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mangchibike's avatar
mangchibike
Explorer
Jul 12, 2013

tv just stopped in highway towing tt

I was returning 12 days of trip past sunday traveling I95 South and traffic was bad, going less than 20 mph and going through construction zone and i hit little bump and soon after i hit it tv just lost power and going uphill w/o speed, i block the right lane and made traffic much much worse. Trooper came and did not want me to call Geico for Emergency roadside service since it takes more than hour, so regular tow turck came and he called his brother-in-law for his pick-up truck that has 2" receiver and towed seperately. After they towed off highway and paid $250 (next exit towed less than .5 mile) they ask me what happen and i explain they found out that fuel pump fuse was blown and replaced one inside tv. My tv is 2 months old 13 chvey suburban 2500 that has about 3500 miles on it. So, i was able to come home after 2 friends came picked all passengers.
So I went to dealer where i bought the tv to find out and 3 miles away from the dealer it stopped again. Same situation, exit ramp off highway, road was bumpy and lost power again. This time i had some speed and was able to park safely. Towed to service dept. and today they called and it was short wire that caused it.

Question
1. Is this extremely rare case happening like this?
Short wire means it was touching something??
2. when ur tv broke down while towing tt, do u towed them seperately or heavy duty tow can handle both? (gieco agent was confused, and i ketp telling him it's tt and he reply what class a or b)

I had to cancel trips for 2 upcoming weekends..
I still feel bad that i blocked the highway with brand new tv..
Thank you replying in advance.
  • SprinklerMan wrote:
    There is a switch somewhere on the vehicle , it is designed to turn off the fuel pump in case of a roll over or hard accident , they can be set too sensitive and will shut off the fuel after hitting a bump .


    That's only on Fords, GM does not use a switch like that.

    Surprised that you had an issue with the wiring...in the 12 years we have had our Suburban, we've never had a problem with the wiring. Dealer should have fixed it for free under warranty, but I don't think you will get reimbursed for the towing. Overall the truck has been a very reliable tow vehicle, so don't be discouraged by this one little incident.

    I use Good Sam Roadside assistance because they will tow the truck and trailer if necessary. Never had to use it but subscribed after my camping buddy spent $500 to have his Expedition and trailer towed off of the NJ Tpke when the transmission blew...and he was on the shoulder by the toll booth.

    Agree with 6.7, the last thing you want to do is be stuck in the right lane on 95 coming down through the Bronx. If you were on a wide enough shoulder would be one thing, but stuck on the highway needs to be addressed ASAP.
  • APT wrote:
    If it's your money, you should have picked how it was towed.

    Your issue is rare. I have towed my TT about 3500 pounds with essentiall the same TV. Your truck in under warranty. Let a dealer resolve the problem.

    Those run-on sentences make my head hurt. :)

    I am sorry that you are having troubles in the middle of the prime RV season. Hopefully they are repaired and you can continue to enjoy RVing!


    Unfortunately thats not true. When we get a broken down motorist thats blocking a major road and causing a traffic hazard we do not allow the owner to call their insurance or AAA. They take too long. If I waited an hour for AAA to come pick up a vehicle in the middle lane of I-75 in rush hour traffic the interstate would be backed up for hours after the vehicle was removed and countless other rear enders as a result. Thats why the city contracts with a tow company that is close. In the signed contract they are to respond within 15 minutes anywhere within the city.
  • One time when we were towed the driver winched the vehicle up onto the tilting bed and hitched the trailer onto the ball of the tow truck. Another time we had to have the driver tow the two separately.
  • It doesn't read to me like it was a "roadside" problem, but more of a "middle of the road and causing a major traffic jam" kind of problem. I'm thinking that in a situation where a traffic obstruction is causing dangerous conditions or a traffic jam, then the troopers can order whatever assistance is necessary to clear the obstruction as fast as possible. It just is what it is, and the roadside assistance couldn't get the job done fast enough in this case.

    They only towed to get the mess off the highway so at that point, I'm sure the roadside assistance could have been used.

    To answer another of the OP's questions, I don't believe it would be safe to tow the TV and TT while connected together. They are a separate tow. I have a plan that will tow both my TV and TT separately for up to 200 miles because of that possibility.
  • If it's your money, you should have picked how it was towed.

    Your issue is rare. I have towed my TT about 3500 pounds with essentiall the same TV. Your truck in under warranty. Let a dealer resolve the problem.

    Those run-on sentences make my head hurt. :)

    I am sorry that you are having troubles in the middle of the prime RV season. Hopefully they are repaired and you can continue to enjoy RVing!
  • Mangchibike wrote:
    Trooper came and did not want me to call Geico for Emergency roadside service since it takes more than hour, so regular tow turck came and he called his brother-in-law for his pick-up truck that has 2" receiver and towed seperately. After they towed off highway and paid $250 (next exit towed less than .5 mile)


    If you have GEICO roadside assistance, you should have called them. You are paying for it, use it. I wonder how much the trooper is getting payed to have his friend, brother-in-law, business partner haul you to the next exit? I don't think you will find anyone to remburse you for the towing.
  • A short means that the power wire feeding the fuel pump was touching a ground (Frame, tank, anything metal that is grounded). I would be asking GM to reimburse for the emergency tow!
  • i asked service advisor about that and he said there is none. The towing guy also said in case of rear-ended it will shot off the fuel pump.
  • There is a switch somewhere on the vehicle , it is designed to turn off the fuel pump in case of a roll over or hard accident , they can be set too sensitive and will shut off the fuel after hitting a bump .