Roadside Breakdown

[BurbMan]

I've had the Good Sam roadside assistance for years because if you break down they will tow your truck to the repair shop and your trailer to the nearest campground or safe parking spot. Both times when I lost the transmission on the Suburban I had the trailer in tow, so the program paid for itself many times over. The renewal came in the mail today and it got me thinking about whether it's the right thing for a TC.

Say you break down on the interstate with the TC on board. The rig is too tall to go on a flatbed, so do they use an old school bumper tow on the truck with the TC still on? Or do you dismount and have the TC hauled separately from the truck? If the garage has to put to truck on a lift can the TC stay on?

I realize there are a lot of variables here but want to be generally prepared in the event of a mechanical.

[BradW]

Hemi Joel,
Your signature shows you as a good sam member. You may have to log out to see it. 🙂

[Hemi_Joel]

BradW wrote:
I thought you quit good sam.

Me? I did. If you meant someone else, sorry.

[BradW]

I thought you quit good sam.

[Hemi_Joel]

BradW wrote:
Probably want to update your signature.

Because of the Arctic Fox? :? The breakdowns where when I was hauling the AF. The Eagle Cap 1165 is the current camper. 🙂 They are both awesome rigs!

[BradW]

specta wrote:

Marcus Lemonis: If you’re OK with what Trump said, don’t shop at my business

He later recanted his comment but he still said it.

Thanks for the link. I guess I missed all of that. Two things I know about Trump: (1) He ain't a politician and he tends to be lose with his words which leaves them open to be spun in the worst way by his enemies. (2) He ain't got a racist bone in his body.

[specta]

BradW wrote:

Hemi Joel wrote:
I quit Good Sam and switched to AAA after Marcus told those of us who supported our president not to shop at camping world.

I missed that. Thanks for posting. Do you have a link to where he said it? Probably want to update your signature.

Marcus Lemonis: If you’re OK with what Trump said, don’t shop at my business

He later recanted his comment but he still said it.

[jimh406]

BradW wrote:
I missed that. Thanks for posting. Do you have a link to where he said it? Probably want to update your signature.

If you search for Marcus and Trump, you can read the fallout and Camping World’s response. Some misquotes happened.

[BradW]

Hemi Joel wrote:
I quit Good Sam and switched to AAA after Marcus told those of us who supported our president not to shop at camping world.

I missed that. Thanks for posting. Do you have a link to where he said it? Probably want to update your signature.

[Hemi_Joel]

I quit Good Sam and switched to AAA after Marcus told those of us who supported our president not to shop at camping world. I figure that means Good Sam as well.
I've had to have my rig towed twice. Neither one could have been prevented by any routine maintenance. The 1st time, the center ripped out of the flywheel/flexplate. I was also towing a 32' trailer, so they sent a flatbed with a trailer hitch. By the time they got it loaded, it was pitch dark out. His trailer light connector did not work, the camper on the flatbed obscured his cab-top beacon, and the trailer obscured his tail lights. Going down the road, over-height with no rear lights on the trailer, I was scared to death. Luckily we made it to the shop. They let me camp in their parking lot for a few days while they waited for a part.

The second time, a little brass elbow where the cooler line threads into the transmission case split. I didn't have a trailer in tow on that trip, so they used a wheel lift, that was zero drama.

[BurbMan]

Lwiddis wrote:
"Both times when I lost the transmission on the Suburban..."

Twice on the same vehicle? That's terrible.

First time was in a small town in KY, I lost reverse backing the TT into a campsite. GS sent a guy that used his flat bed to finish backing the TT into the site. No transmission shop in town, so only option was Jasper rebuilt from local garage.

Put about about 10k on the Jasper and the 3rd gear sprag grenaded towing the TT in NJ. Jasper replaced under warranty but still cost $900..some of that was for parts that were "not covered". Plus the friendly garage pointed out that the Jasper warranty pays $65/hr labor and his rate was $110/hr, so that made up a large portion of the bill....

Point being that nobody expects a trans with a fresh rebuild to snit the bed, so all the preventive maintenance in the world is no guarantee of anything. Yes it stacks the deck in your favor, but stuff happens.

[mr_andyj]

Really depends on the tow truck driver or the tow company.
Yes, a truck and TC will fit on a flatbed, yes, it is high, no, it is no big deal.

I had a Class-C that got pulled by a 1-ton regular tow truck. We rode in the cab with the two driver, and left people in the camper (officially driver did not know about them, but he knew).
The front wheels of the tow truck would come off the ground when we hit bumps, but we made it off interstate and to a shop. We got lucky to get a nutty driver that time.

Other times drivers refused to tow.

I had giant 4x4 truck with TC and got towed on a flatbed, but waited days for the tow truck to show up.

Do't tell them "truck with truck camper", just tell them big motorhome, and avoid the confusion. Tow companies hear "truck" and then stop listening, and send a 1-ton then get there and realize, no, it is a camper basically.
or
Just ask for a big flatbed and tell them "it needs a flatbed" but dont try to explain, or they will not listen and/or get confused and second guess you and send a 1-ton again.

I had same truck towing a camper and got a flatbed and he went out and bought a 2 inch ball and towed truck on flatbed and towed trailer.

I have since woke up and sold the Ram, junky Dodge truck with a great Cummins engine, but junky truck and trans.

[3_tons]

Word of advice (ask me how I know).....Buy yourself a stout bottle jack from HF or HD (say 8-12k lbs)...neither of the two tow companies that came to fix our rear flat had a jack that would lift our truck with a 4,900# loaded camper...Also, due to overhang, rehearse dropping down the spare tire WITH the camper on board, and improvise as needed...Don’t plan on a visit by Lady Luck - lol

3 tons

[specta]

Bedlam wrote:
You guys are making more of this than it has to be.

But this is what we do here. You should know that better than anybody. 😉

[Bedlam]

Just tell the tow company you have a motorhome that is over 25' long and 12' tall which will need a medium duty wrecker to handle the weight. You guys are making more of this than it has to be.