Historic Military Vehicle Breakdowns

[Cara]

(Not sure whether this is in the right place, (Please move if you have to) but wanted to get as much coverage as possible for my query.)

 

Hi Guys,

 

I am kind of doing my own little bit of research at the moment into breakdown of your/our Historic Military vehicles and was wondering if anyone would be kind enough to answer the following questions for me ?

 

 

Do you have any kind of breakdown/recovery service for your vehicle ?

 

If, so with who ? And approx. how much does it cost for the year ?

 

If not, would you be interested in it ? And approx. how much was the most expensive recovery charge it has cost you so far ?

 

 

 

I don't have any breakdown/recovery service for my vehicles and am interested in finding out if there is anyone out there that deals with this, and how much they charge, whether it is a year's membership deal or a pay as you go service etc.

 

I am guessing Jeeps would be ok as they would fall under any car recovery service?? So, this is more for the larger vehicles, GMC's, Dodge's etc.

 

Many thanks in advance of the floods of responses I am about to receive. :lol:

 

Thanks a lot,

Cara

x

[Degsy]

H i Cara

Have a look at the thread on here about heavy vehicle recovery services.

 

 

 

Cheers

Degsy

[Marmite!!]

If you look at Roadsure's ad on the back page of this months (April) MMI,

Roadsure state they have "Breakdown Cover Coming Soon"

[ArtistsRifles]

If you can get a reply as to how they recover vehicles I'd appreciate hearing it - been asking diverse firms for ages whther they can/will recover on a low-loader rather than suspended tow and no ones telling me!! :cry: Got plenty of "come and join us "letters though....

 

Reason I need to know being I've been told that Stalwarts (and I'm guessing Saladins and Saracens) can't be recovered on suspended tow unless you first go through the protracted and messy job of removing the sun gears from the axle.....

[Marmite!!]

Neil,

 

I have emailed them & will let you know when(if) they get back to me..

[Jack]

Who ever offers this service first will become very popular.

[Marmite!!]

Email reply from Roadsure..

 

Hello,

 

This product is available from Monday & we won't have full details ourselves until tomorrow if you email back your phone or fax number will we contact/send you information as soon as we have it.

Regards,

 

Ben Stewart

Sales Team Manager

 

Roadsure Group

Saxon House

39 Marefair

Northampton

Northants

NN1 1SR

 

Tel: 01604 611713

Fax: 01604 611706

E-mail: benstewart@roadsuregroup.com

[CanadianScottish]

I got totally fed up with Roadsure this year, they are not the company they used to be. Their renewal offer was not competitive, bore no relation to the previous policy and they were unable to offer recovery, as they said, the RAC had discontinued the scheme they offered the previous year.

I called the RAC and they denied this. They confirmed that they would come out to and recover a Dodge D3/4 APT (Canadian built WC52) on normal membership. As my wife was already a member it only cost £13 a year to become a joint member. Needless to say I also went elsewhere for my insurance aswell.

A good tip for Dodge owners though, is not to refer to the vehicle as a weapons carrier, because it conjures up images of armour plating and weight with the recovery services.

[Cara]

I got totally fed up with Roadsure this year, they are not the company they used to be. Their renewal offer was not competitive, bore no relation to the previous policy and they were unable to offer recovery, as they said, the RAC had discontinued the scheme they offered the previous year.

I called the RAC and they denied this. They confirmed that they would come out to and recover a Dodge D3/4 APT (Canadian built WC52) on normal membership. As my wife was already a member it only cost £13 a year to become a joint member. Needless to say I also went elsewhere for my insurance aswell.

A good tip for Dodge owners though, is not to refer to the vehicle as a weapons carrier, because it conjures up images of armour plating and weight with the recovery services.

 

I tried that with the GMC Workshop, told the AA that it was basically a transit and they sent someone out, who turned around straight away and said tha I needed to get hold of a Commerical Vehicle Breakdown company. :cry:

 

I bought Membership on the phone to get them to see the truck , but luckily I managed to get a full refund.

 

But, I am looking into the possibilty of getting a company to do some sort of Breakdown Cover Membership for the larger vehicles. The AA now do larger vehicles for companies, but the weight has changed enough to cover Jimmy's and Dodges, plus I don't have a company.

 

For insurance, I am with Footman James, they were cheaper than roadsure. About £85 fully comp for 4 drivers for my Dodge WC63 for a year. Cheap or what !!

 

Cara

x

[paul connor]

My PIG costs me £72 with 2 drivers,

i know the hassle! when my Landrover HVVPK broke down the RAC saved me! off i trotted and less than a mile, hear we go again! having several breakdown covers i played the fun game "who gets here first" so i called the RAC again and the AA

 

This time the AA came, and he fiddled about (problem was shite fuel from tank 2, i had hit the crossover switch, and clogged the idel jet in the carb)

he could not clear the jet, and just sat in his van miserable while i stand in the cold (winter) while he sorts breakdown recovery, Then the usual fun

"....*on phone* yeah its an army landrover, send a recovery truck/van"

"it wil need something bigger " i say

"its a landrover! "says him sarcastic as i was 17

"its not a normal one" i state, "its a HVVPK"

"its less than 2 tonnes!" he spouts thinking he knows all

"no it aint! its near 3.5" i tell him

after this a childish "is " isnt" resumes . until he basically said your on your own, bye

 

i made a complaint about his rudeness and arrogance!

 

Then back come the RAC and spend time clearing the block and follow me the next few miles.

 

Never go with the AA, useless in my opinion!

 

And dont flick the fuel tank sender switch with your foot and block the bus and slow lane on lewes road in brighton for 2 hours! hahaha

 

but heavy recovery, and not the dragged style would be of interest, as i hear the PIG does not take kind to being towed on rear wheels for distances

 

paul

[CanadianScottish]

For insurance, I am with Footman James, they were cheaper than roadsure. About £85 fully comp for 4 drivers for my Dodge WC63 for a year. Cheap or what !!

 

Cara. That's where I went. They are good value and they understand us and what we do.

 

 

I had a problem with Roadsure's quote this year so I phoned round for the cheapest quote I could get then phoned Roadsure back, they told me they couldn't beat the quote so I quoted their advert which states "LOWEST RATES" & that if they didn't beat the quote I would report them to the advertising standards, they phoned me back within half hour with a much better quote, they have to do what they advertise.

 

Safariswing. I wish I'd thought of that one! Despite phoning them back and faxing them all I got was indifference.

 

 

As for Roadsure Military Vehicle Breakdown Cover I was not aware that they have offered this in the past, I know they did RAC cover for their Classic Car policies but was told that this cover did not cover miliatry vehicles.. Classic Cars only.

 

They told me it would cover the Dodge and I paid for it last year. Hmmn time to request a refund, a clear case of mis-selling methinks.

[commander]

I have been with the AA for quite a few years now

and apart from one incident at Thruxton when I must

have got the AA patrol from hell I have found them

very good they have felayed my Dodge and Jeep from

all over the country when it has been needed and gone

out of their way to go looking for parts etccc . and even

the one time I did have a problem at Thruxton and told

the AA patrol to go away politely and got them to send

a real person which they did eventualy who solved the

problem they will recover upto to 3.5 tons as will the RAC

Commander

[Cara]

I have been with the AA for quite a few years now

and apart from one incident at Thruxton when I must

have got the AA patrol from hell I have found them

very good they have felayed my Dodge and Jeep from

all over the country when it has been needed and gone

out of their way to go looking for parts etccc . and even

the one time I did have a problem at Thruxton and told

the AA patrol to go away politely and got them to send

a real person which they did eventualy who solved the

problem they will recover upto to 3.5 tons as will the RAC

Commander

 

Hi Commander,

 

What Dodge do you have ?

 

I can see the Jeep not being much of a problem as there isn't too much weight there and they are no bigger than a car really.

 

Cara

x

 

P.s, Does anyone know what the approx. weight of a Dodge WC63 is ? I haven't got round to getting to a weigh station yet and the only info I have is in Norwegian, which I couldn't work out and I don't think DVLA could either. :lol:

[Joris]

In Holland I use the Wegenwacht, the Dutch equivalent of the AA. They are absolutely fabulous, saved my ass twice allready. The first time they towed me all the way back to homebase (with a car behind me for security) when one of my gear forks broke.

 

The second time, three weeks ago they got me home after my fuel filter got clogged, my fuel pump died and my electrics short circuited. Even then they got me on the road and again followed me all the way back to homebase.

 

And all this for only 80 euro's a year (!!!).

[ArtistsRifles]

I have been with the AA for quite a few years now

and apart from one incident at Thruxton when I must

have got the AA patrol from hell I have found them

very good they have felayed my Dodge and Jeep from

all over the country when it has been needed and gone

out of their way to go looking for parts etccc . and even

the one time I did have a problem at Thruxton and told

the AA patrol to go away politely and got them to send

a real person which they did eventualy who solved the

problem they will recover upto to 3.5 tons as will the RAC

Commander

 

Problem there is that 3.5 tonne bit - a Stalwart is anywhere from 9 to 11.5 tonnes and the RAC or AA would object - quite strenuously - to recovering one of these :?

[Degsy]

Hi Cara

The WC63 weighs 7550lb in old money or just under 3.5 tonnes.

 

 

 

Cheers

Degsy

[Centurion]

Hi all

 

Not that I have anything near the weight your talking about. But when I got my jeep I was with Green flag and they wouldnt cover it because of its age. So I switched to Brittania rescue for about £100 per year it covers me and mrs c for any vehicle we are travelling in. Im not sure about a Jimmy or Dodge but Im covered for a Nissan terrano towing a double horse/ double axle horse box . Which may not be very heavy but is quite a long rig.

 

cheers Centurion

[ArtistsRifles]

Up on the MilWeb Vehicle Park page today:

 

Military Vehicle Breakdown Scheme

 

Roadsure launches 24 hour breakdown cover for military vehicles. Call to speak to one of our military vehicle specialists to arrange your cover today.

0845 408 0016

 

URL takes you to http://www.bluepoppy.co.uk/demos/roadsure/military_banner.html

which is just an advertising banner page as far as I can see.

 

Be interesting to find out what cover they are going to offer and how they propose recovering such things as the Alvis 6x6 family which should not be recovered on suspended tow!!!!!

[simonm]

Looking at Military Vehicle Breakdown cover I contacted Roadsure who are now Premium Choice and they were able to quote £125 for my Saracen but the big difference to Roadsure is you need to be insured with them. They don't provide the breakdown cover on its own, actually I can quite understand. The Insurance quote was a bit more than Flux's - quite a bit more so I kept looking for breakdown cover - historic vehicles, commercial fleet etc. Isn't the web a wonderful thing!

 

This led me to Autohome http://www.autohome.co.uk/ who quoted on the phone £95 for vehicles between 3.5 and 16 tonnes and are sending me the brochure and ts and cs.

 

I'm keen to start displaying my Saracen - still needs a lot of TLC but have got the engine to the point that it starts 1st time, hydraulics pumps up pretty quickly, brakes work brilliantly, gears change. Now its down to lots and lots of wire brushing and repainting! (tried paint remover and sandblasting - realistically its an angle grinder with a decent wire brush attachment)

Edited April 1, 2009 by simonm
more info

[Markheliops]

I'll be keen to know of anyone who offers large vehicle breakdown recovery. Stop laughing at the back.

 

My Ward La France has required recovery, er a few times. Was with roadsure but their insurance rates were very high and they wouldn't let me add another vehicle to my policy - so told them what to do with it.

 

The breakdown cover was very good - but no insurance, no breakdown cover.

 

The Ward weighs in at 14 tonnes and the FV432 15 tonnes and is tracked.

 

If anyone gets any joy can they let me know.

 

Ta

 

Markheliops

[ferretfixer]

Just a thought here guys. For those vehicles that can be recovered by a suspended tow.

An idea springs to mind. It's so obvious, thats probably why no one has bought the matter up. :idea:

The amount of restored Recovery Vehicles owned by members on this Forum is quite large.

Why dosent' someone look into the possibility of offering a service using their own Trucks? It would be cheaper on a One-off basis, or run a standard price Plus so much per mile?

 

Just a thought, but the idea of all this magnificent vehicles restored & simply just driving around carrying empty hooks is a bit of a waste! :-(

 

Just a thought! :coffee:

[Marmite!!]

Have a look here... http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?t=10594

[Markheliops]

Just a thought here guys. For those vehicles that can be recovered by a suspended tow.

An idea springs to mind. It's so obvious, thats probably why no one has bought the matter up. :idea:

The amount of restored Recovery Vehicles owned by members on this Forum is quite large.

Why dosent' someone look into the possibility of offering a service using their own Trucks? It would be cheaper on a One-off basis, or run a standard price Plus so much per mile?

 

Just a thought, but the idea of all this magnificent vehicles restored & simply just driving around carrying empty hooks is a bit of a waste! :-(

 

Just a thought! :coffee:

 

Although on the face of it a good idea, this point has been raised before -

 

Apart from all the legal barriers the owner would be ducking and diving under (and there are many) - I couldn't do it in the Ward as it's A) too thirsty B) too fragile. Maybe the more modern wreckers could have a go but before you consider it - check your insurance and legal position in relation to the taxing and testing of your vehicles.

 

If involved in an incident - you could be in it up to your neck.

 

Markheliops

[Stormin]

Although on the face of it a good idea, this point has been raised before -

 

Apart from all the legal barriers the owner would be ducking and diving under (and there are many) - I couldn't do it in the Ward as it's A) too thirsty B) too fragile. Maybe the more modern wreckers could have a go but before you consider it - check your insurance and legal position in relation to the taxing and testing of your vehicles.

 

If involved in an incident - you could be in it up to your neck.

 

Markheliops

 

Too fragile! :eek:

 

A vehicle made for recovering WWII tanks?

 

I'll agree probably not up with the heaviest rated modern recovery gear, but surely still capable of moving most vehicles if needed.

Not saying I would want to do any recovery with the Ward on the highway. I think the standard air brakes are mariginal safety wise and there is insufficient engine power for modern highway conditions. Being left hand drive would hardly help either. But not fragile.

[Markheliops]

I say fragile as in the 3 odd years I have owned the Ward it has been off the road 50% of that time due to machanical failure.

 

1 x seized engine, 1 x knackered rear axle, and 1 x knackered gear box.

 

I think thats enough for me to class the Ward as fragile.

 

It was designed to tow tanks - in 1943 when it was made.

 

Besides that, spares are difficult to get hold of - last time I had to buy another vehicle to repair mine.

 

Of course more modern wreckers will be up to the tasks - but do your legal homework.