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mayday have come up trumps   and abroad caravan club support hs been good    one event saw the car taken back home to my local garage and a car brought out to me in the loire   daughter 2 was receptionist that year so we were well looked after  but the caravan club were great doing all the technical translation stuff for me

then last year the clutch went and the fly wheel too    they were not so good then but when we returned home we discussed matters and the supervisor arranged for the insureres to pick up more of the tab because we had been looked after by a junior and we could have had an easier ride if we had been given more options to choose from      although we felt a bit let down whjen in france they more than made up for it when we returned home

nb  breakdowns are stressful so phone the brit number first even if you are on  a motorway and the emergency phones are there     a non-stressed operator will do the business for you and phone you back to keep you informed    that's my experience anyway

re which is better  dunno   -  how do you test it individually  arrange for a breakdown each year with different companies.   no doubt you will get all sorts of experiences from this  so good luck and let's home nothing major happens  

Greetings,

Since as someone else has started this thread I feel obliged to give a piece of advice that I cannot elaborate on at the moment.

If any of you are unfortunate enough to need the services of a breakdown operator(of WHATEVER Co.) Check, insist and check again that the caravan, if towed is connected to the breakdown truck via an Alko towball if your caravan is fitted with Alco chassis and combined hitch/stabiliser.

It might also be a good idea to wrap a bungee under the chassis and connect it to the handbrake to prevent the handbrake applying itself in the 'On' position while you are being towed.

Sorry I can't go any further but when I can do so I will give you all chapter and verse.

Another vote for CC and Mayday.

Quote: Originally posted by scorpi01 on 09/5/2010

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It's a done deal! I am now a member of the CC with Mayday Breakdown Cover on the premium UK cover.
Thanks again for your thoughts.

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Greetings Again,

It matters for nothing who you use as your provider of breakdown cover if it comes to getting your unit home if you have the 'van on the back.

As far as I am aware, none of the 'Fourth Emergency Services' have the facilities to do it via their own vehicles. A lift of the cars front wheels with the caravan still attached to the car would be used.

In those circs your car would be put on the back of a low loader and the caravan would be be towed by the low loader.

It is exactly those circs that I am giving warning of.

IF THE LOW LOADER HASN'T GOT AN ALKO TOWBALL DON'T DO IT.

(I know I'm shouting) Even if it has then wrap something around the handbrake to prevent it applying itself. THIS CAN HAPPEN!!! (Shouting again)

Sorry I can't elaborate. But I will, believe me when I get my 'van back.

Sorry about that.

"As far as I am aware, none of the 'Fourth Emergency Services' have the facilities to do it via their own vehicles. A lift of the cars front wheels with the caravan still attached to the car would be used."

Meant to say "Would NOT be used"

We had an experience with the AA a couple of years ago when we were towing, not a caravan but a 4-wheel trailer loaded with a small vintage tractor. After suffering a puncture on the trailer on the way to a rally my OH put the spare wheel on, but only a few miles further on one of the other wheels came off and we lost it completely. We called the AA and explained the problem, they sent out a large flat bed recovery wagon and winched the trailer, complete with tractor, onto it and brought it home for us while we followed in the van. We didn't have to wait long for the guy to come out to us and he was the most helpful person we have ever dealt with.

Now the question is, if they can winch a tractor and trailer onto a low loader couldn't they winch a caravan on? Why would it have to be towed behind, unless it's an exceptionally long van?