True, but isn't there a medication for that?

Steve

 

human nature .. mechanical knowledge. good and bad.

I have since a teenager, able to envision in my head a fully running v8 engine.. all parts spinning, fluids moving, and can still see parts failing.

in 45 years. I personally never had an engine failure.. but still its in my head.
,

 

I carry only some basic tools( 12" plastic tackle box). Pliers,screwdrivers (torx and square in addition to normals) small electrical kit (circuit tester, some wire and connectors e.tape and wire nuts) some xtra bulbs and fuses. Behind truck seat, Small 12v air compressor and flat tire repair kit. Flares and jumpers. If i cant fix whatever breaks in 15 minutes with these items on hand, chances are it takes more than me to fix it. Pay the two dollars (or 50.....?) get some help, preferably there is someone nearby. You know it will always be 1. Your dressed well. 2 you are in a hurry. 3 it is raining (snowing, insert calamity here) 4 its o dark thirty and 5... You are...1000 miles from nowhere..hope you have really good cell phone provider..you did remember to charge it..right?

 

I carry one rollaround box with 6 ton bottle jack, 2 1/2 ton floor jack, pair of jack stands, 4 way and a basic tool set with 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2" sockets and some wrenches. I keep a 12V test light behind the drivers seat with apair of channel locks and wire strippers and a 4 way screw driver in the door. I can change a tire, or an alternator if I have to but only in a pinch. I don't wanna carry a bunch of tools and spares as I'd rather have fun and like so many of us at 56 after 20 years as gas turbine mechanic (NAVY), 2 years as a medium truck mechanic (U-Haul) and 16 years in field service and operations i don't wanna spend any more time on my tools. I'/e got stuff that hasn't been out of the box yet and some I haven't used in more than 5 years so I'm simplifying my life. My $0.02

 

On my side-by-side ATV I carry enough tools to take apart 99% of the vehicle. However, I don't carry parts to fix that much of the ATV. There's a disconnect there but I haven't quite figured it out yet.

Since I have a toy hauler I'll have that same set of tools with me. That assumes that the trailer uses metric fasteners. With my luck, probably not.

 

Sounds like a bunch of Boy Scout graduates here! (be prepared). I don't carry hardly any spares, other than fuses and the like. I do carry enough tools to work on more things than I likely ever will, along with emergency fix-it stuff: Caulk, Eternabond tape, duct tape, silicone tape, hose clamps and wire - that sort of stuff.

I also make sure everything is up-to-date, checked and functional before leaving -- I HATE getting stuck (or travelling with others that everything breaks on the road).

I find I am fixing other folks stuff in camp -- can't actually remember last time doing something on my equipment on the road. I have gone as far as written to-do lists for others for stuff they can survive this trip with, but need to get done.

#1 best thing we have: is excellent towing coverage. Ours is: U.S. Rider, for non-horse folks I've heard Good Sam is similar. It doesn't matter what car/truck/RV we are in, or even if it is ours. The US Rider insurance will #1 make sure our horses and trailer get somewhere safe and then #2 our rig to a shop, and we can name the shop. A hundred times better than all the money we wasted on AAA over the years....

 

Here's is something I learned when our dually was just flat-bedded in yesterday. Good Sam covers to tow the truck, not the camper. With Good Sam, which is just a call center that uses Allstate, it also can take hours to get someone to you and if it is at night, they may simply tell you to wait until morning.

In one case, where a family from Sweden had rented a unit with their coverage, they were told they would have to stay in the parking lot of advance auto overnight. Not trying to slam anyone, but realize there is no magic in finding a tow.

There is also almost no one any more that does not use roll-backs. The truck driver also told me they get tons of calls for folks who are looking for someone who can tow the truck with camper attached. He said there is no such thing in our area and also said it is almost impossible to find anyone to simply tow a fifth wheel or travel trailer (in the event anyone is looking for a second career.

Not sure how it is in other areas.

Steve

 

Good info to know, Steve! I got the info from my 5th wheel friend -- I was pretty sure he said he had Good Sam but I'm going to check back with him. He had a rear tire on his truck blow twice on the road (like 8 months apart and another story on BFG truck tires), both times his 5'er was also taken to the shop his truck was. So I'll find out for sure what he does have and let folks know...

 

I would like to know the answer to that also because I talked to Good Sam at length and was told they didn't cover my fiver and it was not possible to tow the truck and fiver together and was illegal in some states. It may vary be area or there may be some other variable. At the time, I explained to the rep that money was not the issue, I was just looking for help finding someone as we were really in crunch occupying a camping spot with the next camper waiting and could not even move our dually out from it front of the fiver.

It all got worked out, but was really frustrating at the time.

Steve

 

Around here, the Canadian version of AAA has an RV-plus membership level.
It says:

"RV Roadside Assistance - For RVs, ATV trailers, motorhomes, fifth wheels, campers or trailers and motorcycles.

I've never needed to use it, so I don't know the logistics of HOW they manage it.
https://ama.ab.ca/membership-rewards...rv-membership/

 

I think Good Sam has a premium membership also, but I don't see how it would make a difference in our area if the roll back driver is correct and no one hauls fivers or trailers. It would be nice to know.

 

From the Good Sam web site:

Q:
I own a fifth wheel trailer and truck. If my truck breaks down, does Good Sam Roadside Assistance pay to tow the truck and travel trailer?

A:
Yes! While other roadside assistance providers may not cover specialized services like fifth wheel towing, Good Sam Roadside Assistance covers the cost to tow both vehicles to the nearest capable professional service center. If the repairs on your truck are serious enough that they will take several days to complete, Good Sam Roadside Assistance will pay to have your travel trailer taken to a safe location, such as the nearest campground while you wait.

See more here: Good Sam FAQ

 

Jim,

That is really interesting because that is sure not what they say when you call in and, if the haulers say there is no one in the area to do that, I can't figure out how it is even possible ??

Okay, my wife, the smart one said what they said was because the camper was in already in a "safe location" they would tow only the truck, so I guess if we were broke down on the road, it would be different, but I still can't figure out how they could do it if the haulers say no way. Problem in our case was our camper was ina spot that was about to become someone else's, but it all worked out so oh well.

Steve

 

They'll have to send out two trucks. One for the tow vehicle and one for the trailer. Somewhere in there it says that.

 

I waited until my friend responded to my email to add back on this -- yes they have Good Sam, and one of the two blow-outs the trailer was taken to a lot next to the Tire store, the second time they all agreed the trailer was in a safe enough place.

I don't know if this helps any?

Scott