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Grayhound
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My only insurance is my fellow off roaders. I carry a reasonable amount of recovery gear and a radio and help as much as I can in hopes of getting help when I need it. I’m curious to know of commercial coverage though…
Apples491
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Your auto insurance is your off pavement insurance. At least in Colorado and Utah, where I've done the majority of my wheeling, the trails you're running are "roads" with forest service or BLM designated route numbers. Insurance covers a breakdown or wreck essentially the same as if it happened on an interstate. I know a dozen or so people who have had the unfortunate luck to have significant damage occur (and a couple where it was a total loss) while out on a trail and insurance has always picked it up. They may argue over costs, especially on aftermarket parts valuation/replacement, but not on whether it's a covered issue.
If you're talking about paying for actual towing out of a remote area if you breakdown, good luck. Most towing companies are not equipped to handle off road recoveries. Colorado and Utah have volunteer based 4x4 recovery groups that are completely donation based, or you are left with getting the vehicle out to a paved road on your own where a typical tow company will come get it.
https://www.co4x4rnr.org/
https://www.uorrt.thomascarlisle.net/
Companies like Matt's Off Road Recovery only really exist in areas where there's a captured audience. In MORRs case, they're right outside of Sand Hollow where there's a wealth of idiots willing to destroy their SxS in the sand and pay to have them dragged back out. Same with Rory Irish/Trailmater in Moab.
If you're talking about paying for actual towing out of a remote area if you breakdown, good luck. Most towing companies are not equipped to handle off road recoveries. Colorado and Utah have volunteer based 4x4 recovery groups that are completely donation based, or you are left with getting the vehicle out to a paved road on your own where a typical tow company will come get it.
https://www.co4x4rnr.org/
https://www.uorrt.thomascarlisle.net/
Companies like Matt's Off Road Recovery only really exist in areas where there's a captured audience. In MORRs case, they're right outside of Sand Hollow where there's a wealth of idiots willing to destroy their SxS in the sand and pay to have them dragged back out. Same with Rory Irish/Trailmater in Moab.
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wibornz
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Your insurance covers you for off roading. The only thing your insurance doesn't cover is if you are in a sanctioned type of racing.
My insurance guy, (until he retired) He sold vehicle insurance for about 35 years as an independent agent, said, Insurance covers you off roading. He stated that technically everything is off road if you are not on the road. Like your driveway is not on the road, a store parking lot is off road, the mall..... is off road. the trail is off road, many trails are actually legal roads, like forest service roads. He stated that it is way to hard to narrow down what type of off road driving would not be covered. His example was like your driveway is covered, but not your parents driveway or your friends driveway. Which parking lot are covered vs which parking lots are not covered. The list would be unmanageable.
Where it gets confusioning is many towing situations where you are broke down and get a tow is called road side assistance. Meaning you have to be road side. or the tow truck will not come to you and that is more dependent on the tow company, not the insurance company. Most towing companies do not have a tow truck that can go off road to recover you. Most place in the US have very few needs for off road recovery as it is so far and few between that they do not buy specialized equipment for off road recovery.
Now if you are in an accident, the insurance company has to recover the vehicle. This is different that saying hey my alternator stopped working. If you have watched Matts Off Road Recovery channel, he will often say the insurance company contacted him as he was the only tow company that would do the recovery........ That is why you see him going to different states, and driving long distances to do a recovery. The government will demand that the insurance company or individual remove the vehicle.
As always, review your insurance documents. The only exclusion that you will find is about sanctioned timed racing. If insurance was not covering off road accidents you would see it on the forum every day. I have three friends that have rolled their Jeeps on the trail and insurance has covered the cost to repair Jeep all three times.
The added insurance I carry is Emergency Rescue insurance. Meaning that if I get injured 70 miles off the road out in the middle of no where, and they have to send a helicopter or what ever to come get me, they will cover the cost above and beyond what my normal medical insurance covers.
So normally the Rubicon trail takes about two days to complete. Rattlesnake bites do happen on the Rubicon Trail. If you get bit by a rattlesnake, they are sending a helicopter. Otherwise it could easily toke two days to get you off the trail during a medical emergency. The cost can range up to $50,000. Then you still need to get your vehicle off the trail. My Emergency Rescue insurance will pay for all transportation cost above what my medical insurance pays, plus, return my vehicle, and camper back to my home, it pays for transporting me home and the persons traveling with me. They also pay for flying a family member our to take care of me. and so on.
I use the following company for my Emergency Rescue insurance. The link takes you to what they cover and you can easily navigate their page. it cost me about $400 or so a year for me and my wife. Mind you we do stupid stuff and need the coverage. We will travel way off the pavement to off road, hike and climb.
MASA Medical Transport Solutions Benefits Page
My insurance guy, (until he retired) He sold vehicle insurance for about 35 years as an independent agent, said, Insurance covers you off roading. He stated that technically everything is off road if you are not on the road. Like your driveway is not on the road, a store parking lot is off road, the mall..... is off road. the trail is off road, many trails are actually legal roads, like forest service roads. He stated that it is way to hard to narrow down what type of off road driving would not be covered. His example was like your driveway is covered, but not your parents driveway or your friends driveway. Which parking lot are covered vs which parking lots are not covered. The list would be unmanageable.
Where it gets confusioning is many towing situations where you are broke down and get a tow is called road side assistance. Meaning you have to be road side. or the tow truck will not come to you and that is more dependent on the tow company, not the insurance company. Most towing companies do not have a tow truck that can go off road to recover you. Most place in the US have very few needs for off road recovery as it is so far and few between that they do not buy specialized equipment for off road recovery.
Now if you are in an accident, the insurance company has to recover the vehicle. This is different that saying hey my alternator stopped working. If you have watched Matts Off Road Recovery channel, he will often say the insurance company contacted him as he was the only tow company that would do the recovery........ That is why you see him going to different states, and driving long distances to do a recovery. The government will demand that the insurance company or individual remove the vehicle.
As always, review your insurance documents. The only exclusion that you will find is about sanctioned timed racing. If insurance was not covering off road accidents you would see it on the forum every day. I have three friends that have rolled their Jeeps on the trail and insurance has covered the cost to repair Jeep all three times.
The added insurance I carry is Emergency Rescue insurance. Meaning that if I get injured 70 miles off the road out in the middle of no where, and they have to send a helicopter or what ever to come get me, they will cover the cost above and beyond what my normal medical insurance covers.
So normally the Rubicon trail takes about two days to complete. Rattlesnake bites do happen on the Rubicon Trail. If you get bit by a rattlesnake, they are sending a helicopter. Otherwise it could easily toke two days to get you off the trail during a medical emergency. The cost can range up to $50,000. Then you still need to get your vehicle off the trail. My Emergency Rescue insurance will pay for all transportation cost above what my medical insurance pays, plus, return my vehicle, and camper back to my home, it pays for transporting me home and the persons traveling with me. They also pay for flying a family member our to take care of me. and so on.
I use the following company for my Emergency Rescue insurance. The link takes you to what they cover and you can easily navigate their page. it cost me about $400 or so a year for me and my wife. Mind you we do stupid stuff and need the coverage. We will travel way off the pavement to off road, hike and climb.
MASA Medical Transport Solutions Benefits Page
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OP
Casper_
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #7
Thanks @wibornz !
I also have the MASA insurance, but was looking to find something that would cover my Jeep if God forbid something happens to her in the middle of nowhere, like a major mechanical breakdown (but not accident related).
For example I'm explicitly getting the extra towing from AAA to make sure I can bring my trailer (and Jeep) back to my house if I have a major breakdown, not the closest random place. But that won't cover off-pavement according to AAA, if I understand it correctly.
I also have the MASA insurance, but was looking to find something that would cover my Jeep if God forbid something happens to her in the middle of nowhere, like a major mechanical breakdown (but not accident related).
For example I'm explicitly getting the extra towing from AAA to make sure I can bring my trailer (and Jeep) back to my house if I have a major breakdown, not the closest random place. But that won't cover off-pavement according to AAA, if I understand it correctly.
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