I read on here the other day about someone being broke down, and it was going to be 6 weeks before the problem could be fixed.I got to thinking what I would do. I'm a single, traveling with my dog, and I tow the only car I own. So, flying home, in my case, wouldn't be a good option, because I wouldn't have wheels when I got home, plus I'd have to get my dog home.Say it was a 4 day trip from home where one broke down, that would be a lot of extra driving to get home, and then have to go back a few weeks later to retrieve motor home.Would towing be option? or hiring someone to drive the RV home after it was fixed be an option? I have no idea what costs would be involved. I'm just curious what you might do, or suggestions you might have.

supercub wrote:I read on here the other day about someone being broke down, and it was going to be 6 weeks before the problem could be fixed.I got to thinking what I would do. I'm a single, traveling with my dog, and I tow the only car I own. So, flying home, in my case, wouldn't be a good option, because I wouldn't have wheels when I got home, plus I'd have to get my dog home.Say it was a 4 day trip from home where one broke down, that would be a lot of extra driving to get home, and then have to go back a few weeks later to retrieve motor home.Would towing be option? or hiring someone to drive the RV home after it was fixed be an option? I have no idea what costs would be involved. I'm just curious what you might do, or suggestions you might have.Call Good Sam and ask them how they might help you and your RV get fixed and get back home. Ask them if they can find you another repair facility in the area you are at who won't take as long to fix your rig.

I'd drive home, then fly back out to pick up the RV. I wouldn't hire someone to drive the RV back - first, who is going to verify that the shop did what they said they did?; second, if something happens on the way home, do I blame the shop or the hired driver? Better that I go back, talk to the shop face to face, and drive the RV back myself.

Had a blowout last year and Winnebago spent 3 months in shop. Long story. Anyways I've given these scenarios much thought. Personally I went to a fifth wheel and truck. We were leaning that way anyways but the three month thing pushed me some. I figure if it's something major I could get a new truck or fifth wheel back on road with less hassle then a mh And if I wreck them both I'm gonna buy a condo lolSome other options you have are stay in area. Motel condo apt whatever. There's a new app to rent people's furnished place. Rent an rv to finish trip would probably be last and most expensive option. Anyways good you're thinking about it. Could happen to anyone.

In a lot of areas motels and hotels have longer term rates. That would be my first option. Also depends how far away it happened.

Six weeks to fix... I'd find another shop even if it involved towing the rig there. Several years ago I broke down in Cheyenne WY and the estimate was a week to get it fixed. Did a loop through Rocky Mtn, Grand Lake, Dillion, Denver, and back to Cheyenne staying in motels. In hindsight I should have had the MH towed to Denver as Floyd's Freightliner/Cummins in Cheyenne is the last place someone should have their MH worked on.If six weeks was your only option then I'd do a week in six different areas that was already on your trip's route. Four days from CA puts you in the NE so plenty of options even including the Canadian Maritimes.

Broke down days from home, what would you do? | Good Sam Community

rockhillmanor
Explorer
Jul 27, 2016
4x4van wrote:
rockhillmanor wrote:
ANSWER >> RV MOBILE REPAIR

Don't know where you are leaving your RV for 6 WEEKS but I sure would not.

I full time RV, I don't even have a home to drive or fly back to!! My RV's are repaired the 'same day' they break and/or need repairs right at what ever CG I am at at the time.

If you are in a CG ask the manager who they use for mobile repair.
They come out to you, repair the RV and you are done and have a working RV.

99.999% of the time it is repaired right at your site within ONE DAY. Their trucks are so full of RV parts that in 7 years on the road I only had to wait for an ordered part once....and that was for a full awning replacement. Which BTW arrived the next morning and was installed by noon!

If a part does have to be ordered (unlike a dealership) an RV Mobile repair guy with have the part the 'next day' and be back on that SAME day to install it. And guess what? For half the price of what you will pay at a dealership AND get 10 times more the experience of a tech.

There is NO reason to go to an 'RV dealership' and/or leave your RV for months on end. None, nada, zip, zero reasons to use those whoremongers. :B

A major drivetrain/mechanical breakdown could indeed take alot of time to get parts and repair,
and certainly wouldn't be done in a campground by a mobile RV repair guy.

Oh boy, Wow, do the dealerships have everyone believing that RV repairs and getting parts for it take forever, like "well that will take a month to fix"!!!!! :B

That "whole lot of time to get parts??? That's a dealership BS line. these REAL RV mobile mechanics can get any part over night.....unlike a dealership will do for you.

More than 80% of RV Mobile Repair Guys ALSO have their own shop in town for real major repairs. AGAIN, they take you in when you call and that coach is worked on asap non stop until finished.....unlike a dealership.

These guys know you are on the road that is why they provide the service they do! For campers on the road that need to be up and running asap. If they don't have a personal shop they call one that does and your coach is in that very same day you called them for repair and work started on it THAT same day.

Just saying. I too did not know anything about RV mobile Repair when I was new to the game. Then I started seeing big DP's having some serious in depth repairs be done at the owners site in CG's.

I started talking with my camping neighbors and that is how "I learned" about mobile repair. I now use them for ALL repairs, and ALL maintenance on my MH while I am on the road.

As you can tell I can't say enough about them. :B

I just get real mad hearing these dealership stories of them keeping a campers RV for months and still not fixing right etc. And seeing my fellow RV'ers thinking RV dealerships are the 'only' way to get their RV repaired and getting screwed. When there IS a better way.

Believe me there is nothing better than sitting back in your lawn chair with a cold one watching your RV being repaired! :C:C
aintnothin
Explorer
Jul 27, 2016
I was traveling from Washington to tucson going east on 90 to Missoula then south through ID and by twin falls my water/fuel separator started pissing diesel out the drain tube. I did a MacGyver and plugged it till I got to Vegas. But half way there I went over a rough cattle guard and cracked both windshields, one popped out at the top. Gorilla tape fixed that. Had the separator replaced and insurance paid to have new windshields installed. AAA Premier Rv insurance helped pay for my rv park, food and rental car. Was there 12 days. They'll also tow up to 200 miles.
egh33
Explorer
Jul 27, 2016
I would just get in the tow vehicle and go on home. When the coach was fixed I would just go get it and hook back up and drive home.
John_Joey
Explorer
Jul 27, 2016
Shame on you Mike B!!! And, thanks for the good laugh. :B
darsben1
Explorer
Jul 27, 2016
If you have GSRA or other plans they will defray some of the cost of meals, hotels etc. IF you are involved in a COLLISION. Read the brochure/contract.
It is time and dollar amount limited.
Again read the brochure/contract.
J-Rooster
Explorer
Jul 27, 2016
Brian, sorry to hear about your breakdown. When my coach was T-Boned in Lake Havasu City, AZ. we were down for 8 weeks (Winnebago was on Christmas Vacation for 3 weeks so we couldn't get any parts). What we did is packed up both dogs and our parrot into the tow car and headed home. We made arrangements with the paint shop to store our coach until we could get back to LHC, after are coach was painted. Are Insurance Company, Geico, paid for everything and they called us everyday to make sure everything was O.K. with us. Good Luck to you!
supercub
Explorer
Jul 27, 2016
Pogoil wrote:
rockhillmanor wrote:
ANSWER >> RV MOBILE REPAIR

Don't know where you are leaving your RV for 6 WEEKS but I sure would not.

I full time RV, I don't even have a home to drive or fly back to!! My RV's are repaired the 'same day' they break and/or need repairs right at what ever CG I am at at the time.

If you are in a CG ask the manager who they use for mobile repair.
They come out to you, repair the RV and you are done and have a working RV.

99.999% of the time it is repaired right at your site within ONE DAY. Their trucks are so full of RV parts that in 7 years on the road I only had to wait for an ordered part once....and that was for a full awning replacement. Which BTW arrived the next morning and was installed by noon!

If a part does have to be ordered (unlike a dealership) an RV Mobile repair guy with have the part the 'next day' and be back on that SAME day to install it. And guess what? For half the price of what you will pay at a dealership AND get 10 times more the experience of a tech.

There is NO reason to go to an 'RV dealership' and/or leave your RV for months on end. None, nada, zip, zero reasons to use those whoremongers. :B

When we broke down, failed hydraulic pump it took just shy of 30 days to get the pump. This was at a truck repair shop.

So you folks that think you will be on the road the next day are in for a huge surprise. This was not the shops fault and I was on the road soon after the part arrived.

Pickup.

Was this the pump for the jacks? Why not just drive it home, and have it repaired there?
Pogoil
Explorer
Jul 27, 2016
rockhillmanor wrote:
ANSWER >> RV MOBILE REPAIR

Don't know where you are leaving your RV for 6 WEEKS but I sure would not.

I full time RV, I don't even have a home to drive or fly back to!! My RV's are repaired the 'same day' they break and/or need repairs right at what ever CG I am at at the time.

If you are in a CG ask the manager who they use for mobile repair.
They come out to you, repair the RV and you are done and have a working RV.

99.999% of the time it is repaired right at your site within ONE DAY. Their trucks are so full of RV parts that in 7 years on the road I only had to wait for an ordered part once....and that was for a full awning replacement. Which BTW arrived the next morning and was installed by noon!

If a part does have to be ordered (unlike a dealership) an RV Mobile repair guy with have the part the 'next day' and be back on that SAME day to install it. And guess what? For half the price of what you will pay at a dealership AND get 10 times more the experience of a tech.

There is NO reason to go to an 'RV dealership' and/or leave your RV for months on end. None, nada, zip, zero reasons to use those whoremongers. :B

When we broke down, failed hydraulic pump it took just shy of 30 days to get the pump. This was at a truck repair shop.

So you folks that think you will be on the road the next day are in for a huge surprise. This was not the shops fault and I was on the road soon after the part arrived.

Pickup.
mike_brez
Explorer
Jul 27, 2016
Campfire_Time
Explorer
Jul 27, 2016
Bionic Man wrote:

I have AAA. I don't know about Good Sam or CoachNet, but AAA has a limit to the amount they will pay for a tow. I would be surprised if any roadside assistance had unlimited towing.

Going off topic here, but in my case AAA paid their portion ($100?), and the mechanic who recently serviced my trailer paid the remainder.

What AAA pays depends on which membership level you have and what state you live in. I had a plan that paid for towing to any destination of my choice up to 100 miles. They now offer a plan in my state that has a 200 mile option.