Roadside Assistance

[Colliemom]

Now that I have purchased my new "toy"and have been through my first trip with it, I am planning on hitting the road when I can to go camping at different parks. I'm getting ready to purchase roadside assistance for it but would like to hear your experiences with your programs. I currently have AAA insurance on my truck and rig and am debating about upgrading my membership to cover the rig for roadside assistance. Some have said that Coach.Net or Good Sam ERS are better than AAA. Any thoughts out there.

[sharon]

I have CoachNet and love it. They've gone above and beyond for me a couple of times, plus they have techs that can sometimes walk you thru a problem....included in cost of the service.

[Bethers]

For an rv I say you need either Good Sam ERS or Coachnet. AAA will NOT cover you in all states - and not even sometimes everywhere in one state. I won't even consider them for a car anymore.

I was with Jean in a remote part of NM when she needed help - and the guys who came out wouldn't have come for AAA. Car or rv. They bent over backwards to get Jean's rig fixed. This was Good Sam's.

And if you ever are going full-time, there are more insurance companies now who carry "full-timers" insurance - but make sure everything is really covered - all your belongings, etc. Actually make sure even if not full-time. There are vast differences in coverage - not all policies are equal. I'm spending less now, with much better coverage than some were offering. So read and compare. And if you ever go full-time - having a local agent (which almost always costs more) is not something you'll need - as it's rare you'll be anywhere close to them for their help.

[OutandAbout]

I have Good Sam ERS. Needed it twice. First time had a flat while the camper was loaded. They came out right away and fixed the tire (faulty valve) and I was on the road within 30 min. 2nd time had a flat at home. The guy they sent couldn't get the tire off the truck (not the same tire) and wanted me to drive to the nearest tire store. The tire wouldn't hold air. What was up with that? When they called back to see how it went, they got an ear full. The truck was towed to the nearest tire store and fixed. Cost me nothing, but not a good experience. Just make sure that the TT will be covered, not just the truck, you don't want to leave the TT on the side of the road. Linda

[retiredhappy]

Currently have Good Sam but am switching to Coachnet. Main reason for changing the all the junk mails Good Sam sends AND they start sending me "URGENT" renewal notices six months before the renewal date. Most vehicle insurance isn't right for RVers because they don't cover contents of your rig or send the "Right" tow truck for your rig. Its a lot different towing a car than an RV.

[VickieP]

I've been trying to decide for about a year which one I wanted to go with, Good Sam or Coachnet. I need to just do it.

[Bethers]

Yep, Vickie, they are both good - and you need to have one. At least I do - and I figure we all should.

[VickieP]

There's not much difference in the price of the two and while I can change a tire, I'd prefer not to do it on the side of a busy highway, plus our truck is a dually. AND it's not like Ronnie can get out there and do it.

[Gentleladybear]

I bought coachnet when I bought this new unit. Well it works. First thing I did was lock the keys in it. Put those keys where I could see them and nto forget them. Yep they were in plain site through the windows. So had to call for a lock out. They were very professional. Got somebody here within the 45 minutes time frame they gave them, then called at the hour mark to verify service had been received and all was well.

I was impressed with the time limit they gave these people to get here and do the job. None of the 2 and 3 hour wait business.

So I would recommend them.

[sharon]

Just to give you and idea on how CoachNet worked for me....I was in Blaine Wa getting ready to cross into Canada for the Alaska trip and my living room slide wouldn't come in. On a Sunday. No answer at Monaco. Got out the phone book in the park office..no answer at the two places listed. Remembered I had been given a free year for CoachNet when I bought Hope, so called them on the off chance they might know someone. They got a tech on the phone and he verified what I already knew (first thing I did was read the book to see trouble shooting guides) that the slide couldn't be brought in manually. (Some can with a jack type thing, our HR could). So he found a guy to come out and try and get it in. The guy finally got it in but I had to pay him, not something CN covered, but trust me, I didn't care, then CN called me back and had made me an appt in Canada near where I was staying for 2 days later to get it fixed. Then they called me back to make sure it had been fixed properly and was I good to go. I raved about the guy that worked on my coach! Needless to say, when my free year was up I renewed with them and have continued to keep them. They also reminded me to send the bill for the guy coming out in Blaine to Monaco as it would be covered. I love those folks!

[JanetA]

I have had good luck w/ Good Sam for tire problems,, hadn't had any other. Never heard of coachnet but if you gals say it's good then I would have NO doubts about using them. Are they pretty equally priced? That would be my only question.

as ever,, thanks for the wisdom and great advice!

Isn't this forum wonderful?!?!?!?!?!?!

J

[Bethers]

Coachnet and GS are about the same price.

The thing to remember - is they all use much the same people for calls. If you are in the middle of nowhere - they don't have lots of people to choose from. And sometimes it'll be one who gripes - sometimes one who goes above and beyond. So far all who have helped me have gone above and beyond. I've been lucky with that, or feel I have.

GS also quotes a time for the person to arrive. So far in all cases, the person has arrived sooner than the quoted time. The one time, outside a major city in rush hour, I expected a much longer wait - as traffic was at a stand still - but within 1/2 an hour the tow truck was there to take care of me. And when Jean was in nowhere - and I mean nowhere - twice - lol - one of the times it took GS a while to find someone, but once they did - we knew it would take an hour to get to us - as we had just driven through that town (last one we passed) an hour before. The hardest part is they usually want the mile marker of where you are. Remember these people on the phone want to know exactly where you are. Hard to send someone to you when you can't give them your location.

[VickieP]

Beth, if you're somewhere where you don't see mile markers, will they use GPS coordinates?

[Bethers]

They have no choice but to take the best you can give them - and I think they'd be happy to get the gps coordinates. The biggest problem all the services have - is giving the guys coming out where to go to. Can't you hear them now - well, pass the big oak, and around a curve there's a .... you get the picture. They love the people who travel the interstates - those of us on the backroads, need to be more aware of our surroundings. We never know when we really need to know just where we are.

[MsBHaven]

Hi Vickie,

We have always had CoachNet....and never needed them in the 8 years we've had them, but it is a good feeling to know they are there if we do need them. One time I called them just to get a recommendation of a reputable repair shop and I was very impressed with their willlingness to make suggestions etc. I've read of very little problems from people who have used CoachNet.