Trailer European Breakdown Insurance

[dejongj]

Hope somebody got some experience with this as I am hitting a brick wall. My boat is normally in Poole, this year we are going to take it with us to Italy. Done all the paper work, serviced the trailer all is fine there. But for peace of mind I would like breakdown recovery insurance.

But can I find any company that goes beyond a 2.25m width including load...Nope...They all impose that limit which is just no good as my width is 2.62m which, although the trailer itself is 2.25...So it is a fully road legal rig....

I just can't imagine I am the only one with this problem but all the usual suspects just quote their standard terms and conditions and they all have this restriction in....Besides if the width was ok, then most don't actually cover the trailer, they cover the car for breakdown and will recover the trailer as well...But if the car is fine and the trailer isn't you are stuck again....

I just don't want the hassle of having to try and find someone local and get charged a very high amount in the unlucky event I need it...

I look forward to your experiences...

 

[landlockedpirate]

Its a couple of years since I had this problem. The way I got round it was to join the Caravan Club and use there breakdown service. At the time the T&C's simply stated 'trailer' not 'caravan'. They covered me for my 28ft long and 8'6" wide boat and trailer.

The other option is to buy a Landrover ! There European brake down service covered my boat as well, and put us up in a really nice Chateau while it was fixed. I admit this could be a bit of a expense for a one off trip /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[dejongj]

[ QUOTE ]
Its a couple of years since I had this problem. The way I got round it was to join the Caravan Club and use there breakdown service. At the time the T&C's simply stated 'trailer' not 'caravan'. They covered me for my 28ft long and 8'6" wide boat and trailer.

The other option is to buy a Landrover ! There European brake down service covered my boat as well, and put us up in a really nice Chateau while it was fixed. I admit this could be a bit of a expense for a one off trip /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I'll check out the caravan club Wouldn't mind buying a Land Rover if they made a tax deductable version, the Defender pickup is a bit too 'rough' for my liking...

 

[steverl]

Try Brittania Rescue. I had to contact them, as my trailer length was greater that their standard 8m, but they covered me at no extra cost.

I would agree that Landrover Assistance were very good - my car broke down while towing the boat in Belgium, and they arranged a hotel quickly, together with onward business class flights. This was offset by Landrover taking 5 weeks to fix it.

 

[Ballistix]

Sounds like you should buy a landrover if you want to guarantee breaking down!

 

[AndieMac]

There is a guy on here called BartW that does a lot of Euro towing with a big boat, find him on the 'User List' and send him a PM for some advice.

 

[MrCramp]

I think there is a Discovery commercial version, there certainly used to be..

 

[111KAB]

You could try ..... trailerinsurance.co.uk .... I joke not! If they won't cover (and I suspect they will) they will advise you where to go.

 

[Nautorius]

With Bigger Trailers over 20ft I went the Caravan Club or AA international route who will cover a trailer.

But recently I did not bother. Drove down to the Costa Del Sol with no breakdown cover for Car or trailer and the Car is a 1996 Land Rover Defender!

Cheers

Paul /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[landlockedpirate]

The only question is when rather than if the Landie will breakdown /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Nautorius]

Going off the pool of oil underneath...not long now! Mind you on Weds she did a 120 mile round trip in 35 degree heat.....and cooked the ocupants! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[BartW]

Thats me /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Yes I tow quite a lot with my 8,7m 3,8 Ton boat behind a Mercedes GL.

I have a "Ethias Privilage assistance",
this covers The Car and Caravan or Trailer with boat,
Unfortunotly the small letters say that the boat can be max 8,5m length, 2,5m wide, and max hight no more then 2m,
so on this last point I don't fulfill the requirements.

Didn't bother untill now, might asc the insurance company if there are other solutions.
The previlage contract provides a replacement car of the same size.

On the other hand I have a full omnium insurance on the car, boat and trailer, inclusive recovery.
The Boat and Trailer insurence company is Delta Lloyd in Holland.

appart from these insurances, I do very good maintenance on the trailer,
- optimal tire pressure
- well ballancing the weight
- enough weight on the hook (125kg)
- grease all moving parts
- yearly cleaning and greasing brakes and bearings
- 2 Yearly replacing bearings
- 5 yearly replacing tires

this year I already towed app. 2000km
next week I will be leaving to Croatia, 1800km one way

just this small addition,
for that assistance insurance I pay 160 eur/year,
the small letters also say: if the boat doesnt fulfill these specs, the customer has to find himself a replacement trailer, but shipping of spare parts, help on site,... + extra previlage conditions remain included

 

[Karis]

Trailer Breakdown Insurance - Europe

I just wondered if there was any update to this question as I have similar (immediate) requirement !

Cheers

 

[AndieMac]

appart from these insurances, I do very good maintenance on the trailer,
- optimal tire pressure
- well ballancing the weight
- enough weight on the hook (125kg)
- grease all moving parts
- yearly cleaning and greasing brakes and bearings
- 2 Yearly replacing bearings
- 5 yearly replacing tires

this year I already towed app. 2000km
next week I will be leaving to Croatia, 1800km one way



G'day Bart


Good sound advice on the trailer maintainance, and especially pleased you mentioned replacing the tyres after 5 years. Boat/Trailer combos seem to be put together with max. weight pressure on those poor little tyres. They sit around all winter in one position to get flat spots, then screwed and contorted (tandem/tri), backed over gutters, etc...

The walls simply deteriorate sitting around, and go bang.


Good luck with the big tow Bart, I'm sure you are prepared, and post a report when back.

Cheers

Callum

 

[Tidnock]

if it is "breakdown" insurance, why dont you ensure the trailer is in tip top condition, possibly replace all the bearings and carry a spare set, spare wheel, a jack that will lift the trailer and boat, many people do not have a trailer jack and very often the car jack is specific to the car, perhaps a tyre foam quick inflater to get you off the road quickly. I think if you do that you have covered your own breakdown

 

[AndieMac]

I guess we (the public) have been conditioned to be insured for every eventuality. You have made good suggestions with trailer preparation, the other issue of course is whether the boater has the experience/desire/capabilities to carry out work on the roadside should a breakdown occur.

As mentioned on another post, spares and equipment to repair should be carried in the vehicle so that even if the owner can't fix, someone else (garage/helpful stranger) can.