Roadside Assistance – No good over 2 tonne.

Submitted: Sunday, Mar 10, 2013 at 16:43
ThreadID: 101011 Views:3270 Replies:9 FollowUps:8
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I recently signed up to RAC's Roadside Assistance - without first reading the fine print.
I now find their towing services are limited to vehicles under 2 tonne.
My empty weights are Troopy 2.4 tonne and Caravan 2.2 tonne.
Loaded weights, if I dump 2 tanks of water, are about 2.8 tonne each.
Does anyone know of a better Roadside Assistance Provider?
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Reply By: Dust-Devil - Sunday, Mar 10, 2013 at 16:56

Sunday, Mar 10, 2013 at 16:56
DE

In November last year My 3.2t Troopy that was Towing my 2.8t caravan suffered a catastrophic engine failure between Ballarat and Beaufort, Victoria.

RACV Totalcare sent two flat top recovery trucks without blinking, and transported both vehicles to our residence in Melbourne.

This was on a Friday night and the following Monday, A RACV Flattop collected the Troopy and conveyed it my nominated repairer in Dandenong.

All for free (ie no cost what so ever) Even transported myself, wife and dog home on the Friday night.

Tottally recommend RACV Totalcare to all and sundry.

DD
AnswerID: 506500

Follow Up By: Dennis Ellery - Sunday, Mar 10, 2013 at 17:12

Sunday, Mar 10, 2013 at 17:12
Thanks for that DD.
I should have mentioned that, though I do on occassion travel interstate, a lot of my travel is in WA's Norwest.
I will contact them - they may use contractors over here.
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FollowupID: 783453

Follow Up By: Dust-Devil - Sunday, Mar 10, 2013 at 21:43

Sunday, Mar 10, 2013 at 21:43
Dennis

The Totalcare package that I mentioned above is the top RACV one and it follows the driver , not the vehicle.

So if was driving my mate Freddy Hogwort's 4WD, Hyundai or F350 and it suffered a malfunction etc etc and needed towing, then RACV would arrange same for me.

I think the RACWA has a similar deal and if I were you living in the Norwest, I wouldn't leave home without it.

DD
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FollowupID: 783490

Reply By: Neil & Pauline - Sunday, Mar 10, 2013 at 18:15

Sunday, Mar 10, 2013 at 18:15
We are with RACWA and our 7.5 tonne motor has been covered. Need to be towed last year, actually on drop deck semi, and all was paid by RACWA. Apparently up to $3,000 is covered and we needed $2,200 for 405 Kilometres. All good for me. You need to go for a higher cover level I think.

Neil
AnswerID: 506508

Follow Up By: Dennis Ellery - Sunday, Mar 10, 2013 at 19:01

Sunday, Mar 10, 2013 at 19:01
Thanks for that N&P - I need to get onto RACWA and get the situations clarified.
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FollowupID: 783466

Follow Up By: steved58 - Sunday, Mar 10, 2013 at 20:29

Sunday, Mar 10, 2013 at 20:29
I have taked to rac wa about the towing question and was told that the 2 tonne limit was mainly to cover some contractors who only have vehicles to that limit however they would not leave you stranded but if a bigger vehicle needs to be obtained then the extra cost may need to be paid for by the member
Steve
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FollowupID: 783480

Reply By: Olsen's 4WD Tours and Training - Sunday, Mar 10, 2013 at 20:29

Sunday, Mar 10, 2013 at 20:29
All of my dealings with RACQ have been way less than satisfactory
AnswerID: 506519

Follow Up By: Lyn W3 - Sunday, Mar 10, 2013 at 22:11

Sunday, Mar 10, 2013 at 22:11
We cannot fault their service over the past 8 years. They have never let us down.
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FollowupID: 783498

Reply By: Member - David M (SA) - Sunday, Mar 10, 2013 at 22:18

Sunday, Mar 10, 2013 at 22:18
Did you notice any reference to the hight with the Troopy Dennis. I did with the RAA in SA.Must be something to do with the Semi car carriers.
Dave.
AnswerID: 506529

Follow Up By: Dennis Ellery - Sunday, Mar 10, 2013 at 22:27

Sunday, Mar 10, 2013 at 22:27
Not a problem with the height - on the options I looked at
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FollowupID: 783502

Reply By: pajo - Monday, Mar 11, 2013 at 00:43

Monday, Mar 11, 2013 at 00:43
You should recheck your policy, RACQ is up to four tonne, and if you got cover from interstate club, would still revert to RACQ policy as all these club will contact RACQ to do the job.
You will find that a caravan will have a size restriction to it if it has to put on the back of a truck, and most trailer recovery is at the discretion of the attending depot.

Hope this helps.
AnswerID: 506535

Reply By: mike g2 - Monday, Mar 11, 2013 at 11:55

Monday, Mar 11, 2013 at 11:55
Hi all, not entirely related but adding to this post- some years ago, we had a prang+roll onto side some 80k out of albany at a bad time of year( n.y eve!) were helped initially by nearby farmers to put the squashed 30' van and old toyo back on its legs. not members of anything at time, but trucky/police/farmers ( never got to know who..) organised transport and the one and only HEAVY DUTY tow avail to get us back in to albany( normal towie not enough) . I would say there would be limits to tow/flatback etc.. because of size and weights involved. you can put a 4by, van or motorhome on the back of a tray truck if set up for it. some states have liscence restrictions and rules for usage with accident/breakdown 'recovery' vehicles-thereby limiting who can do it for you..
must admit, "roadside assistance" varies, reading terms etc..important. gets vague when your 200 k out of coober pedy or involves engine light reset on a dealer laptop!
...am re-reading my roadside paperwork now. check if CIL covers breakdown retrieval.
MG
AnswerID: 506553

Reply By: Rockape - Monday, Mar 11, 2013 at 12:54

Monday, Mar 11, 2013 at 12:54
You must always read the policies and cross reference everything in that policy.

Some tow operators will help you out but in the end what is stated in that policy goes.
For instance, it may state they will tow vans up to 4 tonne but later on page xx it may state they only tow vans that are say 21 foot including the drawbar and overhang and width/height limits will apply. That will not be a very big van at say 21' including the drawbar more like a camper trailer.

Sending the vehicle/van back to your home if required will have some big limitations as the van and vehicle will take up a whole flat bed trailer. Say the guy doing the load and haul to destination has a single trailer, good gear and makes a profit he will have to charge around $2000 to $2200 for a 1000K job as the whole trailer is used. This is if he is contracted direct and he is not carting to or from a remote location. Real rates will be higher. Also there will be an amount of time getting that load on and off depending on the damage.


In time it may come that insurance will be available for medium and large combined rigs to be returned to base in the event of a huge failure but that will be factored into insurance premium. 5th wheels are a huge problem and this may have to be factored into future insurance thinking as their numbers grow.
AnswerID: 506559

Follow Up By: Dennis Ellery - Monday, Mar 11, 2013 at 20:06

Monday, Mar 11, 2013 at 20:06
My van including towbar is 8 metres – the RAC limit is 5.5 m.
I’ve got a problem if I need to get it carried somewhere.
Thanks for your info.
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FollowupID: 783603

Follow Up By: PeterInSa - Wednesday, Mar 13, 2013 at 14:51

Wednesday, Mar 13, 2013 at 14:51
Dennis,
Ken Tame Insurance cover breaksdowns as part of their Insurance package from memory up to $1000 a year, My understanding is that you need to ensure the Tug and the Van ( together) and you would need to be an associate member of the CMCA ( with other member benefits).

Peter
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FollowupID: 783756

Reply By: steved58 - Monday, Mar 11, 2013 at 21:06

Monday, Mar 11, 2013 at 21:06
There are two diferent issues being talked about here one is insurance recoveries the other as the original post said is roadside assist towing limits
Steve
AnswerID: 506600

Reply By: shylok - Wednesday, Mar 13, 2013 at 14:10

Wednesday, Mar 13, 2013 at 14:10
With the RACV total care you need to read page 19 which give details and limitations of the policy
Ken
AnswerID: 506702

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