Breakdown while towing

buylow12 wrote:
I actually have coverage for that also. I went through my insurance broker for that but I believe it was cheapest with progressive who I have my car insurance with. It was pretty cheap.

Tim Czarkowski
TotalTravelers.com

I am glad you that coverage. I also have mine through Progressive.

Duplicate

buylow12 wrote:
...I suppose you never really know till your on the side of the road though, eh?

Truth!

The fact is, you are at the mercy of the service that shows up to help you. If they show up at all. Whoever you purchase your service contract from, contracts with tow providers to serve you. They don't have a lot of leverage over the guy driving the truck. They can maybe pull the contract at some future date, but even that can be an empty threat if there isn't another provider serving that area.

That's why it doesn't make a lot of difference who you purchase your roadside service from. They all contract from the same pool of providers, for better or worse in some areas.

I once broke down in the middle of the Mojave on a Monday holiday. Called AAA, and they did their best to try to find someone to come out. Waited hours and hours, I forget how long, but I do remember it was the Mojave and I had two dogs with us and they were suffering from the heat. The available service had no drivers available, which I later learned was because they had already worked until they dropped over the holiday weekend. Eventually an auto repair shop in Boron drove his own rollback out and picked us up, and did the needed repair for too little money in my opinion. Would it have mattered who my service contract was with? I don't believe it would have. We were working on trying to just rent a car, when we were finally picked up.

Yea since you didn't ask it probably didn't occur to them either. I'll certainly be sure to make my wishes known when the time comes. As far as the boat maybe they handled it like that when you were a member, I don't know when that was. However they claimed when I signed up for the "trailer package" that it was good for anything I towed fifth wheel, boat, motorcycles, garbage, whatever. In fact I specifically asked them about the boat since my whole family shares the same membership and my dad used to tow his boat. They said they would tow it. I suppose you never really know till your on the side of the road though, eh?

Tim Czarkowski
TotalTravelers.com

I actually have coverage for that also. I went through my insurance broker for that but I believe it was cheapest with progressive who I have my car insurance with. It was pretty cheap.

Tim Czarkowski
TotalTravelers.com

I've had AAA tow me twice, but both times they towed the whole rig to the repair shop. Guess I never thought about dropping the 5er at a park so I didn't actually ask them.

AAA, even RV plus, will not touch watercraft, regardless of type or how it is trailered. We learned that the hard way when the Tow truck driver left our trailered boat on the side of the road and towed our tow vehicle away. Just something everyone may not know. We now have Allstate Roadhelp.

Tim, what about coverage on your trailer when it is parked? Like branch falling on it in a thunderstorm or, God forbid, a fire?

That's a good point about having the trailer brakes I didn't think about that. It's exciting enough when that stuff happens when your not towing. Here's to hoping none of us try it out anytime soon :)

Tim Czarkowski
TotalTravelers.com

If your ps went it would be tough but you could likely muscle it to the side of road. Mine went when I lost a belt and no problem. Brakes when towing you would still have trailer brakes for some stopping power.

So I called AAA. In addition to the trailer package I had also upgraded it the the "Silver" or some such that provides for up to 100 miles free towing for each incident and $5 a mile afterwards. They limit the service calls to 5 a year, however since my wife is a member also that provides 10 service calls for us. I've used 2 this year so far. God I hope I don't need all of them, lol.

The service is of course nationwide. My plan is based in Georgia and when the truck broke down I was in Oregon and they had someone out in 30 minutes. It was completely free of course. I also used google on my phone to find a shop that had good reviews. Obviously that only works in areas with reception or areas with more than one shop, lol. I have previously used the drivers recommendation successfully also(in my other car).

From what I understand as long is it is within the 100 miles I can have the trailer towed to a park and the truck to the shop at no additional cost. The lady I spoke with clearly wasn't knowledgeable about how it works with the trailer package. She said depending on the area they may count that as two tows if they need two trucks. However I think she is incorrect from what I have read, as long as it's under that 100 mile radius, your good. I would certainly pitch a sh!t fit if they tried to count that as two tows, I can guarantee that, lol. I called the 800 number, I probably should have called the office that holds my membership. I think I would have got someone more knowledgeable.

I should also mention the other service call I had. My wife had locked the door from the outside when she took the dog out and then I opened the door for her to come back in. A little while later we went out for some reason. Well guess what, when the door is locked from the outside, it will open from the inside but not the OUTSIDE. So we were locked out, without a phone, without my wallet, without keys to the truck, and in my pajamas at like 7 am.

Thankfully our neighbor had a smart phone he let us borrow and I was able to look up AAA's number and they sent someone out even though I didn't have my membership card(in the trailer, in my wallet, lol). I forgot the reason but it took them about an hour this time and we were right in New Orleans. Well the pop-a-lock guy had that door open in all of 15 seconds. This was of course entirely free. Now I have a key hidden for the truck and the trailer so that hopefully can't happen again.

Needless to say the membership already paid for itself and has numerous times in the past over the years. Thanks for every ones input.

Anyone here had power steering/brakes fail while towing? Or a tire blowout for that matter? It seems like it could really be life or death at highway speeds. I at least know what it's like but my wife would be clueless.

Tim Czarkowski
TotalTravelers.com