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Mon Feb 20, 2023 10:11 am

Triple A just denied me a tow because they said that my van (Westy) falls under the RV category.
They have towed my van in the past 4 years with no issues and now they are calling it an RV because the top pops up.
So I have to upgrade my membership to an RV status.

I am now a $300 short on a hotel room because of cancellation fees while the van was being serviced and three days of work that I requested off to have the service done. (I live in the desert.)

My only rational is that this is corporate greed.

A Westy is a van, NOT an RV!

Update: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=10011471#10011471

Mon Feb 20, 2023 10:24 am

Seems it's often up to the tow truck driver, not actual policy. Policies do seem to vary local to local.

Unrelated, we were traveling somewhere in New England on a pay road. First booth was $2.00 the next booth was $4.00. Toll was posted on the sign $2.00. I asked the attendant? He said RV pays a higher toll. Explained it was a van and was ready to show him the registration. He pointed to the outlet covers on the side. Paid the higher toll and off we go. Next booth it was $2.00 again. It was apparent the toll booth operator was probably running his own scam. $2 for the state and $2 for his pocket. That would add up pretty quickly.

Triple A tow approved tow companies probably do this all the time. What are you going to do at that point? Tell them no thanks. Captive audience.

Mon Feb 20, 2023 10:25 am

Irishcalifornian wrote: Triple A just denied me a tow because they said that my van (Westy) falls under the RV category.
They have towed my van in the past 4 years with no issues and now they are calling it an RV because the top pops up.
So I have to upgrade my membership to an RV status.

I am now a $300 short on a hotel room because of cancellation fees while the van was being serviced and three days of work that I requested off to have the service done. (I live in the desert.)

My only rational is that this is corporate greed.

A Westy is a van, NOT an RV!

Take a photo of your DMV paperwork. Show us. Mine says 'Camper' which allows me to tell Police/St Patrol "sorry, that is my living space" when they ask if they can look in the area behind the front seats. No seat belts required, and an open beer back there while driving is not going to send me to jail.

I've only used AAA to flatbed my Westy once. Nothing about RV was mentioned at that time.

Now, I'm going to take my lunch hour, and go take a nap in my Westy. Real mixed bag for you right there...

Mon Feb 20, 2023 10:35 am

Don't have my registration handy, but pretty sure it says VAN. Nothing about camper or RV.

Mon Feb 20, 2023 11:20 am

Yeah I would never mention any camper related when making the call to AAA. Just play dumb. I doubt a tow truck driver would turn down a tow once he is already at your location.

Mon Feb 20, 2023 11:25 am

Welcome to 11 years ago; i.e. this saga is, unfortunately, nothing new: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=508333

:x :?

Mon Feb 20, 2023 11:34 am

shagginwagon83 wrote: Yeah I would never mention any camper related when making the call to AAA. Just play dumb.
In fact, if you tell AAA or the towing dispatcher that you have an RV/motorhome, the driver just may well arrive with a rig completely unsuitable for towing/hauling a Vanagon

I realize this may grind the ears of some purists here, but when speaking with the uninitiated, I often refer to a Vanagon as a minivan. I mean, it has a wheelbase 1.5" SHORTER than a late-model Mini Cooper.

Mon Feb 20, 2023 11:40 am

AAA is an interesting organization. My daughters have moved out of state and I thought gifting them AAA coverage would be a nice thing to do. Turns out you have to contact each state you want coverage in separately, no logging in once and buying what you need. Clearly a business model that works for them but seems antiquated in our modern era.

I'll have to find my paperwork and see what the Washington State branch says about my van.

Mon Feb 20, 2023 11:43 am

You need to call your AAA (coverage varies by state) to determine precisely what you have and what coverage they provide for it. This varies by state and rules and interpretation do vary.

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handbook/vehicle-ind...-vehicles/
Standard Institute (ANSI) and provide at least four of the following facilities: cooking, refrigeration or ice box, self-contained toilet, heating and/or air conditioning, a portable water supply system including a faucet and sink, a separate 110 to 125 volt electrical power supply and/or liquid petroleum (LP) gas supply. Van campers do not contain the permanently-installed independent life support systems identified by the ANSI for motorhomes.
EDIT: Depends on the van camper, a Westy Camper has a fridge, water, 110 VAC and propane so it's a motor home by the above definition.i

Even AAA's insurance recognizes the oddity of campervans:
Not quite a van or a traditional RV, campervans are viewed as something of a tweener vehicle in insurance terms. Find out thow to cover your campervan.

AAA has taken a beating rescuing RVs and scaled back coverage significantly a few years back.

Mon Feb 20, 2023 11:49 am

Our vehicle title says Make: VOLK, Model: VANAGON, Body style: VAN CAMPER. We are in Washington state. Our AAA just renewed and I lowered it from Premier RV to regular Premier because the AAA representative said we are covered as a van. Of course when I first purchased the coverage for the Westy I was told we needed the RV coverage. I guess it just depends on who you talk to. In the end, I double up and have towing on our regular vehicle insurance coverage. It has actually been more useful than our AAA coverage! Guess I will be getting back on the phone with AAA to confirm which coverage we should have . . .

Mon Feb 20, 2023 11:51 am

don't get AAA.

Add towing insurance to your car insurance. It's cheap.

Mon Feb 20, 2023 11:58 am

steve244 wrote: don't get AAA.

Add towing insurance to your car insurance. It's cheap.

Ehh there are lots of other benefits to AAA.... for example - access to Active and Fit gym membership for $25 a month. Perfect for van life people who work out at many different gyms. I love Anytime Fitness personal bath/shower rooms while on the road.

Mon Feb 20, 2023 12:43 pm

steve244 wrote: don't get AAA.

Add towing insurance to your car insurance. It's cheap.

I get a discount at my local FLAPS for my AAA membership. Some years it has almost paid for the AAA.

Mon Feb 20, 2023 1:05 pm

AAA member for over 25 yrs here, yes the annual membership fees have gone way up and the benefits are varied. But, even with buying the RV service, which I did, who will give my Westy essentially $1000 in free towing per year ( One $500 max one time tow @ no charge, with another 2 $250 limit tows) for a total annual fee of $128 (87 plus level+41RV-motorcycle incl)? Geico service has been sketchy and unfortunately Hagerty (who I really like) won't cover a non-garaged stored vehicle. And without any kind of roadside service plan, a straight up tow company call will cost you a min of $75-$100 just for the hitch and another $3-$7 per mile.

Mon Feb 20, 2023 1:06 pm

That's been the policy for a LONG time, you've been lucky in the past- but I'm sorry to hear this got expensive all at once.

yes, to anyone reading this, you need the RV coverage to be PROPERLY covered by AAA. Otherwise, you could get denied on the side of the road. Definitely worth the few extra bucks!

Mon Feb 20, 2023 1:19 pm

shagginwagon83 wrote: steve244 wrote: don't get AAA.

Add towing insurance to your car insurance. It's cheap.

Ehh there are lots of other benefits to AAA.... for example - access to Active and Fit gym membership for $25 a month. Perfect for van life people who work out at many different gyms. I love Anytime Fitness personal bath/shower rooms while on the road.

Didn;t think of using that. Nice!...Where is a good place to look for those extra benefits?

Mon Feb 20, 2023 1:27 pm

steve244 wrote: don't get AAA.

Add towing insurance to your car insurance. It's cheap.

CHEAP needs definition.......my AAA will tow 200 miles once per year. the Ins co will only tow to the closest suitable place to repair (cheap but not always helpful).

I once got a 340 mi tow with a 200 mi tow from East of OK City to a tiny town in TX after which I then got a 120 mi tow from my insurance co because my van had a subi and the closest Subi dealer was in Amarillo. Luckily I was able to convince the ins co dispatcher that the blown head gasket couldn't be repaired by any local garage.

I have Premier car coverage. My van is registered as a car.

Mon Feb 20, 2023 1:36 pm

You'd have to check with your insurance provider. It's typically less than $15/yr

Mon Feb 20, 2023 1:38 pm

AAA has been getting disappointing.
They used to just show up and tow. Now, they seem to want to find anyway possible to get out of providing service.

Now, if you are more then 100 feet off the road they wont cover the tow. So if you go out on BLM you need to make sure you can limp back to the highway.

Mon Feb 20, 2023 1:39 pm

vanis13 wrote:
Didn;t think of using that. Nice!...Where is a good place to look for those extra benefits?

I don't know about any list... I have only seen it on 'per situation' basis. I believe Napa gives discounts for AAA.

Most recently, my brother asked to borrow my login to get a discount on a TV he was purchasing through samsung.com.

The active and fit direct plan is really awesome - as a membership to Anytime fitness is usually $40+ a month, plus you get to work out at a bunch of huge chains like Planet Fitness, etc - all for the price of $25/month