What do I say to AAA?

[elliot_peas]

(What do we say to the God of Tow? All bus must die?)

Hey y'all.

Bought AAA RV. Have Vermont plates & registration, NC insurance, haven't done the title transfer for NC yet. "38 ft Vermont motorhome, diesel dually, auto trans, air brakes", 95 bluebird TC2000, Cummins...

Anyway she's supposed to be driven 8 miles up to the new farm site tomorrow but she's turning over, not starting. I was supposed to move out of a house into this thing (with my kid) but if we can't get her moved we'll be sleeping in a truck I borrowed (mine experienced engine failure last week) & selling the bus.


Two questions:

1) How do I phrase my call to AAA? Do I need to locate a shop that call haul it first & give AAA the name? (There is one close to me). I'm towing to the location where it will be repaired but it's not a shop.

2) Can anybody ballpark, just to the number of digits, a likely cost if AAA doesn't pay for the tow? I do have a quote of $250/hr from the local tow who can handle skoolie's, but they need to drop the drive shaft and made it sound like that would be a long process. I can handle cash up front for 5 hours of that, but if it's 10 we won't be eating next week.

Oh, wtf happens if the driver decides they don't want to take it up part of the drive? There's a narrow winding bit that I know has had a 35ft cargo container delivered up it somehow but it worries me.

Really just looking for a script for my phone call to AAA so I don't **** up like I did with my first phone call about getting it insured. (PM if you're in WNC & need a recommendation for insurance!)

[HazMatt]

If the transmission is manual, don't believe anything more complex than making sure the E-brake's off, & it isn't in gear.
Automatics, on the other hand, a scootch more work is required...
(Sorry, couldn't tell from your profile what it's packing)

[ermracing]

I know when we get cars towed by AAA they don't require them to be brought to a shop. We usually get them dropped off at our house. The driver's aren't AAA employees, they just get paid by them. The ones we have dealt with have always been decent. If it's just a short tow, and they don't have to go through a mud bog, they should be good with it.

Just give them the address of the pickup and drop and that the bus won't start. The least amount of info you give them, the better.

[HazMatt]

Au contraire, mon frere!
If dead on the road, sure, they'll hump it where ever you direct.
I had AAA+ coverage, and needed my non-running, '62 Corvair Rampside P/U hauled from Manchester to Seabrook, NH. Residence to residence.
I had to pay for the tow out of pocket...
So let's not trust in good faith fulfillment.

[peteg59]

Originally Posted by haz.matt.1960

Au contraire, mon frere!
If dead on the road, sure, they'll hump it where ever you direct.
I had AAA+ coverage, and needed my non-running, '62 Corvair Rampside P/U hauled from Manchester to Seabrook, NH. Residence to residence.
I had to pay for the tow out of pocket...
So let's not trust in good faith fulfillment.

Maybe "if'n youda" pushed it out into the street you could have claimed it "died" on the road and had it towed?
But if plates and inspection were out, that might be the deal breaker?

[ermracing]

We just had a VW Golf hauled from our son's house in MA to ours in NH 2 weeks ago. No hassle whatsoever. We told them the starter died. If the vehicle died or just broke down they should be fine. I can certainly seeing them charge to haul a non-running vehicle. Just use the right words....

[HazMatt]

See, I didn't!
Which is what the OP looks to avoid.
(Not to be contentious, but how many Golfs would fit in a Skoolie? Heavy duty rig required to hook onto a bus. Apples vs oranges...)

[Gustav]

The only problem I see here is that you mentioned a narrow winding road at destination. If the tow company is aware of that they should have a large single axle truck to do the job. Tow truck being as short as possible and still tow the unit.

[HazMatt]

Yup, was still plated in OR, project truck with the carbs out. So no go, coz it couldn't go...

Originally Posted by peteg59

Maybe "if'n youda" pushed it out into the street you could have claimed it "died" on the road and had it towed?
But if plates and inspection were out, that might be the deal breaker?

I'd noticed that complication as well. Good on ya for offering a solution!

Originally Posted by Gustav

The only problem I see here is that you mentioned a narrow winding road at destination. If the tow company is aware of that they should have a large single axle truck to do the job. Tow truck being as short as possible and still tow the unit.

[EastCoastCB]

Takes about ten mins for the tow guy to drop the rear of the driveshaft and cage the brakes.

[elliot_peas]

Engine started today, ran for a bit without anything falling off. Driver coming out tomorrow morning. Might at least get it up to the road!

[Gustav]

One step at a time. Positive thoughts for tomorrow!!

[HazMatt]

Two excellent omens!

[cowlitzcoach]

We have AAA Platinum Plus RV coverage.



We have had to tow our Suburbans more than once each. One time it was from the house to a repair shop. More than once from the side of the highway. Not once did they quibble about where I wanted the rig to be towed.


But if your bus started and the air pressure came up so that you could release the spring brake I would think you would be able to drive it to wherever it needs to be.



The most important thing to have when starting a diesel is a battery that is fully charged and has a lot Cold Cranking Amps. If the battery(s) are not fully charged or if they are getting old and don't have enough CCA's the starter is not going to spin fast enough long enough to create enough heat for the fuel to fire. You will end up fuel washing the cylinders which will make starting even harder.


Good luck and keep us posted as to your progress.