After driving from Melbourne to Adelaide we were driving to the West along the Murray River. One evening we didn't quite make our way completely to Narrandera where we had reserved a camper site and that made us drive after nightfall for about half an hour. Murphy's law promptly made us hit a kangaroo at about 65 or 70mph on the front side. The poor animal was dad but the impact seemed light enough (one loose light but still everything was working) to continue our journey. The next day we drove another 560km to Sydney, where AA Motorhomes made us change the vehicle. The offer was gladly accepted since we had some other issues with the vehicle: the transformed bed in the mid section (based on the table) was falling down occasionally during night; the toilet pump was broken; and the freshwater level sensor never worked during the first week.
As the staff was examining the damage, they pointed out how lucky I was that the CPU / on-board computer system was not affected by the image a fact that seemed natural after driving that extra day. In contrast, several front panels and sheet metals including the light fixation and the drivers side door needed replacement.
While I continued happily the journey with my family the staff continued to examine the damage over the following weeks. 10 days later they reported that the CPU was no longer working and that it needs further examination before they could close the repair bill. After that several months passed as the CPU allegedly had been shipped to Europe for repair and my bond of AUD 6000 remained frozen. After more than half a year I got my final bill including the repair of the CPU of AUD 2200, making up more than 50% of the total repair fee.
While I surely blame myself for both, driving at night (killing that poor mate) and not having bought a better insurance the way my case has been handled by Around Australia Motorhomes AU makes me feel utterly uncomfortable. Even upon request and in spite of obvious indicators, the company never felt obliged to provide any proof showing the linkage between the impact and the damaged CPU.
My take-away:
Better stay away from Around Australia Motorhomes AU!
Better buy a good insurance!
Don't drive at night!
Enjoy it anyway!
Happy to read your comments.. maybe I was just a stupid Newbie but one day I will turn into a wise & grey Nomad!
-- Edited by Eleric on Thursday 6th of August 2015 01:27:04 AM
brickies said
08:05 AM Aug 6, 2015
One reason that I don't like hiring a RV , But saying that there are very good travel insurance which covers your excess if you look around
ShortNorth said
10:10 PM Aug 6, 2015
Not an RV experience, but many years ago in the UK, I hired a small Fiat for 4 weeks in London and intended driving down to Cornwall. Paid all the insurances etc. Several hundred miles west of London, I encountered a light rain shower, and on a bend the car started under-steering badly, I corrected, but the Fiats bloody rear-engine swing-axle tucked under (shades of the old US Corvair problem) and away it went - roll over 3 times. The car was totaled, the local cop who attended let me ring the hire company in London - they said they'd take care of everything, and to come and see them when I got back to London. They pointed out a very bloody sneeky clause at the bottom of the contract which said something like "in the event of the vehicle becoming un-driveable, all costs in returning the vehicle to our London workshop is the responsibility of the hirer".
So, they sent 2 blokes with a Landrover and a trailer - easily a single-day round trip - BUT, they put them up in a local hotel overnight with meals and drinks at my expense (and they really got stuck into the 'free' meal and drink), and drove back the next day. The total cost I had to pay out was double the full 4 weeks hire cost and insurance costs combined - as you can imagine, I was bloody livid !!! I now avoid car hire like the plague !
Bruce and Bev said
02:56 PM Aug 8, 2015
Hi Eric.
You were treated very badly indeed !!
There was a recent doco on TV Ch 7 about hire vehicles and how ALL of the companies rip people off with any damage. None of them could defend their actions when confronted with numerous examples and a breakdown of their fine print contracts and in fact none of them would appear on camera or make a written statement even.
Apparently there are a number of insurers unconnected with the hire vehicle industry that provides easy to read, no-rip policies that are just a little more expensive than if you were insuring a vehicle that you actually owned.
Its no help to you in hindsight, but it pays to do your on-line insurance options before you hire a vehicle. Often your own house, contents and vehicle insurer will also offer very reasonable short term policies. I used my one (SGIO) when it was necessary to hire a car last year. No different to my own vehicle policies and not much more expensive.
The other one to which are car Dealers and panel beaters who loan you a vehicle while yours is being serviced or repaired. Make sure you read it all - its common practice to have a fee of $3000-$5000 as an excess, even if the other party is at fault and their Insurer pays out. The Dealer or repairer will still hook your excess
My experience with Around Australia Motorhomes AU (http://motorhomerepublic.com) was not great at all.
After driving from Melbourne to Adelaide we were driving to the West along the Murray River. One evening we didn't quite make our way completely to Narrandera where we had reserved a camper site and that made us drive after nightfall for about half an hour. Murphy's law promptly made us hit a kangaroo at about 65 or 70mph on the front side. The poor animal was dad but the impact seemed light enough (one loose light but still everything was working) to continue our journey. The next day we drove another 560km to Sydney, where AA Motorhomes made us change the vehicle. The offer was gladly accepted since we had some other issues with the vehicle: the transformed bed in the mid section (based on the table) was falling down occasionally during night; the toilet pump was broken; and the freshwater level sensor never worked during the first week.
As the staff was examining the damage, they pointed out how lucky I was that the CPU / on-board computer system was not affected by the image a fact that seemed natural after driving that extra day. In contrast, several front panels and sheet metals including the light fixation and the drivers side door needed replacement.
While I continued happily the journey with my family the staff continued to examine the damage over the following weeks. 10 days later they reported that the CPU was no longer working and that it needs further examination before they could close the repair bill. After that several months passed as the CPU allegedly had been shipped to Europe for repair and my bond of AUD 6000 remained frozen. After more than half a year I got my final bill including the repair of the CPU of AUD 2200, making up more than 50% of the total repair fee.
While I surely blame myself for both, driving at night (killing that poor mate) and not having bought a better insurance the way my case has been handled by Around Australia Motorhomes AU makes me feel utterly uncomfortable. Even upon request and in spite of obvious indicators, the company never felt obliged to provide any proof showing the linkage between the impact and the damaged CPU.
My take-away:
Happy to read your comments.. maybe I was just a stupid Newbie but one day I will turn into a wise & grey Nomad!
-- Edited by Eleric on Thursday 6th of August 2015 01:27:04 AM
Not an RV experience, but many years ago in the UK, I hired a small Fiat for 4 weeks in London and intended driving down to Cornwall. Paid all the insurances etc. Several hundred miles west of London, I encountered a light rain shower, and on a bend the car started under-steering badly, I corrected, but the Fiats bloody rear-engine swing-axle tucked under (shades of the old US Corvair problem) and away it went - roll over 3 times. The car was totaled, the local cop who attended let me ring the hire company in London - they said they'd take care of everything, and to come and see them when I got back to London. They pointed out a very bloody sneeky clause at the bottom of the contract which said something like "in the event of the vehicle becoming un-driveable, all costs in returning the vehicle to our London workshop is the responsibility of the hirer".
So, they sent 2 blokes with a Landrover and a trailer - easily a single-day round trip - BUT, they put them up in a local hotel overnight with meals and drinks at my expense (and they really got stuck into the 'free' meal and drink), and drove back the next day. The total cost I had to pay out was double the full 4 weeks hire cost and insurance costs combined - as you can imagine, I was bloody livid !!! I now avoid car hire like the plague !
You were treated very badly indeed !!
There was a recent doco on TV Ch 7 about hire vehicles and how ALL of the companies rip people off with any damage. None of them could defend their actions when confronted with numerous examples and a breakdown of their fine print contracts and in fact none of them would appear on camera or make a written statement even.
Apparently there are a number of insurers unconnected with the hire vehicle industry that provides easy to read, no-rip policies that are just a little more expensive than if you were insuring a vehicle that you actually owned.
Its no help to you in hindsight, but it pays to do your on-line insurance options before you hire a vehicle. Often your own house, contents and vehicle insurer will also offer very reasonable short term policies. I used my one (SGIO) when it was necessary to hire a car last year. No different to my own vehicle policies and not much more expensive.
The other one to which are car Dealers and panel beaters who loan you a vehicle while yours is being serviced or repaired. Make sure you read it all - its common practice to have a fee of $3000-$5000 as an excess, even if the other party is at fault and their Insurer pays out. The Dealer or repairer will still hook your excess