Thread: RACV for Cape York trip

not positive on the benfits of RACV but if anything like the RACQ then i think a very worthwhile security to have for the small fee they charge

I had a broken parabolic spring at Uluru last year and called RACV. They were prepared to tow the car, but I was happy to drive it back to the Resort. I asked for a replacement car, but they said I was too remote to get one. I told them I was in a resort with 5 car hire companies and an airport. They said they'd get back to me.

They called and said they couldn't get me a hire car to take out of the state for at least a month and I'd have to get to Alice Springs to pick it up. They were prepared to fly my passanger & me home and truck the SIII back on a backload (10 week delay).

I was annoyed at having GOLD cover and getting such a run around. I cancelled the claim, welded the spring and nursed it back. Had to reweld it 2,000km later.

It would have been worth the cover in the event of catastrophic damage, at least they would have got me home, but I was dissappointed in their level of customer service. I have heard better reports from others though.

connie has RACQ i dont...

I carry the camp gear when i travel in the series and some spares, Im confident that short of killing the donk I'll get it home and i dont mind roughing it.

but i have the ADF bases I can call home if i can get to them in an emergancy.

weve had good experiences with RACQ BUT if you know your car is fubar and wont be easily fixed Tell them when you ring... it can help cut through the chaff.

Maybe it is because my Defender is a Fleet Australia Vehicle, and is also under warranty, but I am supposedly covered by Land Rover Assist regardless of where we are. That is according to the dealer who supplied the vehicle.

Originally Posted by numpty

Maybe it is because my Defender is a Fleet Australia Vehicle, and is also under warranty, but I am supposedly covered by Land Rover Assist regardless of where we are. That is according to the dealer who supplied the vehicle.

Good luck trying to explain anything about a break down in a remote area to them. You'll get some poor woman who doesn't understand that people buy 4WD's and don't live in major cities and don't have access to land rover dealers or break down services. Also they only hand ball it all on to the state or territory based Automotive group (RACV, RACQ, NRMA, AANT etc).

That said if you're not in RACV and looking a joining one weigh up the costs and benefits between joining LR Assists vs RACV and join the one with the best cost/benefit ratio.

Originally Posted by numpty

..... but I am supposedly covered by Land Rover Assist regardless of where we are. That is according to the dealer who supplied the vehicle.

Been there done that ... it clearly states in the little green book ... Anywhere in Australia ...

Having said that. We were up at Seisa 2 years ago and I had a good look under/around the Fender (Stubby in hand ). Noticed the stone guard was missing from the fuel filter. So says I..let's be a tad pro active here and called LR Assist. Sorry says they.. wait till you're half way back down the OTL and everything goes pear shaped .... then we'll spend a motsa extracting you.

That aside .. a few years back I did my best to seriously harm my S1 Disco getting through Boggy Hole (Sth of Hermansburg NT). Drag link, brake hose, muffler and a couple of other bits
RACQ Extra Care or Ultra or whatever they call it was ex. Crikey those hire cars go fast hey ... and the motel was real flash !!!

If you have any qualms .. it's small biccies comp to the total cost of the trip.

Cheers

Originally Posted by dm_td5

Good luck trying to explain anything about a break down in a remote area to them. You'll get some poor woman who doesn't understand that people buy 4WD's and don't live in major cities and don't have access to land rover dealers or break down services. Also they only hand ball it all on to the state or territory based Automotive group (RACV, RACQ, NRMA, AANT etc).

That said if you're not in RACV and looking a joining one weigh up the costs and benefits between joining LR Assists vs RACV and join the one with the best cost/benefit ratio.

I think Land Rover assist will come to you wherever you are on OZ. I know that the RACQ will only service the places where their 2 wheel drives will go. I checked with them on Fraser Island cover and no go from what they told me a few years ago. If I got stuck there I was on my own, nice place to be stuck I suppose.

Originally Posted by Rosco

Been there done that ... it clearly states in the little green book ... Anywhere in Australia ...

Yes it does state this which is why I thought I'd keep it going after the warranty expired. However, when I needed assistance which should have been a phone assistance at first as there was no way of getting the vehicle near a dealer or a state based service agency, I got such a run around it wasn't funny.