How would you / Do you prepare?

[Traver8]

Hi All, throwing this question out for discussion and feedback. It is oriented to those of you who travel the secondary roads, generally in the West.

I have been doing a lot of driving this week, not towing though, and have had time to think. One question has been on my mind for a while so I thought I would toss it out for discussion. I put it here in the general issues section for more exposure across various types of RV's.

Here it is - while traveling various areas of the country, primarily the West, there are many areas with limited or no cell phone coverage and long distances between support services. How would or do you prepare for a breakdown in an area like this?

For example, I regularly commute along the road between Carlsbad, NM and El Paso and there is a stretch signed as having no services for the next 130 miles. Much of this distance also has no cell coverage. I have both AT&T and Verizon and have no coverage on either. I guess that if I broke down I would need to wait for either law enforcement or a kind soul to stop and assist with support. I have roadside coverage but still need to be able to contact them for assistance.

So......your thoughts?

Thanks,
Terry

[2gypsies1]

If you have a motorhome towing a vehicle, unhook and take the vehicle until you get a signal to call roadside service.

[rexlion]

How do I prepare? I pray that I won't break down.

[john_bet]

In '67 when I made my first cross country drive from Indiana to California I made sure my car was ready, I had all my clothes as needed, and a map for where I was going. I got there without a hitch and on time. I have been doing it more or less the same way since. I have only broke down once since and that was in Oct. '13 on St Road 200 in Montana. Just call me a super lucky guy I guess. We are headed out westward bound in two weeks and I have no worries even with a 11 year old 5er and a 12+ year old truck with 192+K and counting.

[Thunder_Mountai]

We are concerned by the same issues since we travel exclusively in the Big Empty of the Four Corners. Additionally, we are hikers and Jeepers/ATVers that are many times a year are a many mile walk out in case of mechanical breakdown or injury. It weighs heavily on us. We try to be prepared. But stuff happens. We bought a Spot Gen just for this reason. It is not cell dependent. If you can see a satellite, you can get help.

This may be overkill for you but it works for us. If you opt for the deluxe option you can have Spot Gen send out periodic updates on you position via Google Earth to select persons.

[Chuck_thehammer]

break downs are so FEW these days. more dependable then EVER in transportation.

flat tire in 100 degree heat... find shade wait till dark.. cooler then.

and I believe the population in the United States have doubled in the past 50 years.. so more likely to get Help.. even in NO Where Land.

I rode all over this country by motorcycle in the 1970's to 1990's .
I have logged over 373,000 miles on motorcycles.
and motorcycles do not have spare tires.. disassemble, fix, assemble. ride.

and I am North of 60... so I get the hard work thing. but does not slow me down.

Go where you Wish, be a boy scoot , be prepared, food, Water, things, Phone, credit cards.. Enjoy.

Life is way to SHORT to fear/worry about things that MIGHT happen.

[2oldman]

MitchF150 wrote:
Do the same thing we all did some 20-30 + years ago when those same roads existed and the same services existed, but there where a lot more pay phones around then too...

Yeah, and we were a lot younger then.

I didn't really worry about things like this when I was in my 50's, but a dozen years later, things have changed. I really do fear being without phone service and having to do something like change a tire in 100° heat. I could do it, but it would be way more exhausting than it used to be.

And pets can make these problems more stressful.

[csamayfield55x]

I have been driving secondary roads in Nevada Oregon and unfortunately Kalifornia for many years. I have had breakdowns and we have helped many people. The difference we see is the people in these areas are much nicer and willing to help than anyone on an interstate. Most know the stakes and know they may be next.

almost 20 years ago we borrowed a pop up camper for a family reunion. 200 miles on or 450 mile journey home I lost a wheel in a horrible spot right out of Paisley Or. No one was open on a late Sunday evening so I was stuck!! I had more people stop and ask to help than you would believe. Some pointed me to the local wrench turner but he was out hunting. Ended up dropping it in a guys drive and coming back after I got parts the next day.

About 4 years ago on the same stretch of road we pulled 3 different cars out of the ditches. Road was a solid sheet of ice and little cars just slid right off!! 2 of the groups asked to pay me and my son and of course I refused!! I just asked all of them to help someone else out some day!!

That is just how it is in rural America. At least how it used to be

Chris

[MitchF150]

Do the same thing we all did some 20-30 + years ago when those same roads existed and the same services existed, but there where a lot more pay phones around then too...

I've been in the boonies loads of times and wondered what would I do if my truck just quit on me..... Just figure to somehow figure it out when that day and time happened and don't really try to worry about it inbetween...

I do try to keep my vehicles in tip/top mechanical shape so that helps too..

Other than that, stuff happens and if you worry about all the stuff that could happen to you, you would never leave your house... 🙂

Good luck!

Mitch

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

We always carry water and some food in the truck. After all, we drive it when the rig is parked.

I really don't worry about no coverage zones - and I spent half of 2014 in areas with no cell coverage - Big Bend, etc.

I've also stopped when I see someone having trouble, but would almost never carry anyone in my truck to an area with phone service. Might take them to the nearest gas station, store, etc. Most likely not.

Also remember what used to be a universal signal of car trouble. Hood up, white cloth tied on the road side of the vehicle door handle or the antenna.

[Naio]

I carry a lot of food and water -- usually two weeks. I carry a lot of tools, and shop manuals. I am not a mechanic, but if it's a long wait before someone comes by I might as well have something to do ;).

I grew up in the remote west, so I have confidence that someone will eventually come by and they will almost certainly be nice. I do carry weapons.

I've been thinking about getting one of those delormes.

[Old-Biscuit]

Folks have been traveling and breaking down long before the cell phone was invented.

Folks would STOP and help others on side of roadways.
See less and less of that now a days.

I still do......but I am cautious and ARMED.

Should I break down I would flag someone down and have them contact 'law enforcement'.
Then when LEOs made contact I would have them help in making arrangements for towing.
Why LEOs---cause I want them to KNOW where I am broke down!

[Son_of_Norway]

I always have a CB.

[time2roll]

You will have food and water for a few days right? What's to worry?

[BigRabbitMan]

I also live in the west so I am frequently out of cell range where I travel. As others have said, the first thing is keep your coach maintained but things can still happen. I did have a problem once east of Cheyanne, WY. Coach was on the side of the road and so I started to walk. I didn't make it more than 50 yards before a car stopped and took me to a tiny service facility where I got the help I needed.

As was said earlier, we survived very well without cell phones before and can survive without them now. We are just used to them and the convenience that they bring.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

I'm towing a small house in back of me. I have food for a week or so, water for a week or so, propane for a month or so and fuel for 350 miles or so.

If my TV breaks I will hang out in my TT until help comes. If my TT breaks I will unhitch and drive to the nearest town to find help.

It's not like your out there with nothing. I will just hang out and have a party until help gets there and I doubt that is longer than my supplies will last.