In the event of an emergency

[Joe Flanagan]

I'm taking a 500 mile trip tomorrow in an OT vehicle but the subject is on topic for those of us who take long trips in our antique vehicles. If I should break down hundreds of miles from home, what's the best option for getting my vehicle either home or to a place where I can work on it? I have AAA, but I only have their basic service. They'll cover a five-mile tow but after that, you pay. There's a 7-day waiting period to upgrade to a 100-mile tow, and by then, I'll be back from my trip. I know, I should have tended to that earlier.

I've heard it suggested that you could rent a U-Haul truck with a tow dolly and get it home that way. Has anyone ever done that? I expect to make it but I want to be prepared for anything that might happen.

[Don Coatney]

Joe;

I know you well enough to know that if you (much like me) were not comfortable with the work you have done that you would not even drive this vehicle around the block. So go have some fun on this trip. I do suggest you pack a full toolbox as pictured.

[DJ194950]

:confused:I think it may be time to change ins. companies.

If memory is correct?(old age etc) my Haggerty policy covers towing to a repair facility that can fix your covered OT vehicle and if none are avail, to quickly repair they will take your vehicle back to YOUR house or a repair facilty that can repair it as long is it's not further away than your house.

Again this from memory and i'd have to dig up the policy to confirm!

I know this won't help your current plans, but for the future but check the collector car type of insurance to see if it's better suited to this type of driving that you plan to do.

With my Haggerty policy I said I may drive my car 8,000 per year and that was no problem as long as was personal use only!

I have no personal experence with the truck and trailer rental experience but others have on thic forum.

Best of luck with your trip!

Doug

[Joe Flanagan]

Ha-ha. Funny Don. I have those two very important tools. And a bunch of others as well, plus any spare parts I think I might need. I have had a problem with lousy aftermarket parts going bad on me, so there's that concern. I've either rebuilt or replaced all the usual culprits. I haven't been inside the transmission. But it's a Saginaw 3-speed--I bet you're familiar with those--and I hear they're pretty stout. I replaced the rear wheel bearings and seals and the differential looked clean and had no damage that i could see, but don't know about pinion bearing, etc. The water pump is the one that came with the truck. I don't know if it's original but it works very well and has always done so.

Doug, Hagerty wouldn't insure me because there is not a daily driver for each person in our house. We have four people and three cars, not four people and four cars, so I'm out of luck with Hagerty. I just have liablilty with my regular insurance company for right now.

Edited September 27, 2012 by Joe Flanagan

[Don Coatney]

Enjoy! Report back when you get home. But most importantly, Enjoy! You will do fine.

[Mark D]

Ask member Mark Aubuchon about his escapade to and from St.Johnsbury last year... He knows all about rental trucks and trailers...

[pflaming]

I plan to take a trip also. Once I know my route, I'm going to contact as many forum members along that route as I can: (1) to meet over a cup of coffee and (2) to have a close source of help. If you were coming down central California and called, I have a truck and trailer to pick you up and two good shops to get you going.

Just drive by the heat gauge and you should be OK.

Best Wishes.

[DCurrent]

Joe,

If you are a member of a car club such as AACA, take a roster along with you. It's made up of a lot of members. Where ever you may end up broke down there is bound to be someone in the book close by that will either help or know someone that can.

Darren

[steveplym]

Joe,

If you are a member of a car club such as AACA, take a roster along with you. It's made up of a lot of members. Where ever you may end up broke down there is bound to be someone in the book close by that will either help or know someone that can.

Darren

I wish we had something like this for the forum. Would be very helpful in case of emergencies or breakdowns.

[JerseyHarold]

We upgraded to AAA Premier and have five free 100-mile tows per person per year, with one 'wild card' tow of 200 miles. With four of us on the membership, it is really 19 hundred-mile tows plus one 200-mile tow per year. There are other benefits to the Premier plan and I think we get our money's worth every year.

Enjoy the trip!

[oldmopar]

For $89 per year my Haggerty policy covers all my collector and personal vehicles for a 125 mile tow pluse the standard gas and flat stuff

[Plymouthy Adams]

contact Greg G...he was the stay at home guy when we set up the assist from forum members here..going the wrong direction for me to help ya..

[Young Ed]

Joe I recently broke down with my p15. I have the Hagerty roadside assistance but not a high enough level to cover the 300 miles home from where I was. We rented a uhaul car trailer and my father in law hauled us home.

Here's the rest of my breakdown story

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=33627&highlight=clunk

[Joe Flanagan]

Thanks, everyone. Ed, I remember your breakdown saga. Did you rent just a trailer or trailer and truck?

I'll be on the road in a few hours from now. I'll just have to play it by ear.

[greg g]

The list is probably no longer current in many instances. I do see from time to time people posting on the HAMB when they get in trouble on the way some where. There are a few folks in CT and MA who you might scare up if you run into problems. Have a good trip, I like Cape Cod in the fall.

[Young Ed]

Thanks, everyone. Ed, I remember your breakdown saga. Did you rent just a trailer or trailer and truck?

I'll be on the road in a few hours from now. I'll just have to play it by ear.

Just the trailer. We used FILs F150 to tow it.

[BobT-47P15]

What about our satellite map showing where members (who responded)

live?

Also, even if you have only liability coverage, many insurance co's

will let you add their towing feature.....and it's usually not very

expensive. They often pay tow to the "nearest place that can

repair the car during business hours". It's difficult to say what

each insuror will do. Mine with St Farm also pays for a service

call for a tow company to come change a flat tire or to bring you

5 gal of gas. They would likely pay part of the tow to home, but

maybe not all of it. Cost in our state for that covg is under $10

per year.

[moose]

The list is probably no longer current in many instances. I do see from time to time people posting on the HAMB when they get in trouble on the way some where. There are a few folks in CT and MA who you might scare up if you run into problems. Have a good trip, I like Cape Cod in the fall.

You're coming to Cape Cod? I'm about an hour away. If you need something call 781 312 6447

[Plymouthy Adams]

Members helping members along the road is great and I was happy to help out when Chris and Jerry was passing through my area..met a couple great guys, stored the car for them due to family emergency and threw a send off for them when they returned..worked out all around...

Any new members here who have resources to offer to a fellow member who may end up in need please contact Greg G with your information..it is only shared upon request to traveling members ..

[Joe Flanagan]

I'm going along the Hudson in NJ right now. Truck is running great. Three cheers for Ficken the wiper man. More later.

[greg g]

The former list was kept on a spread sheet format in one of my older computers, and is no longer retrievable. I currently have another list of 12 members, but none of them are in the northeast and I have only seen recent posts from 2 of them.

In the time that the list was current, I believe I got 2 requests for information.

It was is probably still a good idea, but I really am not in a position to gather arrange and keep the data base. If sme body out there is familiar with data basses or mailing list soft ware would like to be the gate keeper of the information that would be great.

The list was compiled from members who volunteered thier contact information, address, emial address, cell phone number, and a brief on facilities like compresor welders trailers storeage, etc. The info was emailed to me and not published in regard to people's privacy issues. If another member was traveling to or through an area, they were to have set me a PM, and I would send them that contact info of the folks in the areas or thier trip.

Like I said I beleive I actually got only two or three requests in the years I had the info.

If some one wants to pick this back up, please feel free. I suppose it could be cross referenced to one of the membership maps, but that is beyond my ken.

[Mark D]

I'm in Central Mass - apple picking country - and it is almost high season! Glad to help if issues arise for anyone traveling through the area. Also happy to provide information about the area if folks are looking for specifics.

Best way to make contact is throught the forum, that'll save me and my email address from the spammers.

[Joe Flanagan]

I made it. Thanks to everyone for their offers of help. The truck ran like it was meant to be on the highway and never skipped a beat. I did run into the worst, most sustained rain storm I think I've ever driven in. I simply couldn't believe how hard it rained and how long it kept on going. I hydroplaned off the road momentarily, hit some rumble strips but managed to keep the truck straight. Glad to be here and glad the truck performed so well.

Thanks again to everyone.

[Jim Yergin]

Congratulations Joe. So glad to hear you made it OK. Is your family suitably impressed? Did the windshield leak?

Have a safe trip back.

Jim Yergin

[Joe Flanagan]

Thanks, Jim. Yes, the family was really excited. And yes, the windshield leaked like you wouldn't believe. The water is winding up in the lower hinge pockets. I guess that's my next project.