07-23-2016, 07:03 AM
This is not about a coach towing a car/truck...it is about towing a broken Newell.
Yesterday, I broke an axle on the side of a busy highway in Madisonville, TN (outside of Knoxville). I immediately knew I would need to be towed. (my worst nightmare).
I got a wrecker recommendation from the local Prevost guy....they would not be able to help for several hours. They suggested their competitors...not available. Same for the third through seventh wrecker services I called. Eight time was the charm. A local wrecker company agreed to come out and tow me about ten miles to the local Prevost service shop. Idea was to land somewhere safe while I figured out what was wrong with coach.
In the meantime I called the Newell emergency number to ask specifically how do you tow a Newell. They said that if the guys had the right wrecker it was not an issue. They would pull the axle and it would all be good. Uh. No!
The guys with the wrecker showed up and spent maybe an hour pulling the axle and getting the "stinger" under the front wheels. The idea is that they slide a big sled under the front wheels and lift up. The sled pivots left and right so the coach being towed acts a lot like a semi-trailer.
I stayed in the coach with the dog. As we made our way up the road to get turn around to go the Prevost guys shop, I heard some loud pops and groans. (Not a good sign). As we made the first turn, it was clear that the wrecker guy was having trouble turning this rig. As he tried to make a wide left turn, there was a car broken down on shoulder right in his way. Now we were blocking an off ramp, and four lanes of traffic. After a little maneuvering and some folks pushing the broken car out of the way, we made our way down to a parking lot to try and turn around. No dice, still trouble turning.
Driver had to back up and try another cut. All the while I was hearing pops and groans coming from coach. As he was backing up, I heard and felt a large crunch. Yup he backed into a light post!
Did I say that I had a motorcycle lift on the back with a brand new (24 miles) BMW motorcycle on it? Well, I did.
The next part is a little blurry. But here are highlights....
1. Motorcycle had minor if any damage. 2. Motorcycle lift was totaled. 3. The groans and pops that I heard was the stinger ripping off the front skid bars, and the fairing under the penny. 4. The trim pieces around the front tires were now customized. 5. Cops came and investigated and wrote report.
After a great deal of tinkering, we got the coach moving again, now with clearance on the front end. Eventually we made it to the Prevost shop and that is where I am now.
Lessons learned.
1. Newell needs to create and distribute written instructions that we can give to wrecker drivers to keep from "wrecking" (get it?!!) our coaches.
2. If you need to get towed, be sure that there is sufficient clearance so that the stinger can pivot left and right without tangling with the undercarriage.
Cheers,
bill
Yesterday, I broke an axle on the side of a busy highway in Madisonville, TN (outside of Knoxville). I immediately knew I would need to be towed. (my worst nightmare).
I got a wrecker recommendation from the local Prevost guy....they would not be able to help for several hours. They suggested their competitors...not available. Same for the third through seventh wrecker services I called. Eight time was the charm. A local wrecker company agreed to come out and tow me about ten miles to the local Prevost service shop. Idea was to land somewhere safe while I figured out what was wrong with coach.
In the meantime I called the Newell emergency number to ask specifically how do you tow a Newell. They said that if the guys had the right wrecker it was not an issue. They would pull the axle and it would all be good. Uh. No!
The guys with the wrecker showed up and spent maybe an hour pulling the axle and getting the "stinger" under the front wheels. The idea is that they slide a big sled under the front wheels and lift up. The sled pivots left and right so the coach being towed acts a lot like a semi-trailer.
I stayed in the coach with the dog. As we made our way up the road to get turn around to go the Prevost guys shop, I heard some loud pops and groans. (Not a good sign). As we made the first turn, it was clear that the wrecker guy was having trouble turning this rig. As he tried to make a wide left turn, there was a car broken down on shoulder right in his way. Now we were blocking an off ramp, and four lanes of traffic. After a little maneuvering and some folks pushing the broken car out of the way, we made our way down to a parking lot to try and turn around. No dice, still trouble turning.
Driver had to back up and try another cut. All the while I was hearing pops and groans coming from coach. As he was backing up, I heard and felt a large crunch. Yup he backed into a light post!
Did I say that I had a motorcycle lift on the back with a brand new (24 miles) BMW motorcycle on it? Well, I did.
The next part is a little blurry. But here are highlights....
1. Motorcycle had minor if any damage. 2. Motorcycle lift was totaled. 3. The groans and pops that I heard was the stinger ripping off the front skid bars, and the fairing under the penny. 4. The trim pieces around the front tires were now customized. 5. Cops came and investigated and wrote report.
After a great deal of tinkering, we got the coach moving again, now with clearance on the front end. Eventually we made it to the Prevost shop and that is where I am now.
Lessons learned.
1. Newell needs to create and distribute written instructions that we can give to wrecker drivers to keep from "wrecking" (get it?!!) our coaches.
2. If you need to get towed, be sure that there is sufficient clearance so that the stinger can pivot left and right without tangling with the undercarriage.
Cheers,
bill
Bill Johnson
Birmingham, Alabama