What should have been a 3 day trip from Central Texas to the Florida Keys turned into a 5 day adventure.
It started with flooding rains in Central Texas the night before our departure that left us unable to leave our own property. Not that we were stuck in the mud, just that TX mud becomes "slip" and even 4WD low couldn't get traction to move us 5 acres from the RV barn to the street. So we called Auto Club RV (been a member for 42 years) and Good Sam that we got a 3 yr subscription courtesy of the RV dealer. Told them exactly what they were dealing with. An F350, diesel, 4WD, longbed connected to a 40 ft Toyhauler with a GVWR of 20,000 lbs that cannot get any traction whatsoever. BOTH send flatbed car carriers, both of which insisted on driving where we told them they'd get stuck and of course both had to call for another tow truck to come get them out. After calling the dispatch of both for several hours I finally called a company that had called me directly, seen pictures of what was going on and knew what needed to be done. They had given a bid to Good Sam saying it required a skid steer to pull both to the street. That bid was $2750. I told the guy to come on out and I told Good Sam I had had enough of their BS and that they were going to pay him to remove us. 11 hours later we were free and Good Sam, after much fussing and "putting me on a short hold" that lasted over an hour, ate that one for my $79.99 a year membership.
The next day, Saturday, the China bombs kicked into full gear in Mississippi. Mind you the Westlakes are 3 1/2 years old and have about 3000 miles on them. FIRST the left side #3 axle tire blew. It took out the rear stabilizer jacks hydraulic line at the same time. Also tore up the rear metal panel and the plastic fender. Called Auto RV again and knew we were in trouble when the mini van showed up and the guy climbed out and said "oh, this is a trailer, I've never done one of these before". He had none of the equipment needed and fortunately we did. It took all 3 of us to break free the lugnuts. We limped off the road, was able to crimp off the hydraulic line and found a tire store that although they were closed told us to call when we were done getting the spare on and they'd meet us at the shop to mount a new tire. We weren't about to go down the road with no spare. Thank goodness we didn't.
After a night in a rest area, the next day, Sunday, just outside Tampa, the left side #2 tire blew and took the new tire behind it with it. Also the TPMS sensors on all 3 left side tires and the rest of the fender which we removed completely to keep parts from falling off as we go. Now we were really stuck. 2 blown tires. We limped off the interstate and into an empty parking lot where we spent the day. Again, called Auto Club RV, Good Sam and called the extended warranty folks since we have the road and tire option. After a couple of hours, Good Sam called to say they could find no one to help. Auto Club sent a Good Year mobile tire service who told us they had the right size tires and showed up with the wrong tires which were not sufficient for our GVWR. Our Extended Warranty said TWICE (I called back thinking operatore #1 didn't know what they were doing) they don't provide mobile tire service in spite of reading the paragraph verbatim to them over the phone.
I called around and found a mobile mechanic that had 2 used tires we could buy and agreed to do so just for the sake of getting us to an RV park right down the street where we would spend the night and then spend Monday shopping for ALL NEW TIRES. ALL 7. Nathan shows up in 2 hours with 2 tires, one size larger, same load rating. At this point it’s now 8 pm and I’ve made a call to an RV park right down the street and they say that it’s our lucky day. They’re actually closed on Sundays but they answered the phone, but call us when we’re on the road again and they’ll put us up for the night in a large pull through spot. Good thing, because we’ve now got a torn hydraulic line to the rear jack. Putting the jacks down, disconnecting and staying upright probably isn’t going to happen. While I wait I found a mobile repair in Marathon, FL where we’re supposed to be so that I can get on their schedule before the week starts. He tells us when we get there (we’re not playing “IF”) to let them know and they’ll have their guy come out to repair or replace it. “Won’t be a problem”. Oh, God, how many times I’ve heard that in the past 2 days.
Nathans a talker and doesn’t multi-task. So each time he’s yapping his hands aren’t moving and it takes forever to mount 2 tires. He gets it done and we all say goodbye. As we’re pulling forward, still in the parking lot I feel there’s something going on. We hear a clanking noise but I’m thinking I’m driving over the storm drain cover I saw next to the trailer. About the same time we hear “POP”. I hit the brakes and at the same time say “Are you (&%$#) kidding me?” We get out and there it is. Nathan forgot to remove his jack stand from underneath the axle and as the trailer moved formed it rolled out and blew one of the tires he put on. As I’m laughing uncontrollably so as not to be homicidal I run to the truck and call him to get him back here before he goes too far.
He comes back within minutes, head hanging in shame, embarrassed and says he’ll go back to his shop and get another tire. We comeup with a better plan. Since it’s only 1 tire and we’re staying the night, just put the spare on. We’ll limp down the street 3 miles to the RV park where they are kindly waiting for us and then we can sit it out and take care of it tomorrow during regular business hours which seems to be part of the problem in getting things done right and without cashing in ones entire financial empire. And that’s what we did.
Next day, 7 new tires and we hit the road. Made it to the Keys for a week, the Mobile Mechanic there repaired the hydraulic line within hours of our arrival, we had a great time. I spent a few days emailing receipts to the Extended Warranty folks who admit there was some "malfunction of their system" that left us stranded and we're now sitting in the Smokey Mountains where we had another great week. Meanwhile, after lectures about "prior authorization for repairs" and my retorts of you forfeited that right when you didn't follow your own policy of sending someone, so now you'll pay what we had to pay to get off the road and whole again, yesterday I received the email that minus our $100 deductible, a check for nearly $4600 is coming our way. SO FAR. That's what we'd spent out of pocket just to get to the Keys. When we get home next week we'll take "Molly" to the repair shop and get "Prior Authorization" for the metal skirt panel repair and the plastic fender.
Moral to the story: Your RV towing package means zero. You think you're calling for RV service, you think you'd get RV service but that's not what shows up. Be prepared (mentally, physically and financially) to do it yourself. Roadside Assistance sucks (Every tow company says that the dispatchers don't give them the complete story to see if they can get it done for the contracted $75 service call), travel on weekdays if possible when everyone is open and can help you and lastly, THE SQUEAKY WHEEL GETS THE GREASE. If you pay for service and don't get, don't just go away and give in to them. They have a contractual obligation, before, during or after to provide the services they promise. If they don't, make sure they do.
It started with flooding rains in Central Texas the night before our departure that left us unable to leave our own property. Not that we were stuck in the mud, just that TX mud becomes "slip" and even 4WD low couldn't get traction to move us 5 acres from the RV barn to the street. So we called Auto Club RV (been a member for 42 years) and Good Sam that we got a 3 yr subscription courtesy of the RV dealer. Told them exactly what they were dealing with. An F350, diesel, 4WD, longbed connected to a 40 ft Toyhauler with a GVWR of 20,000 lbs that cannot get any traction whatsoever. BOTH send flatbed car carriers, both of which insisted on driving where we told them they'd get stuck and of course both had to call for another tow truck to come get them out. After calling the dispatch of both for several hours I finally called a company that had called me directly, seen pictures of what was going on and knew what needed to be done. They had given a bid to Good Sam saying it required a skid steer to pull both to the street. That bid was $2750. I told the guy to come on out and I told Good Sam I had had enough of their BS and that they were going to pay him to remove us. 11 hours later we were free and Good Sam, after much fussing and "putting me on a short hold" that lasted over an hour, ate that one for my $79.99 a year membership.
The next day, Saturday, the China bombs kicked into full gear in Mississippi. Mind you the Westlakes are 3 1/2 years old and have about 3000 miles on them. FIRST the left side #3 axle tire blew. It took out the rear stabilizer jacks hydraulic line at the same time. Also tore up the rear metal panel and the plastic fender. Called Auto RV again and knew we were in trouble when the mini van showed up and the guy climbed out and said "oh, this is a trailer, I've never done one of these before". He had none of the equipment needed and fortunately we did. It took all 3 of us to break free the lugnuts. We limped off the road, was able to crimp off the hydraulic line and found a tire store that although they were closed told us to call when we were done getting the spare on and they'd meet us at the shop to mount a new tire. We weren't about to go down the road with no spare. Thank goodness we didn't.
After a night in a rest area, the next day, Sunday, just outside Tampa, the left side #2 tire blew and took the new tire behind it with it. Also the TPMS sensors on all 3 left side tires and the rest of the fender which we removed completely to keep parts from falling off as we go. Now we were really stuck. 2 blown tires. We limped off the interstate and into an empty parking lot where we spent the day. Again, called Auto Club RV, Good Sam and called the extended warranty folks since we have the road and tire option. After a couple of hours, Good Sam called to say they could find no one to help. Auto Club sent a Good Year mobile tire service who told us they had the right size tires and showed up with the wrong tires which were not sufficient for our GVWR. Our Extended Warranty said TWICE (I called back thinking operatore #1 didn't know what they were doing) they don't provide mobile tire service in spite of reading the paragraph verbatim to them over the phone.
I called around and found a mobile mechanic that had 2 used tires we could buy and agreed to do so just for the sake of getting us to an RV park right down the street where we would spend the night and then spend Monday shopping for ALL NEW TIRES. ALL 7. Nathan shows up in 2 hours with 2 tires, one size larger, same load rating. At this point it’s now 8 pm and I’ve made a call to an RV park right down the street and they say that it’s our lucky day. They’re actually closed on Sundays but they answered the phone, but call us when we’re on the road again and they’ll put us up for the night in a large pull through spot. Good thing, because we’ve now got a torn hydraulic line to the rear jack. Putting the jacks down, disconnecting and staying upright probably isn’t going to happen. While I wait I found a mobile repair in Marathon, FL where we’re supposed to be so that I can get on their schedule before the week starts. He tells us when we get there (we’re not playing “IF”) to let them know and they’ll have their guy come out to repair or replace it. “Won’t be a problem”. Oh, God, how many times I’ve heard that in the past 2 days.
Nathans a talker and doesn’t multi-task. So each time he’s yapping his hands aren’t moving and it takes forever to mount 2 tires. He gets it done and we all say goodbye. As we’re pulling forward, still in the parking lot I feel there’s something going on. We hear a clanking noise but I’m thinking I’m driving over the storm drain cover I saw next to the trailer. About the same time we hear “POP”. I hit the brakes and at the same time say “Are you (&%$#) kidding me?” We get out and there it is. Nathan forgot to remove his jack stand from underneath the axle and as the trailer moved formed it rolled out and blew one of the tires he put on. As I’m laughing uncontrollably so as not to be homicidal I run to the truck and call him to get him back here before he goes too far.
He comes back within minutes, head hanging in shame, embarrassed and says he’ll go back to his shop and get another tire. We comeup with a better plan. Since it’s only 1 tire and we’re staying the night, just put the spare on. We’ll limp down the street 3 miles to the RV park where they are kindly waiting for us and then we can sit it out and take care of it tomorrow during regular business hours which seems to be part of the problem in getting things done right and without cashing in ones entire financial empire. And that’s what we did.
Next day, 7 new tires and we hit the road. Made it to the Keys for a week, the Mobile Mechanic there repaired the hydraulic line within hours of our arrival, we had a great time. I spent a few days emailing receipts to the Extended Warranty folks who admit there was some "malfunction of their system" that left us stranded and we're now sitting in the Smokey Mountains where we had another great week. Meanwhile, after lectures about "prior authorization for repairs" and my retorts of you forfeited that right when you didn't follow your own policy of sending someone, so now you'll pay what we had to pay to get off the road and whole again, yesterday I received the email that minus our $100 deductible, a check for nearly $4600 is coming our way. SO FAR. That's what we'd spent out of pocket just to get to the Keys. When we get home next week we'll take "Molly" to the repair shop and get "Prior Authorization" for the metal skirt panel repair and the plastic fender.
Moral to the story: Your RV towing package means zero. You think you're calling for RV service, you think you'd get RV service but that's not what shows up. Be prepared (mentally, physically and financially) to do it yourself. Roadside Assistance sucks (Every tow company says that the dispatchers don't give them the complete story to see if they can get it done for the contracted $75 service call), travel on weekdays if possible when everyone is open and can help you and lastly, THE SQUEAKY WHEEL GETS THE GREASE. If you pay for service and don't get, don't just go away and give in to them. They have a contractual obligation, before, during or after to provide the services they promise. If they don't, make sure they do.
