AA Cover

Richard Selman · 04 May 2011, 18:11

Meant to phone the AA before heading off to Oban last weekend to check the coverage of the trailer (but didn't).

Just leaving Craobh on the Sunday afternoon and the front driverside wheel bearing on the Nav started to scratch and by Fort William started to howl accompanied by the sound of small metallic parts pinging off. Had the nearside one go before so knew the sound. Thought - nice! late on a Sunday on a bank holiday weekend + was not sure about the cover for the boat. Managed to limp it back to Aviemore (riding the brakes around the corners to keep the wheel on).

Called the AA on monday morning and they came around to take the Nav home on a flat bed. Pulled the boat home with the wife's XC90 (knew there was a reason she came with me that weekend).

Anyway asked the AA guy about whether the boat would have been covered and he said that it would not have been a problem even if it needed its own tow vehicle. Good to know.

Probably saved myself a little fuel to offset the 200 litres I used off Oban!

Richard

actions · 04 May 2011, 19:16

I'm also with the AA and have a 5 hours journey on Saturday bringing a boat home (all being well) and called the AA today to confirm cover.

They stated that trailers are covered as long as the weight does not exceed 3T.

Well i might be close

not.

Good to know though.

Boats&Outboards · 04 May 2011, 19:44

I think that's 3tonne gross Inc towing car etc.

I use RAC via caravanning camping club as when I enquired about the aa I was told they won't respond if its the trailer at fault and not the car. If the car goes bang they will tow the trailer as far as I need.

No limit with RAC as long as it's legal to tow.

Peter ~ askboatsandoutboards4sale@sky.com ~ 07930 421007

actions · 04 May 2011, 20:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boats&Outboards

I think that's 3tonne gross Inc towing car etc.

I use RAC via caravanning camping club as when I enquired about the aa I was told they won't respond if its the trailer at fault and not the car. If the car goes bang they will tow the trailer as far as I need.

No limit with RAC as long as it's legal to tow.

Peter ~ askboatsandoutboards4sale@sky.com ~ 07930 421007

Just called them again. Now they tell me as you say they only cover if the car breaks down, not the trailer. They did have to put me on hold three times though to find out.

Now Cancelled AA. Called RAC and they are the same as AA unless with caravan club.

There must be someone that covers trailers.

Nos4r2 · 04 May 2011, 20:20

I'm with the RAC via the caravan club. They brought my boat back from Falmouth on a recovery truck last year after the hitch damper popped with no argument.

ashbypower · 04 May 2011, 20:24

Brittania rescue cover trailers had to use them 7 years ago when the trailer axle decided that 3 parts are better than 1

actions · 04 May 2011, 20:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashbypower

Brittania rescue cover trailers had to use them 7 years ago when the trailer axle decided that 3 parts are better than 1

Super, will try them when they open tommorrow and see if they still do it.

If not then, i'll just have to take the chance. Do'h

ashbypower · 04 May 2011, 20:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by actions

Super, will try them when they open tommorrow and see if they still do it.

If not then, i'll just have to take the chance. Do'h

No need to wait check HERE

actions · 04 May 2011, 20:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashbypower

No need to wait check HERE

as long as your certain they cover trailer breakdown i'll do it.

ashbypower · 04 May 2011, 20:51

Don't take my word for it I'd rather you check in yourself, Check out their policy information its in PDF .... trailers and caravans are covered

Tis HERE

actions · 04 May 2011, 21:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashbypower

Don't take my word for it I'd rather you check in yourself, Check out their policy information its in PDF .... trailers and caravans are covered

Tis HERE

Having looked it states that trailers are covered, but doesnt specify if its only if the towing car breaks down, so i think i will double check.

Green Flag said they cover trailer breakdowns and gave the example if the bearing went on the trailer they would tow us where ever we liked but they want £122, so will double check with britannia in morning as they quote £75.

ashbypower · 04 May 2011, 21:09

actions · 04 May 2011, 21:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashbypower

Thanks for letting me know about Britannia too, if they do cover it, then i'm quids in.

Boats&Outboards · 04 May 2011, 22:01

Green flag are talking b*****ks. They are the same as the AA except they dont even attend themselves. Thats what they told me...till I had a recovery for suspension failure then they charged me £200 for "specialist equipment" to be used to re-cover which was a "skid", tried it and didnt work. We ended up using my own car jack (they did not have one with them) to raise off floor then drag up the ramp with their winch still on my jack. Pathetic

Never heard of Britannia but wonders how strong their network is.

Get the RAC with c/c club - it's only £30 extra for the c/c membership and that gives you loads of discounts on holiday parks etc too. Never know ma come in handy. I had to use them last week on bearing fault. Quick service,

Peter ~ askboatsandoutboards4sale@sky.com ~ 07930 421007

Steve_B · 04 May 2011, 22:04

Have been with Brittania for many years now and can confirm the Network is good, using mainly local recovery companies. They do cover trailers, though thankfully never had to use it.
The cost of cover can be reduced further if you can join the CSMA. A very good deal for members.

ashbypower · 04 May 2011, 22:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boats&Outboards

Never heard of Britannia but wonders how strong their network is.

Peter ~ askboatsandoutboards4sale@sky.com ~ 07930 421007

I have been with Brittania for over 30 Years and used them just a handfull of times. response time has always been less than 1hr and more like 1/2hr and thats been weekends late at night and B Hols, so cannot complain about them

wavelength · 04 May 2011, 22:12

we have used caravan club/green flag (is it mayday now?) for years on family membership. Covers all the cars with just one reg number on the card. Used it a couple of times. Once when the wheel studs on my mate's boat trailer snapped. Well three out of four did, due no doubt to him not retorqueing the things after a puncture some time back. Middle of nowhere, and the middle of the night, in Wales, no problems despite it not being the car named on the card and not the caravan. Came and picked it up within the hour and brought it back to mates house for him. Second time tyre blew out on offside caravan wheel on the M something or other. Now one guy that I taught to dive died changing an offside wheel on a motorway (he was profoundly deaf so never heard the lorry that killed him) and there was no way I'm changing that wheel so a man with lots of flashing yellow lights on a big vehicle came and did it for me.
On the other hand friends had a boat trailer wheel bearing go on way to Poole and despite being assured by the rac that the trailer was covered before they set off ( I did tell them it wasnt covered for what they wanted) they would not sort it as it was only covered if it was the car giving problems.

Ian M · 04 May 2011, 22:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavelength

we have used caravan club/green flag (is it mayday now?) for years on family membership. Covers all the cars with just one reg number on the card. Used it a couple of times. Once when the wheel studs on my mate's boat trailer snapped. Well three out of four did, due no doubt to him not retorqueing the things after a puncture some time back. Middle of nowhere, and the middle of the night, in Wales, no problems despite it not being the car named on the card and not the caravan. Came and picked it up within the hour and brought it back to mates house for him. Second time tyre blew out on offside caravan wheel on the M something or other. Now one guy that I taught to dive died changing an offside wheel on a motorway (he was profoundly deaf so never heard the lorry that killed him) and there was no way I'm changing that wheel so a man with lots of flashing yellow lights on a big vehicle came and did it for me.
On the other hand friends had a boat trailer wheel bearing go on way to Poole and despite being assured by the rac that the trailer was covered before they set off ( I did tell them it wasnt covered for what they wanted) they would not sort it as it was only covered if it was the car giving problems.

Caravan club would not cover me as I owned up to not having a caravan

Britannia get my business

However, from memory there is an 8 metre limit on trailer length with Britannia. If I have problems I will have to remember to put the engine down

actions · 05 May 2011, 09:54

Just spoken to them, they confirm they do cover trailer breakdowns and will recover you to whereever you need to go.

All in all £70, (without home start), so not bad seeing as green flag wanted £122.

But yes they do have a 22ft (i think from memory) trailer length limit.

Thanks all.

wolfie · 05 May 2011, 10:56

was a bit concerned after reading this thread, so have just come off the phone with the RAC, if the car breaks down, they WILL recover both my car and trailer to where ever i want, but if the trailer wheel bearing collapses then no cover, down to me to fix, so always carry a spare set of wheel bearings for the trailer anyway.