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]

Geocritter wrote:
On my recent Alaskan road trip I drove a guy 40 miles round trip into town and back for gasoline. He tried to pay me but I refused, too many people have helped me in the past to even think of accepting his money.

One thing I’ve learned is that generally people have big hearts, particularly in rural areas, and will go out of their way to help you with car trouble. In 2013 I got a flat tire out in the country, two separate people driving by pulled over and offered to help me while I was putting on the spare.

Excellent and how true! Two instances of ours that stand out:

- In our 7th year of full-timing we had a 5th wheel. We were traveling across Saskatchewan Canada on a Sunday on a long stretch of nothing around. A spring broke on the trailer. . hitched a ride by a woman to nearest town - 33 miles away. Got dropped off at a small repair shop. Two teens came out of the adjoining house. They got their truck and we returned to the RV. They jerry-rigged various parts together to let us drive to back to the shop. On this Sunday, they called a friend of theirs in another town with a repair shop. He had the necessary things we needed for a good fix. The teens drove to his shop, returned and fixed our RV, the women invited us in for dinner and suggested we spend the night. They would not accept any payment!!!

- For our Alaska trip we bought a used 25' 5th wheel and truck. Left our 40' motorhome back in Arizona. Drove through Death Valley and the engine blew on the truck. Not many vehicles around but hitched a ride to Panamint Springs to use a business phone. Closest tow was from Lone Pine, CA 50 miles away. The business returned to the RV.

While waiting for the tow, a highway patrol stopped and waited with us until the tow came. Two tow truck arrived - one for the 5th wheel; one for the truck. Took us & the 5th wheel to a RV park where we stayed FREE and the truck to the tow/repair facility. The local airport lent us a car - FREE. The search was on in the whole community for a used truck engine. Found an old highway patrol vehicle in a junk yard over 100 miles away. Installed the engine within a week.

We decided we didn't trust the truck for Alaska so returned to Arizona to our motorhome; repack our stuff; put the truck & 5th wheel on a consignment lot and took off for Alaska with no further issues. Should have done that at first! One month later the truck & 5th wheel were sold. Very happy campers and an awesome rest of the summer in Alaska.

[PAThwacker]

I'm 42, have been driving since 1989, do not rely on GPS, or cell phone service. Last generation of college educated without the interwebs. I travel with full array of tools, self-recovery equipment, and into no cell-coverage zones often. Trips get loaded for weeks worth of food, and water. Full scale backpacking gear is brought in if really off grid/high risk travel is required.

[ktmrfs]

spot connect, spot messenger or similar "emergency" device. DeLorman (sp?) also has ones. We use ours all the time to send messages to kids, friends etc. to let them know where we are when out of cell range. In 5 years we have yet to not have a message go through, Uses sat. uplink and downlink to send messages to email addresses, smart phones etc.

Also can be used to send emergency help message to 911 or roadside assistance.

and of course we carry a good first aid kit, tools, food, water etc. to keep us safe.

And BTW, our kids know exactly where we are because they can access our location from our onstar android app. I've given them the password. so if we do need help, they would get a message from the spot with our exact gps coordinates along with being able to verify from onstar vehicle location.

If we are going to remote locations I turn on gps tracking on the spot's and the kids and/or friends can track where we are if needed to contact us.

[braindead0]

Keep up on vehicles maintenance.

I carry an emergency backpack with waterproof matches, emergency food and water, emergency blankets, small first aid kit. For minor emergencies, portable HAM radio with all of the area repeaters programmed in both batteries and vehicle adapter for that. For serious emergencies where bodily harm is likely without quick assistance we carry a personal locator beacon.

[Geocritter]

It’s always interesting to me how dependent we become on our technology. It wasn’t until the mid-80’s that car phones were developed to the point where the general public used them, and then very little because of cost. Now we have cell phones we can take with us everywhere and people are fearful when they’re outside of cell phone coverage. Lion’s! And Tiger’s! And Bear’s! Oh my!!!

For the forty-five years before I got a car phone (and later a cell phone) when things in my car would break I’d either fix it myself if possible or raise my hood and when someone stopped I’d request a ride into town for help or for needed parts. I’d do the same thing for people that I saw needed help, in fact I still do. On my recent Alaskan road trip I drove a guy 40 miles round trip into town and back for gasoline. He tried to pay me but I refused, too many people have helped me in the past to even think of accepting his money.

One thing I’ve learned is that generally people have big hearts, particularly in rural areas, and will go out of their way to help you with car trouble. In 2013 I got a flat tire out in the country, two separate people driving by pulled over and offered to help me while I was putting on the spare.

Steve

[mudhound]

Very good post. I have been thinking about a toad

[Ski_Pro_3]

I usually carry a motorcycle on a front mount hitch. If I ever broke down, I can ride that to the next place to get service or cell coverage.

[Chuck_thehammer]

I guess I will add.

when I travel.. truck and travel trailer. if truck broke down.. unhook and off load motorcycle.. or remove bicycles from rear of trailer.

but I also have a Small advantage... I am a retied auto mechanic.
and always have a hundred pounds of tools at hand.

but after 40 plus years of traveling.. I had ONE break down..

[rockhillmanor]

I would not take secondary unknown roads towing an RV.

It IS one of the big reasons I switched to a MH towing a toad. MH breaks down I throw the dogs in the toad and go.

The first time I broke down in the MH "I" almost had a breakdown then I remembered I have a toad now. Unhooked, threw the dogs in, and threw the keys to the MH to the tow truck driver and said call me when its fixed. :C

IMHO the toad takes all the worry out about traveling especially if you RV with your pets.

I do carry 2 phones with 2 different providers AND a hand held "Cobra RoadTrip CB" radio which also has a weather alert radio and optional antenna and plug in for vehicle use. Came in handy on several occasions.

[Muddydogs]

I'll throw another plug out for the Delorme InReach SE communicator. 2 way satellite text and email messaging with anyone plus direct connect with an emergency call service if things are really bad.

[dave54]

DownTheAvenue wrote:
Two decades ago, every road I drove on did not have cell phone service.

True. A little over 200 years ago a couple of fellas named Lewis and Clark went from St. Louis to the ocean and back without cell phones or GPS. Did not even have maps -- they made their own maps enroute.

If they can do that I can hold out for a few days in my rig until someone else comes along.

This country is becoming sissified. On another forum I read of another RVer who simply could not function without wifi. He would not stay in a CG without an internet connection. In a way I feel sorry for people like that... To me, no cell coverage or internet is a bonus. Cutting the digital umbilical cord is a way to mentally and emotionally refresh yourself.

[DownTheAvenue]

Two decades ago, every road I drove on did not have cell phone service.

[Grit_dog]

You could stay home if it's that daunting to travel without cell service.

[Horizon170]

Just like a good Boy Scout, I consider myself always prepared. A cell phone is very LOW on my list as an emergency item although it is the quickest way to get help in most cases. My procedure,if phone service is not available, involves a Dingy, CB, waiting for someone to pass by, etc.
While waiting or traveling my security involves firearms and plenty of ammo for both me and my Wife. Neither of us fear being/traveling alone even though we are old.
Marvin