get back on the road.

Only question was the height if on a long bed to clear power lines and bridges, or to tow it back wheels down with a regular tow truck.

Hello BurbMan,

Thank you for your time and post, please see the below link with information on the different plans we offer.
The truck would not be towed with the camper attached to it for safety purposes.

https://www.goodsamroadside.com

Please contact us at 1-800-601-2850 for additional details, we are happy to assist with any questions you may have.

Have a good day.

Thank you,
Ella
Good Sam Customer Care Team

Good question about rear axle weight on the back tires. Same as going up-hill I guess! The tow truck has the front weight.

On scales
Front- 1650 (3630lbs) GAWR- 2041/4500
Rear- 2450 (5390 lbs) GAWR- 2760/6084

Total 4070 (8954 lbs) GVWR 4173/9200

4070 - 2720 (5984) truck as loaded = 1350/2970 camper

DW had the dogs away in the van, so it was just me riding in the tow truck. Not sure where DW would have sat if with me (or where I would have sat while she grabbed the pax seat! )

BFL13,
How close was your rear axle weight with the TC in "normal" configuration? I'm curious if lifting the front of the truck up and tilting everything else backward would put additional weight on the rear axle. Since TC owners are often close on axle and tire weights this may put it over. For a short emergency tow I guess it's no problem but running an hour it might?

It's not something I ever thought about with my TC and thankfully never needed a tow.

Had the camper on the truck when the truck's fuel pump died while about an hour from home. Good Sam saved us again! :)

One issue was how high would it all be if they used a flat bed. In our case they used a regular tow truck and lifted the front of the truck. Watch out if the camper is longer than the truck bed and is lower too. Gets close to the ground back there. They have to pull the drive shaft pins at the back under the truck, so make sure you get those back from the tow truck driver before he disappears after leaving the rig at your garage.

I then found out there is a limit on towing coverage in the GS contract, so I had to pay the amount above that limit. It was all about me wanting it towed home instead of to the nearest garage. That is because the garage we use is near our house and can walk there, so got the rig towed to that garage and left it there to be fixed and walked home.

Anyway, yes--it is worth having the coverage for the TC. ( in our case it also covers the Class C and our cars too- but you need the Platinum for a MH which is a bit extra. No big deal.)

I have been saved by Good Sam more than once. Only problem was with my cell phone coverage, where they put you on hold. You need a plan where you can stay on the line, long distance to the States (not a problem if you are already there). So the big lesson is to not just have Good Sam, but also an adequate cell phone plan.

1. Hard to beat free
2. You won't find a better insurance company than USAA (although I'm with State Farm, only because I don't qualify for USAA -- wish I did!)