5th wheel breakdown recovery. (1 Viewer)

zaskar

Free Member
Sep 25, 2007
1,159
371
UK
Funster No
399
MH
5th Wheel
Exp
30+
Before we bought our 5ver, one of the things I worried about was breakdown recovery due to the unusual nature of the beast. I spent quite a lot of time ringing round, using Forums and speaking to dealers and owners on this subject and eventually came to the conclusion that we would be safeley covered for our comparatively small (27ft long - 7' 6" wide) KountryLite by using RAC Arrival scheme via the Camping and Caravanning Club.

Now that I've read the online T's & C's for RAC arival, my earlier enthusiasm" seems to have been misguided!
As far as I can see, the limit for a trailer/caravan is 25ft in length and 7' 6" wide. Very few 5vers will fall within this limit, certainly not the "normal" 8ft wide Yank 5vers.
Also, it states that if the "trailer or caravan" breaks down in such a way as to be unrepairable on the roadside, YOU, the customer, will be liable for the costs of a suitable recovery trailer!........which begs the question, what the hell are we actually paying for in this supposedly enhanced cover!
Unless I'm reading the T's & C's wrong, I recon that 5ver owners might as well just get ordinary car recovery cover and hope nothing seriious like brakes/hubs/bearings goes wrong with the 5ver!

Have any 5ver owners got more positive info for me or have had to put this to the test?
 

old-mo

Funster
Extra Special
LIFE MEMBER
Oct 16, 2008
16,341
93,473
Weymouth. Dorset...
Funster No
4,470
MH
Nearly aint got one.
Exp
Caravan & motorhome 45 + yrs
I agree with pretty well everything you have written,, waste of money really.

But hopefully and usually it is the towing vehicle that has the fault, but as you say you may as well only pay for the tow truck to have breakdown cover, as the 5er is probably not covered. Or would find it nye on impossible to get piggy backed home, or to a place where repairs can be carried out.

I think that the only breakdown on the 5er is likely to be wheel bearings, and I for one am seriously thinking of getting a spare set just in case. the only mechanical issue other than wheel bearings would be brake failure, jammed on should be a relativley easy job to sort out, be it you would have no brakes, but could continue with great care to a place of safety.

I have spoken to a breakdown company locally, and they quote as saying they cannot remember the last time they were called out soley for a caravan breakdown problem,

And ours are if not a bit bigger "Caravans" just hitched in a different way.

Dont let it stop you enjoying your 5er,, I wont. :winky:
 

vwalan

Funster
Sep 23, 2008
8,835
5,798
roche cornwall
Funster No
4,148
MH
lynton5th wheel
Exp
since a child
hi, just to say in 10 yrs of pulling mine bearings over heated so replaced .grease seals leaked due to not changing them. broken actuating rods on brakes caused by off roading removed them n drove on. broken stub axle, due to reversing against a deep kerb. bent rear axle due to being pulled out of a river. all fixed while travelling broken stub, axle removed new end machined axle cut n stretched. bent axle tied to tree n pulled till it looked straight. this year 2 new axles. as for the brakes my truck is 6.3ton it can pull a 750kg un braked trailer. truck weighs 2.950kg. so enen with a full 3.5ton trailer its still under the weight so if i dont turn the brakes on i cant tell the differance.i imagine most of you will never get to the extreme places i go (through your choice)i travel with 4x4 trucks n often need a heavy tow. always carry spare tyres n wheels ,brake shoes bearings n seals . that should get you out of trouble . if you cant fit them some one can. i travelled from Denia to Malaga with one axle strapped up no wheel on one side to get to a friends garage . the police never stopped or said anything ,i was lucky. biggest problem i see is punctures ,if it goes down fast the tyre is caput before i stop. tyres are cheap in uk so take a spare. As for recovery save the cash n carry spares. hope this is usefull advice. the other advice is for me .stop doing these things .:ROFLMAO:

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Sundowners

LIFE MEMBER
Oct 30, 2007
3,289
3,571
Suffolk/Central Portugal
Funster No
744
MH
A class
Exp
37 years
As mentioned on a previous thread we wanted to make sure that we would be recovered if the unforseen should ever happen, that's why, even though we have been ensured that we are covered on the Arrivals Scheme, we also registered with RAC Commercial breakdown, however, today, in the post came the terms and conditions for the Arrivals Scheme as our son as just joined.

We looked on the web at the T & C for RAC breakdown and we believe that the sizes only apply if you are not on the Arrivals Scheme. In the Arrivals T & C that we received today
specifically says the following:

Proprietary Vehicles:

Type of Vehicle / Age Restriction / Weight Restriction / Length Restriction / Width Restriction
Car / None / None / None / None
Van / None / Up to 3.5 T / None / None
Motorhome / None / None / None / None
Minibus None / Up to 3.5 T / None / Up to 2.3 M
Caravan/Trailer/
Trailet Tent
/ None / None / None / None

Non-Proprietary Vehicles:

Motorhome / None / Up to 4.5 T / 7.5 M / Up to 2.3M
Minibus / None / Up to 3.5 T / 7.5M / Up to 2.3M
Caravan/Trailer/
Trailer Tent
/ None / Up to 3.5T / 7.5M / None

Description of Non-Proprietary Vehicles

Vehicles of non-proprietary make that have been converted from their original specification are not covered under these Special Terms if they are over 7.5metres in length, 4.5 tonnes in weight or 2.3metres in width. For example, a coach converted into a motorhome.


If anyone wants a copy (but if you are with the Arrivals Scheme, you should already have a copy), we are more than willing to scan these T & C and send them to you. Haven't got the scanner with us at work, so can't copy and paste on here with this thread.

Hope this puts some of your 5ver minds at rest, it does ours.

Nigel and Pamala
 

old-mo

Funster
Extra Special
LIFE MEMBER
Oct 16, 2008
16,341
93,473
Weymouth. Dorset...
Funster No
4,470
MH
Nearly aint got one.
Exp
Caravan & motorhome 45 + yrs
As mentioned on a previous thread we wanted to make sure that we would be recovered if the unforseen should ever happen, that's why, even though we have been ensured that we are covered on the Arrivals Scheme, we also registered with RAC Commercial breakdown, however, today, in the post came the terms and conditions for the Arrivals Scheme as our son as just joined.

We looked on the web at the T & C for RAC breakdown and we believe that the sizes only apply if you are not on the Arrivals Scheme. In the Arrivals T & C that we received today
specifically says the following:

Proprietary Vehicles:

Type of Vehicle / Age Restriction / Weight Restriction / Length Restriction / Width Restriction
Car / None / None / None / None
Van / None / Up to 3.5 T / None / None
Motorhome / None / None / None / None
Minibus None / Up to 3.5 T / None / Up to 2.3 M
Caravan/Trailer/
Trailet Tent
/ None / None / None / None

Non-Proprietary Vehicles:

Motorhome / None / Up to 4.5 T / 7.5 M / Up to 2.3M
Minibus / None / Up to 3.5 T / 7.5M / Up to 2.3M
Caravan/Trailer/
Trailer Tent
/ None / Up to 3.5T / 7.5M / None

Description of Non-Proprietary Vehicles

Vehicles of non-proprietary make that have been converted from their original specification are not covered under these Special Terms if they are over 7.5metres in length, 4.5 tonnes in weight or 2.3metres in width. For example, a coach converted into a motorhome.


If anyone wants a copy (but if you are with the Arrivals Scheme, you should already have a copy), we are more than willing to scan these T & C and send them to you. Haven't got the scanner with us at work, so can't copy and paste on here with this thread.

Hope this puts some of your 5ver minds at rest, it does ours.

Nigel and Pamala


Thanks for putting that up,, Just out of curiosity I checked mine.:Doh:

And low and behold I have the arrivals policy.:roflmto:

So "Zaskar",, we have nothing to worry about.. :thumb:
 

robrobc

Free Member
Oct 16, 2008
243
1
Cotswolds
Funster No
4,473
MH
None Now
Exp
5+
Thanks for putting that up,, Just out of curiosity I checked mine.:Doh:

And low and behold I have the arrivals policy.:roflmto:

So "Zaskar",, we have nothing to worry about.. :thumb:

Excuse my ignorance, Arrivals policy????
What is that then as I am a RAC member and just have the basic policy I think.

Rob

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Sundowners

LIFE MEMBER
Oct 30, 2007
3,289
3,571
Suffolk/Central Portugal
Funster No
744
MH
A class
Exp
37 years
You need to become a member of the Camping and Caravanning Club (£36.00 per year and also 20% off next years RAC membership). Go on their website and enrol and they give you a code on there to give to RAC and then they will register you on the Arrivals Scheme.

Nigel and Pamala
 
OP
OP
zaskar

zaskar

Free Member
Sep 25, 2007
1,159
371
UK
Funster No
399
MH
5th Wheel
Exp
30+
As mentioned on a previous thread we wanted to make sure that we would be recovered if the unforseen should ever happen, that's why, even though we have been ensured that we are covered on the Arrivals Scheme, we also registered with RAC Commercial breakdown, however, today, in the post came the terms and conditions for the Arrivals Scheme as our son as just joined.

We looked on the web at the T & C for RAC breakdown and we believe that the sizes only apply if you are not on the Arrivals Scheme. In the Arrivals T & C that we received today
specifically says the following:

Proprietary Vehicles:

Type of Vehicle / Age Restriction / Weight Restriction / Length Restriction / Width Restriction
Car / None / None / None / None
Van / None / Up to 3.5 T / None / None
Motorhome / None / None / None / None
Minibus None / Up to 3.5 T / None / Up to 2.3 M
Caravan/Trailer/
Trailet Tent
/ None / None / None / None

Non-Proprietary Vehicles:

Motorhome / None / Up to 4.5 T / 7.5 M / Up to 2.3M
Minibus / None / Up to 3.5 T / 7.5M / Up to 2.3M
Caravan/Trailer/
Trailer Tent
/ None / Up to 3.5T / 7.5M / None

Description of Non-Proprietary Vehicles

Vehicles of non-proprietary make that have been converted from their original specification are not covered under these Special Terms if they are over 7.5metres in length, 4.5 tonnes in weight or 2.3metres in width. For example, a coach converted into a motorhome.


If anyone wants a copy (but if you are with the Arrivals Scheme, you should already have a copy), we are more than willing to scan these T & C and send them to you. Haven't got the scanner with us at work, so can't copy and paste on here with this thread.

Hope this puts some of your 5ver minds at rest, it does ours.

Nigel and Pamala

Thanks guys, much appreciated. i feel a bit better now.:thumb:
At the risk of sounding like I'm passing the book :Eeek:::bigsmile: ffiona talked to RAC, not me, so I must make sure she also did the extra bit and used the code for Arrivals Scheme.
All I did was read the T's & C's and imeediately panicked!!!!:Doh:
Could you send me a copy of what you've got for arrivals please, so that I can check we've got a similar document.
Thanks!:thumb:::bigsmile:
 

Sundowners

LIFE MEMBER
Oct 30, 2007
3,289
3,571
Suffolk/Central Portugal
Funster No
744
MH
A class
Exp
37 years
Hi Zasker and Ffiona

Please pm your address and we will send you a copy.

Are you members of the Caravan and Camping Club, as you must be to be eligible for the Arrivals Scheme

Regards

Nigel and Pamala

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vwalan

Funster
Sep 23, 2008
8,835
5,798
roche cornwall
Funster No
4,148
MH
lynton5th wheel
Exp
since a child
becarefull i thought the trailer as to have a normal 50mm ball hitch. i was with them n left because of this fact.
 
Oct 15, 2007
1,621
280
Five Roads Alyth
Funster No
633
MH
A class RV
Exp
since 2005
CC scheme is May Day with Green Flag(?), rubbish as I unfortunatly discovered.

RAC arrival is C&CC only.
 

kevin_c

Free Member
Oct 16, 2009
3
0
Funster No
8,922
breakdown cover

Thanks guys, much appreciated. i feel a bit better now.:thumb:
At the risk of sounding like I'm passing the book :Eeek:::bigsmile: ffiona talked to RAC, not me, so I must make sure she also did the extra bit and used the code for Arrivals Scheme.
All I did was read the T's & C's and imeediately panicked!!!!:Doh:
Could you send me a copy of what you've got for arrivals please, so that I can check we've got a similar document.
Thanks!:thumb:::bigsmile:
hi my name is kevin chamberlain
yes its true if your on the arrival your 5 th wheeler is covered but 1 thing worries me about the people who dont take up the arrival cover is that if they leave there caravan or trailer at the roadside if there towing vechile breaks down it could be left there for a long time while there vechile is getting repaired.
please give me a call if you want to take up the offer 0800 0122427 if your already a rac member just phone up customer services.
ps if your not a member of the rac and camping and caravan club i can give you a free c and c membership with a arrival package .

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chatter

Free Member
Aug 3, 2009
3,689
937
cheshire
Funster No
7,812
MH
5th wheel
Exp
10+
becarefull i thought the trailer as to have a normal 50mm ball hitch. i was with them n left because of this fact.
__________________
vwalan:thumb:


me too after paying membership for 2 years, and thinking it was straight forward was told if it cannot be hitched on a normal 50mm towball and if we need a specialist vehicle we would be charged the cost of specialist recovery. so i left the pickup has mondial on it anyway at the mo and i have a number for a commercial breakdown company that will recover here or europe, dont pay any yearly subscription but by the same token what i save yearly will go someway to the recovery cost should i need it.

and yes it was with the c&cc and arival scheme i was with
 
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