What do I do now?

Dave

you have raised some very good points there.is this situation one that some of the good folk at EO could help out with or not?

i guess that you cant take in all the "if's & buts" when travelling , you just have to use your better judgment and think common sense i spose.

Where are they ?

Can someone here help out ?

I agree that is why we have kids :-)

Dave

We have friends who faced a similar (but not identical) situation a few years back. They are both around 70 years old and were travelling around Oz in their Pajero, staying at campgrounds. He suffered a stroke in a campground at Port Hedland, and was flown to Perth for treatment. She followed by air after packing up the car, which was left in the care of the campground manager. He was in hospital for months, and eventually they flew home direct to Canberra.

Fortunately they had NRMA Premium Cover. The NRMA arranged for the Pajero to be trucked back home to Canberra at no expense (I understand) to the members.

Hope this answers your question, though it doesn't help these poor folk if they don't have Premium Care - unless NRMA would allow them to sign up on the spot (at a surcharge, I expect).

Bruce M

This is the main reason we joined a 4WD club. Both of us have done their training. But I must admin it was driven by my cancer. My wife is an equal on the road. In the area of attitude and calmness, maybe she is more of an equal.

We are self insured for towing and have full comprehensive insurance on the car which also covers current market value plus all our add-ons.

Phil

Hi Dave I rung that Nuie or how ever its spelt (been floging it lately), while been nearly $500 cheaper then what Im paying I didnt like the ifs and buts about it so have stayed with NRMA, I had to put my wife on the policy if she wanted to drive it which was fair enough but say I went to club had one to many or was sick or what ever reason and decided I wasnt capable of driving home so my mate had to and had a dingle there is no coverage what so ever even in emergency situations. I also asked about off road situations, yes covered for off road BUT only if its by the log book specs, eg wading depth, told him I have been through bigger potholes, asked him what about if doing a river crossing got stuck and water come in cab killed computer etc BUT I have a snorkel, not covered. Asked is it locked in garage or where, told them some times its locked in garage some times in carport depends if wife is home before me or not, if I took out the cover for the garage but I decided to park in the carport for the night and got flogged, not covered..They might be fine for the majority of people but not for my needs. Definately some thing to think about when wanting cover. Good point. Regards Steve M

If at anytime i hurt myself or we have a problem, usually i have a work around or a "FIX" available. Or i have the resources and knowledge to do something.

If i prang the ute and injury myself, teena has a senior first aid certificate and we have a first aid box handy, plus communications. I have basic first aid, communications, mechanical and electrical knowledge. i like to have at least a plan and 3 backups at anytime as well!!!!

So first you plan, then you plan for the worst, then best case of the worst, then plan again for everthing to go from worse to bad and run thru senario's what to do if this happens.

If mechanical, i can fix it or i can be told how to fix something.

like my previous catch phrase was, "Problem's? what problems? only solutions".

Recently I stopped to help a couple who had broken down 300 ks east of Norseman.

Used my Hf radio to get them in touch with road service. As road service only covered the first 100ks they had to pay the extra cost to have a tilt tray truck pick them up and take them to Norseman. This extra cost amounted to $1300.

It has made me paranoid about breaking down but I don't think there is any insurance that covers this. If anyone knows of any though please let me know.

Friends of ours had a similar situation a few years ago. Her sister and brother in-law were at big red (simpson desert) when he had a heart attack and died. They had RACV gold I think it was. Racv organised accommodation for, pick up the car and van and returned it to Vic. This was the best part though. Racv organised for our friend to fly up to be with her sister then flew them home with the body. The best service anyone could have asked for.
When we travelled around oz we saved thousands using Racv for breakdown/accident towing, accom and car rental.
I would not travel without full Racv (or equivalent) cover.

Josh

A couple of years ago while in Kununurra I got to talking to a lady (maybe in her early 60s) who was temporarily stranded there. She and her husband were caravanning and he had a heart attack and was flown to Broome but she was not able to accompany him. She could not drive their vehicle while towing the van and she did not feel confident enough to drive to Broome herself. So she was waiting until a family member arrived from Adelaide to take over the driving.

I have long felt that its essential - particularly from a safety aspect - that women learn to drive the family 4wd and to tow their trailer or van if that is the normal way that couples travel AND that said women get to practice driving under all conditions ie share the driving as much as possible. Having some current first aid training and a decent kit and appropriate communications and the confidence to use them are also part of "safety first".

Having said that, a forum like this is a good way to be able to offer assistance if there is someone travelling who is in trouble.

Dave, you have raised a good point about insurance - food for thought, but I would prefer also to have as many fall-back options as possible.

Safe travels,

Cheers,

Val

Gday Dave
Go see your local insurance man and ask for a 48 hr cover note. My mate used to hand them out when necessary.
Your are a good man to offer Dave. Have a good trip and take it easy.
Murray

RACV "Total Care" unfortunately have had to use it a couple of times, excellent service, rental car, accommodation, Patrol trucked home, would not be with out it. I am sure all the other motoring associations have a similar product.

We upgrade from the standard RACQ roadside assist to Ultra, or whatever it is called now, when we go on an outback type trip. Haven't had to call on it yet, but it seems to cover all of the situations mentioned. $100/200 or so is a small price to pay if you are concerned enough about what may happen for it to spoil your trip thinking about it. I'm pretty sure between our tug insurance, can insurance and RACQ insurance we are covered for most situations.
My wife happily drives the 4wd towing our tandem van, but don't know how she would go travelling home 5,000km having to stop and back into caravan park sites, probably having to unhook. I imagine there would always be some kind soul willing to help if there were no drive thru sites available.
Having said that, as long as you were not stuck in the middle of nowhere, don't think it would be a huge drama finding somewhere to store van and tug for as long as necessary until you or family member or friend could return to retrieve it.

KenD
bris

I have basic roadside care only but will definetly be upgrading before any major trips (apart from melb to adelaide/loxton to see family). My biggest fear with any travelling is that it is just me and boys. The oldest is only 8, can't teach him to drive for quite a while yet. A reminder is always a good thing and I should in fact teach him to make a call from my mobile as i'm not sure he would know how. He is generally in charge of the gps so knows how to use that...hmm must teach him to find co-ordinates and make an emergency call - all the insurance in the world won't help without that.

Jude