We'd planned our vacation perfectly. We would travel to Los Angeles for a couple of days, spending the first day at Disneyland and the second at Knott's Berry Farm. The following day we would drive to San Diego to go whale watching and visit Sea World. We were looking forward to a great vacation and planned for all of our hotels and rest stops along the way.
We decided we'd drive our small recreational vehicle (RV), which had just gotten out of the repair shop. I'd asked the mechanics to make sure it was in good shape for the trip from Arizona to California. The first day went off without a hitch and we arrived on California's busy highways right on schedule. If you've ever driven in California, the traffic can be horrendous.
As we approached our exit from the interstate, I heard a loud pop. I pulled over on the shoulder and looked at the tires - but they all looked intact. I couldn't figure out what had happened. Since our exit was only a half mile away, I drove on to our hotel. When we got there, I noticed one of the rear tires was completely flat. Unfortunately, I hadn't checked the spare or the jack before leaving on the trip. I'd assumed both were in good shape and properly secured on the RV.
The jack seemed to be OK; however, I wasn't properly dressed for changing a tire in a hotel parking lot. Instead, I decided to call for roadside assistance. I hadn't reviewed my insurance policy for at least six months because I only rarely drove the RV. I'd just assumed free roadside assistance was included, even though it wasn't clearly stated on my insurance card. When I called an insurance agent, I found out I'd overlooked adding free roadside assistance to my policy. He said they'd send a truck within the hour for $100 - an expensive oversight on my part.
When the truck arrived, the repairman removed the blown tire, which was completely shredded. When he pulled out the spare, it turned out to be flat and dry rotted. I've dealt with blown tires before and thought that it would be an easy fix to drop it off at a tire repair shop and pick it up the next day. After all, we were only driving five miles to Disneyland. I dropped off the tire at a nearby tire shop, expecting to pick it up the next day before we left for San Diego.
As the day rolled on, I didn't get the "magic" phone call telling me the tire was ready. Finally, the shop called at the end of the day to tell me they didn't have the tire in stock and it had been discontinued. That was not the news I was expecting.
We looked on the Internet and had a tough time finding tires for RVs, especially our model. Here we were 400 miles away from home with a dry-rotted tire. We weighed our options. That night I called and signed up for my insurance company's free roadside assistance coverage (another $100 to our policy). Beyond that, our options weren't too pretty - find a new tire, drive on the dry-rotted spare until our luck ran out or go home.
We made some long-distance calls to tire shops in San Diego and found one that had a tire in stock that would fit our RV. With no other choice, we decided to risk driving the 100 or so miles to San Diego on our dry-rotted tire. Luckily, it was raining during our drive, which helped keep traffic slow.
We drove straight to the tire shop in San Diego, had the new tire mounted and then finished our vacation. However, in the process, I learned some lessons I would not take lightly.
I learned you should always review your insurance policy so you know what is included in your coverage. Also, just because you've had your vehicle serviced, don't assume that common maintenance, such as checking the air pressure in the spare tire, has been done. Before heading out, check the air pressure in all of your tires and look for signs of dry rot. "Assuming" everything is all right can leave you vulnerable to a nasty surprise. I will be better prepared for future vacations by making sure I include emergency placards, flares, a good jack, an air compressor and have roadside assistance on my insurance. This will be the last vacation where we have to squeak by on a wing and spare!
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RV Trip Tips
Traveling safely is important to everyone who takes to the road with a recreational vehicle (RV). Before you set out on your next trip, take a few minutes to review these tips for a safe, trouble-free journey.
Before Your Trip
Make sure your RV is well maintained and ready to go when you are.
Aca,!Ac Install a deadbolt door lock on your RV.
Aca,!Ac Inspect all belts and hoses for cracking, especially radiator hoses. Replace as needed.
Aca,!Ac Check headlights, tires (air and tread) and turn signals.
Aca,!Ac Check any hitch or towing equipment.
Aca,!Ac Verify your insurance coverage.
Aca,!Ac Check your fire extinguisher and smoke alarms.
Aca,!Ac Clean your cooking vent hood to avoid grease fires.
Aca,!Ac Leave your itinerary with relatives or friends in case of emergency.
On the Road
Be sure to observe the common - but often overlooked - principles of safety. Obey the speed limit, know your rig height and buckle your seat belt.
Tools to Keep Handy
Aca,!Ac Flashlight
Aca,!Ac Jumper cables
Aca,!Ac Aerosol tire sealant and inflation product. (Editor's note: Use only as a temporary measure to reach a service facility where the tire can be properly repaired.)
Aca,!Ac Emergency road flares
Aca,!Ac Adjustable wrench
Aca,!Ac Screwdrivers
Aca,!Ac Pliers
Aca,!Ac Duct tape (for temporary repairs to ruptured radiator hoses)
Severe Weather Tips
Park your RV in a sheltered area. In stormy weather, avoid trees or power lines that could fall on your vehicle. The safest place during lightning is inside your RV. If you're in the path of a tornado, you're safest choice is to go to a tornado shelter. As an alternative, you can park under a bridge overpass or in a ditch. Avoid parking in low areas that are prone to flash flooding.
Carry Your Insurance Information
Make sure to carry all insurance contact information with you, including a toll-free claim service number if available. If you are injured in an accident, seek medical assistance first and then contact your insurance company or have someone else make the call for you.
Editor's note: Information provided by the Foremost Insurance Group of Companies.
For more information on RV and camping safety, visit the Funroads.com website at http://www.funroads.com/rv-travel/safety/checklist/.
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