Visit our Popular Forums

mcaslaon4449 · 10-08-2015, 06:46 PM

Has anyone had a breakdown with their tow vehicle while their trailer was attached? If you tow vehicle has to be towed to the nearest town to be fixed, what do you do with your trailer? What if our pets are inside, which they usually are? Is their insurance that will cover this, what are the options?

Alumaholic · 10-08-2015, 06:54 PM

If you have Good Sam tow insurance or USAA for that matter, they dispatch a tow truck capable of towing tow vehicle with trailer attached.

Glenritas · 10-08-2015, 07:25 PM

We have AAA and when I broke the output shaft on my Avalanche they sent 2 trucks 1 for the Avalanche and 1 for the Casita. They took the Avalanche to the shop of my choice and the Casita back to the RV Park.

On our way home about a 100 miles out the fuel pump failed on my Tahoe while towing my car trailer with my PT Cruiser on it.

At that time we had ACSC (AutoClub of So Cal RV+) that only covers RV units.

In that case they would only tow the Tahoe but not the car trailer . If I wanted them to tow the car trailer it would cost $$.

Fortunately I had left the 2" stinger in the PT's receiver . So I unloaded the PT and hooked on to the car trailer, rigged the lights and towed it home.

We now have AAA and Good Sam.

xrvr · 10-09-2015, 05:11 AM

Pets in trailer?

Jim Flower · 10-09-2015, 06:44 AM

In the summer of 1996 my Jeep broke down on the Trans Canada Highway just out side of Chilliwack, BC during the Sunday night rush hour. I was towing a borrowed 25 ft Prowler. I called Fraser Valley Towing and they showed up in about 20 minutes with a flat bed tow truck. They loaded the Jeep onto the flat bed, hooked up the trailer and towed me to the Jeep dealer in Abbotsford and deposited the jeep at the service bay door, and the trailer in the back lot. It took about an hour. We stayed in the trailer and after the dealer replaced the coil in the morning by 9AM, we were gone. Every opportunity I get , since 1996, I tell about the great service that I received From Fraser Valley Towing. I don't know those guys from Adam. They charged me $37. Thanks again. Jim

Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums

Wingeezer · 10-09-2015, 07:57 AM

Here in Canada, I have "CAA Plus RV" (I am pretty sure identical coverage under AAA) and they will tow both the truck and trailer - no matter how they have to do it.

I have not had to have it done yet - touch wood - but one minor complication would likely be that I would need to remove the Hensley Hitch for them to be able to tow the trailer with a conventional ball hitch. I don't think it would be difficult and I think I could just leave the main part of the Hensley hitch hanging on the back of the truck.

Hope I don't have to find out though!

Brian.

(With CAA RV Plus, they would also tow my motorcycle if disabled.)

idroba · 10-09-2015, 10:11 AM

A story from years ago, mid 1980's. I was on the New York State Thruway, diesel Suburban towing a 25' Airstream. The transmission (700 R4) toasted. When the tow truck came the guy wanted to lift the front of the Suburban slightly, disconnect the drive shaft, and tow the combination. I protested but was in no position to do much, so that is what he did. By lifting the front of the Suburban, very high stress was put on the Reese hitch spring bars as they were still trying to lift the trailer front.

We got to the Dealer (Sunday, of course) and he wanted to disconnect the trailer and leave it in one place, Suburban in another. He would not drop the Suburban front. He proceeded to take a piece of pipe and put it over the snap up bracket tang. I told him that the pressure would be too great and it would rip it out of his hand. But he knew it all and would not listen to me. When the bracket went over center it ripped the pipe out of his hand as I had predicted, and smashed it into his foot. I can only imagine the damage it did, he screamed and cursed and blood was pouring from his foot. Only then would he listen, and let the front of the Suburban drop, while he watched me disconnect the trailer normally. He left the trailer and Suburban in different places on the lot, and disappeared.

I don't know the rest of the story on his foot, but I am sure he broke many parts of the top of it. But he knew it all, and did it his way.

Don't let anyone double tow your tow vehicle and trailer as a set without disconnecting the spring bars. I doubt that they would even attempt that today, but who knows what shows up when you call a towing company.

Richard Kern · 10-09-2015, 10:37 AM

our tow vehicle was fixed.

Yes. The repair service towed our trailer to his lot where we stayed until our tow vehicle was fixed.

Jekerrville · 10-09-2015, 11:24 AM

Is it bad forum form to point out that all this in the ditch problems pulling trailers involved GM and Dodge vehicles?? Just asking.😉

idroba · 10-09-2015, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jekerrville

Is it bad forum form to point out that all this in the ditch problems pulling trailers involved GM and Dodge vehicles?? Just asking.😉

Yes, it is totally irrelevant.

AWCHIEF · 10-09-2015, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jekerrville

Is it bad forum form to point out that all this in the ditch problems pulling trailers involved GM and Dodge vehicles?? Just asking.😉

And has absolutely nothing to do with this thread. Almost strikes me as a trolling post.

WestieHouse · 10-09-2015, 12:37 PM

Just a quick good word for AAA & CAA. First, be sure you purchase the rv coverage option or they only take care of the tv. In the case below our companions were AAA members traveling in Canada.

Our traveling companions with a Volvo station wagon towing a teardrop broke down twice (incomplete diagnosis/repair the first time) in remote parts of Nova Scotia and needed to be towed to the only Volvo dealer located in Halifax. Both times CAA covered towing for both vehicles (flatbed for car and trailer). They also received some payment for trip interruption costs.

As a first year Airstreamer I am still trying trying to determine which of the various clubs (insurance) is the best overall. We have USAA insurance (Progressive was great with a significant comprehensive claim on our new Airstream), Good Sam, Airstream, and Good Sam at the moment. Any suggestions are most welcome!
D2

NOAZRK2690 · 10-09-2015, 12:48 PM

This worked pretty well for me. I have Good Sam Road Assist. When a breakdown occurs, call 911 and ask for police assistance for traffic safety. An officer usually arrives pretty quickly providing safety with flashing light. Ask him/her what towing service they recommend along that stretch of road they regularly patrol. Contact Good Sam and tell them that in consideration of the circumstances a police officer has recommended the "ABC Towing Company". In my case, Good Sam Club appreciated the lead and picked up the bill in full. After all, when you call Good Sam, they most likely have never had a prior dispatch to the area you are in and that could cause a dispatch from a lot further away that's not suited for your situation. Just think of all the other benefits of selecting a towing service that recommended by a local police officer who's standing to overhear all the arrangements before your rig is towed away.

Ahab · 10-09-2015, 01:29 PM

We have Allstate RV insurance. When we had a blowout in the middle of nowhere and no cell phone service available, a Sheriffs deputy came along and used his radio to patch us through to Allstate who sent out a tire repair truck. Very great service. I highly recommend them.

Ohiobrits · 10-09-2015, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jekerrville

Is it bad forum form to point out that all this in the ditch problems pulling trailers involved GM and Dodge vehicles?? Just asking.😉

I actually found it funny, but I don't own a vehicle by either brand.......and I'm camping......and on my 4th beer......😉

guskmg · 10-09-2015, 10:32 PM

When I went to Alaska with a friend in 2010 his F-150 fried a shift cable. He was stuck in Drive and could not restart after a rest area stop. Good Sam dispatched a flat bed tow truck. The driver put the F-150 on the tilt bead, then hooked up the trailer to the tow truck's hitch. I had to follow them 100 miles back to Fort Nelson with my flashers on because the light hookup was not compatible. Long story short, The new cable came with a much thicker heat shield from Ford seven days later. Had a great time touring Fort Nelson.
guskmg

Glenritas · 10-09-2015, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NOAZRK2690

This worked pretty well for me. I have Good Sam Road Assist. When a breakdown occurs, call 911 and ask for police assistance for traffic safety. An officer usually arrives pretty quickly providing safety with flashing light. Ask him/her what towing service they recommend along that stretch of road they regularly patrol. Contact Good Sam and tell them that in consideration of the circumstances a police officer has recommended the "ABC Towing Company". In my case, Good Sam Club appreciated the lead and picked up the bill in full. After all, when you call Good Sam, they most likely have never had a prior dispatch to the area you are in and that could cause a dispatch from a lot further away that's not suited for your situation. Just think of all the other benefits of selecting a towing service that recommended by a local police officer who's standing to overhear all the arrangements before your rig is towed away.

This reminded me of a friends situation .
After leaving a Tear Drop gathering in Lakehead, CA and only making it a mile south his truck quit. So he called his towing insurance co. for a tow truck.

He had left about 45 minutes before me and was traveling with other friends who also stopped with him . When I came by I spotted them and went to the next exit and came back around to see if I could help.

So after about an hour he called the insurance co and asked where the tow truck was. They said it should be there soon as it was dispatched from San Diego.

He mentioned that he was over 500 miles north of San Diego and to send a truck from Lakehead just a mile away.

Long story short Lakehead towed it to my house (12 miles) and my friends left it over night and headed home to Reno with their friends and came back the next day with their friends truck and trailer, loaded it up and headed back to Reno.

So ya it would be a good idea to ask to local PD for a recommendation.

dcasr · 10-10-2015, 06:09 PM

If you are in rural areas you can tow the TV and trailer together by releasing the pressure of the WD bars. In urban areas it becomes more problematic just because of traffic congestion. In 1972 while towing a SOB with an E300 Ford van, coming off of the Beartooth Highway toward Red Lodge MT we lost all forward gears on the automatic, and rolled to a stop. The tow truck driver hooked up the van, released the WD pressure, and towed the combination into Laurel MT, dropped the trailer off at a campground, and took the Van to a Ford dealer.

Today we have Good Sam roadside insurance that covers all our vehicles for breakdowns and towing, including the AS and the TV, but asking the police who they recommend is a great idea that I hope I never have to use.

**jcanavera** · 10-11-2015, 07:30 AM

My Progressive policy on the Airstream provides towing for the Airstream if it is disabled, or both if the tow vehicle is disabled. I carry AAA towing for the tow vehicle and my cars. No need for the RV coverage. Cheaper that way. Progressive maintains their own emergency road service center. Never have had to use them, although I did call AAA on the road once when traveling on the road due to a dead battery when we stopped to eat.

Jack