Has anyone ever checked or realy pushed the boundries as to how far the service will go in the true outback, beyond the blacktop & over the hills ???????????????????????
Firefly said
08:28 PM Oct 15, 2009
We have not not personally, but in '08, on our trip, we came across two people who were broken down in a big way. One was in Darwin, their Dico had malfuntioned and electrically locked the back door. They had a cargo barrier and couldn't get into the back at all. He didn't ring NRMA as he had a road assist with Landrover. He drove from Kunnanura to Darwin and they were camped behind us with no vehicle. As we chatted, the other half asked them if they were in NRMA and they said yes. He asked did they have the gold membership and he said he thought so. He suggested they ring them up and see what they could do for them.
Within half an hour, they were in a cab, paid by NRMA, on the road into Darwin to pick up a hire car while they waited for the Disco to be repaired. They had been there about a week, catching buses etc, they were out near Palmerston so its a fair hike into Darwin. NRMA paid their back rent for the site for the site as well. They wanted to know the physical dimensions of the camper, so if they were evicted from the van park for what ever reason, they could bring a truck in, pick them up and move them else where.
Then we were on the Tanami and a couple broke a swing arm on the suspension of Kimberly Kamper and were about 600 from Alice. He drove to a mine to get phone service, NRMA sent a truck out to pick them up.
It does pay to be in it for sure.
justcruisin01 said
08:47 PM Oct 15, 2009
Firefly wrote:
We have not not personally, but in '08, on our trip, we came across two people who were broken down in a big way. One was in Darwin, their Dico had malfuntioned and electrically locked the back door. They had a cargo barrier and couldn't get into the back at all. He didn't ring NRMA as he had a road assist with Landrover. He drove from Kunnanura to Darwin and they were camped behind us with no vehicle. As we chatted, the other half asked them if they were in NRMA and they said yes. He asked did they have the gold membership and he said he thought so. He suggested they ring them up and see what they could do for them.
Within half an hour, they were in a cab, paid by NRMA, on the road into Darwin to pick up a hire car while they waited for the Disco to be repaired. They had been there about a week, catching buses etc, they were out near Palmerston so its a fair hike into Darwin. NRMA paid their back rent for the site for the site as well. They wanted to know the physical dimensions of the camper, so if they were evicted from the van park for what ever reason, they could bring a truck in, pick them up and move them else where.
Then we were on the Tanami and a couple broke a swing arm on the suspension of Kimberly Kamper and were about 600 from Alice. He drove to a mine to get phone service, NRMA sent a truck out to pick them up.
It does pay to be in it for sure.
The Tanami bit is what i am getting at,so thats great!!!!
Disco Duck said
08:57 PM Oct 15, 2009
Hell..................I hope I never need to find out!! :)
I'm RAA Plus Member.
I suppose I should ask the question................maybe I don't want to hear the answer.
That bloke must have hit something real hard to break the swing arm on one of those Kimberely campers.
Firefly said
08:59 PM Oct 15, 2009
He didn't say he hit anything, just it snapped. It is a horrid road though. But NRMA collected him and transported him on. It is a great service.
justcruisin01 said
09:05 PM Oct 15, 2009
Firefly wrote:
He didn't say he hit anything, just it snapped. It is a horrid road though. But NRMA collected him and transported him on. It is a great service.
Iv'e heard something about this one before some where along the track.
We done the Tanami in 91,could have driven a car across back then.
Firefly said
09:09 PM Oct 15, 2009
We seen a truck in trouble as well, but help was at hand. We had one tyre pierced but it was easily fixed.
I may have mentioned that story elsewhere on the forum, I have told it before somewhere.
Wombat said
11:19 PM Oct 15, 2009
Had to use RAC (WA) Classic once. Came and got us and the car and returned us to Perth.
No complaints. Good service.
dave06 said
11:12 AM Oct 16, 2009
I'm in R.A.A. premium and have used it once in thirty years, battery had no fluid left, my fault
however we went to a sixtieth last night in broughton, on the way down we seen a voyager 4wd vehicle with it's nose over the embankment and rear wheels spinning, I thought if I can get around quick enough I can pull him back
by the time I got there the old feller had driven straight down the embankment and into 3 foot of mud, the old girl probably seventy something (who was on a walking frame) had piled out of the vehicle and was standing at the side of the road shivering in shock, it seems he had driven a bit close to the edge when pulling over that he slipped off, he thought it was going to roll so he turned into it and drove straight down
anyway, I couldnt pull him out with the mitsi so I rang the RAA, I got the lady on the phone who informed me that the nearest heavy tow truck capable of extracating the vehicle was at port wakefield, the Raa would not cover the cost it would be billed to the owner as it was not a breakdown but a bogging, the travel, plus costs would ammount to roughly $1500 abit much for a little mistake I thought
I could see the folks were on a pension and obviously short of a quid (arent we all) I drove to the nearest farmhouse, no-one was home I drove to the next, the farmer was not home, I explained what had happened to the lovely wife and borrowed their tractor and a cable and came back and yanked them out, thank christ for country folk, the son came out as well, I was done up to the nines so the poor bugger had to go and attach the towcable in wet clay
this couple were in dire straights, we had probably 30 cars or more simply pass us by without stopping, two vehicles did stop and to them I am gratefull, they helped my wife (an in home carer) to calm the woman
but to make a long story short (which once again I have not done) is that the R.A.A. will not help you in the case of a bogging, but they will charge you big bucks to retrieve you
-- Edited by dave06 on Friday 16th of October 2009 12:08:01 PM
Disco Duck said
11:25 AM Oct 16, 2009
Sorry I told a lie......................Its RAA Premium I have......not Plus
Doesn't seem too bad a cover but I still don't know about the Tanami. Might have to ring up and tell them I'm stuck out there and see what they say. Then I can cancel the call :)
Pam said
11:47 AM Oct 16, 2009
Make sure your roadside assist includes anything you are towing. AFTER crossing the Nullarbor with out incident our son pointed out to us that NRMA basic does not cover your trailer so if we had broken down it would have been left on the side of the road. We have now upgraded our roadside assist to be covered fully.
Disco Duck said
01:06 PM Oct 16, 2009
Verrrrrry good point Pam.
Damn...............just as I was getting comfortable someone gets me to think about something else!!
Terro said
04:01 PM Oct 16, 2009
We are in RACV Total care. Have used it a few times the latest being last year when we had an incident in Queensland. We were travelling between Maryborough and Rainbow Beach when we managed to have a slight misshap that wrote off the caravan and damaged the tug enough to need some repair before we could drive it. RACV Total care were absolutely brilliant in getting us towed, a motel to stay and a hire car, we had a taxi from Tin Can Bay to Gympie to pick the hire car up. They even extended the hire time to six days to give us time to do everything and return to Melbourne. Can't speak highly enough of the service. Couple that with excellent service from CIL on the caravan side of things and we are very happy with our arrangements.
Terro.
Cruising Granny said
11:52 PM Oct 17, 2009
I have RAC WA Ultimate Assist and have had to call RACQ a couple of time for some problems I couldn't fix with my nail file. Ha ha ha ha!
Some of the most remote places have a tow truck, roadhouses that is, but there is only one community on the eastern end, and Rabbit Flat Roadhouse somewhere west of the middle I believe, out that way.
The stations would be of more help to you if you can get their attention.
Mobile phone service would be zilch, but if you have UHF or other radio you may be able to relay a message about your problems. Let's just hope you don't have any, or at least no more than a flat tyre.
I've heard some wonderful rescue stories while I've been here. Breakdowns up the Cape roads and out on the Savannah Way etc. and they have had to put the tug on the tilt tray and tow the van in by relay.
It's a matter of being as prepared as you can be, then keeping an eye on where you are all the time, and note any gates which show signs of frequent traffic. Good luck with that.
suenami said
09:01 PM Oct 18, 2009
justcruisin01 wrote:
Has anyone ever checked or realy pushed the boundries as to how far the service will go in the true outback, beyond the blacktop & over the hills ???????????????????????
They all have recipricol (?) agreements..........found out once 40 years ago in Townsville (NRMA)
Within half an hour, they were in a cab, paid by NRMA, on the road into Darwin to pick up a hire car while they waited for the Disco to be repaired. They had been there about a week, catching buses etc, they were out near Palmerston so its a fair hike into Darwin. NRMA paid their back rent for the site for the site as well. They wanted to know the physical dimensions of the camper, so if they were evicted from the van park for what ever reason, they could bring a truck in, pick them up and move them else where.
Then we were on the Tanami and a couple broke a swing arm on the suspension of Kimberly Kamper and were about 600 from Alice. He drove to a mine to get phone service, NRMA sent a truck out to pick them up.
It does pay to be in it for sure.
We done the Tanami in 91,could have driven a car across back then.
I may have mentioned that story elsewhere on the forum, I have told it before somewhere.
No complaints. Good service.
however we went to a sixtieth last night in broughton, on the way down we seen a voyager 4wd vehicle with it's nose over the embankment and rear wheels spinning, I thought if I can get around quick enough I can pull him back
by the time I got there the old feller had driven straight down the embankment and into 3 foot of mud, the old girl probably seventy something (who was on a walking frame) had piled out of the vehicle and was standing at the side of the road shivering in shock, it seems he had driven a bit close to the edge when pulling over that he slipped off, he thought it was going to roll so he turned into it and drove straight down
anyway, I couldnt pull him out with the mitsi so I rang the RAA, I got the lady on the phone who informed me that the nearest heavy tow truck capable of extracating the vehicle was at port wakefield, the Raa would not cover the cost it would be billed to the owner as it was not a breakdown but a bogging, the travel, plus costs would ammount to roughly $1500 abit much for a little mistake I thought
I could see the folks were on a pension and obviously short of a quid (arent we all) I drove to the nearest farmhouse, no-one was home I drove to the next, the farmer was not home, I explained what had happened to the lovely wife and borrowed their tractor and a cable and came back and yanked them out, thank christ for country folk, the son came out as well, I was done up to the nines so the poor bugger had to go and attach the towcable in wet clay
this couple were in dire straights, we had probably 30 cars or more simply pass us by without stopping, two vehicles did stop and to them I am gratefull, they helped my wife (an in home carer) to calm the woman
but to make a long story short (which once again I have not done) is that the R.A.A. will not help you in the case of a bogging, but they will charge you big bucks to retrieve you
-- Edited by dave06 on Friday 16th of October 2009 12:08:01 PM
Terro.