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On the Road
How to prepare for a roadside emergency
Mar 23, 2006, 09:02
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We all love our RVs, and the lifestyle, but, on occasion, Murphy's Law
takes over. It's inevitable. But, by being prepared, you can minimize
the inconvenience of a breakdown, and get back on the road safe and
sound. Here are some ways you can prepare:
First, you need a way to communicate your situation. A cell phone is
anecessity. Even an old phone that isn't signed up for an account will
still dial 911, but a cell phone with even a minimal service plan will
allow you to summon assistance. I don't find CBs useful any more. Some
state police agencies still monitor channel 9 in theory, I've never
been able to report an emergency on a CB.
Who do you call? I am a big believer in services like Coach Net. One
call gets help on the way, and these coverage plans often come with RV
insurance policies, or with new RVs. Having been a subscriber and a
service provider, I can tell you they're worth it if you travel
frequently, and will often roll over to the family car. Keep a list of
important phone numbers and RV data handy to aid in getting proper
service. I carry a full set of service manuals for my coach plus the
owner's manuals set, and the tech service numbers for the manufacturer.
Don't forget to have the extended service plan info handy, if you have
one.
Next is visibility. When you break down on the side of the road, it can
be extremely difficult for other motorists to see you. Keep a supply of
visibility items in your vehicle. These should include reflective
triangles, flares, flags, and perhaps even reflective vests. When you
have an emergency, try to get off the road, if it's safe to do so.
Something you may not think about, and I didn't until a good friend was
killed in such a situation, is make sure any pets are secured in the
vehicle when you stop. This friend of mine had to stop his RV on the
side of the road, with wife, kids and grandkids in the RV. He opened
the door, and off went his dog, and he ran after it, in front of a
truck. Make sure your pet is in a carrier or otherwise restrained while
stopped on the side of the road.
I AM OFTEN ASKED about spare tires, and the equipment to change the
tires. RVs are large, bulky vehicles, and changing a tire on one can be
a huge challenge without assistance. Again, the aforementioned plans
and insurance policies often provide towing and road service for tire
changes, etc., free of charge. Use them. I never change a tire on my
coach. I don't even carry the gear. I just call for help. The tire
trucks show up with compressors, power jacks, and everything else
that's needed to change a tire safely. Some folks carry a spare tire,
which ensues you'll have it available without a wait for one to be
located.
Being a professional firefighter, and having had an RV fire myself, I
can't emphasize enough the importance of having good fire extinguishers
available. I carry three rechargeable ABC rated 8 pound extinguishers,
plus the one included with the RV, located throughout the unit. Some
folks carry a larger one, but I need to be weight- and size-conscious,
and prefer to have several smaller extinguishers. Retired firefighter
and RV safety educator Mac McCoy often runs classes of fire safety and
extinguisher use at rallies. If you're unfamiliar with extinguisher
use, look Mac up, and learn now!
Last, but not least, is a couple of good, reliable flashlights. I
prefer at least one rechargeable lantern like those made by
Streamlight. The Streamlight lanterns are used in emergency services.
They're durable, come with charger brackets, and emit a lot of aim-able
light.
A roadside RV emergency doesn't have to be a trip ender if you're prepared.
We all love our RVs, and the lifestyle, but, on occasion, Murphy's Law
takes over. It's inevitable. But, by being prepared, you can minimize
the inconvenience of a breakdown, and get back on the road safe and
sound. Here are some ways you can prepare:
First, you need a way to communicate your situation. A cell phone is
anecessity. Even an old phone that isn't signed up for an account will
still dial 911, but a cell phone with even a minimal service plan will
allow you to summon assistance. I don't find CBs useful any more. Some
state police agencies still monitor channel 9 in theory, I've never
been able to report an emergency on a CB.
Who do you call? I am a big believer in services like Coach Net. One
call gets help on the way, and these coverage plans often come with RV
insurance policies, or with new RVs. Having been a subscriber and a
service provider, I can tell you they're worth it if you travel
frequently, and will often roll over to the family car. Keep a list of
important phone numbers and RV data handy to aid in getting proper
service. I carry a full set of service manuals for my coach plus the
owner's manuals set, and the tech service numbers for the manufacturer.
Don't forget to have the extended service plan info handy, if you have
one.
Next is visibility. When you break down on the side of the road, it can
be extremely difficult for other motorists to see you. Keep a supply of
visibility items in your vehicle. These should include reflective
triangles, flares, flags, and perhaps even reflective vests. When you
have an emergency, try to get off the road, if it's safe to do so.
Something you may not think about, and I didn't until a good friend was
killed in such a situation, is make sure any pets are secured in the
vehicle when you stop. This friend of mine had to stop his RV on the
side of the road, with wife, kids and grandkids in the RV. He opened
the door, and off went his dog, and he ran after it, in front of a
truck. Make sure your pet is in a carrier or otherwise restrained while
stopped on the side of the road.
I AM OFTEN ASKED about spare tires, and the equipment to change the
tires. RVs are large, bulky vehicles, and changing a tire on one can be
a huge challenge without assistance. Again, the aforementioned plans
and insurance policies often provide towing and road service for tire
changes, etc., free of charge. Use them. I never change a tire on my
coach. I don't even carry the gear. I just call for help. The tire
trucks show up with compressors, power jacks, and everything else
that's needed to change a tire safely. Some folks carry a spare tire,
which ensues you'll have it available without a wait for one to be
located.
Being a professional firefighter, and having had an RV fire myself, I
can't emphasize enough the importance of having good fire extinguishers
available. I carry three rechargeable ABC rated 8 pound extinguishers,
plus the one included with the RV, located throughout the unit. Some
folks carry a larger one, but I need to be weight- and size-conscious,
and prefer to have several smaller extinguishers. Retired firefighter
and RV safety educator Mac McCoy often runs classes of fire safety and
extinguisher use at rallies. If you're unfamiliar with extinguisher
use, look Mac up, and learn now!
Last, but not least, is a couple of good, reliable flashlights. I
prefer at least one rechargeable lantern like those made by
Streamlight. The Streamlight lanterns are used in emergency services.
They're durable, come with charger brackets, and emit a lot of aim-able
light.
A roadside RV emergency doesn't have to be a trip ender if you're prepared.
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